“Hellacious Cover Guys” Will Make The Bucs Roster
August 8th, 2025
Receiver Ryan Miller, who has had a solid training camp, has an extra opportunity Saturday.
Change has come to the NFL, at least for the guys who decide the Buccaneers roster.
A new NFL rule says touchback on a kickoff now gives the offense the ball on the 35 yard line, a change from the 30 last year and the 25 for years prior.
The NFL wants lots of kickoff returns to re-energize the game, and consensus around the league says coaches will not accept giving their opponent the ball on the 35.
So what will the Bucs do? Yesterday, Todd Bowles gave his strongest public words to date on the subject.
The amateur 53-man-roster crafters out there will want to pay attention.
The head coach told SiriusXM NFL Radio he’s “a lot more dedicated” to finding coverage-exclusive players.
“Now you gotta think about your roster again,” Bowles said. “Before, you didn’t have to keep the extra special teams guys because the ball’s coming out to the 25 [on a touchback] every time. Now with the ball coming out to the 35, two or three guys can make your team just by being hellacious cover guys.And you’re bringing back the Ron Wolfleys (an old school football reference) and all those type of guys that can cover kicks and may not be high on the depth chart otherwise. Not saying [Wolfley] was, but they can be nothigh on the depth chart otherwise.
“But you gotta have guys to cover kicks now. Because two first downs — one first down and you’re in fourth-down territory every time. Two first downs. You got a good field goal kicker, you’re kicking the ball in there. So it’s very important for us to cover kicks this year. And preseason’s gonna be very important to see who can make the team covering kicks.”
Telling stuff there from the head coach. Joe was very intrigued by Bowles talking about keeping offenses from getting in field position where they’re going on fourth down versus punting.
Bottom line: Roster-bubble veterans like receiver Ryan Miller and Rakim Jarrett, and free agent corerback Kindle Vildor and undrafted rookie safety J.J. Roberts, have a real shot to cement a roster spot if they can show in preseason they’re animals covering kicks.