Two Crushing Special Teams Screwups Before Final Drive
December 21st, 2025
An diehard optimist might say the Bucs straightened out their horrific and undisciplined special teams unit that was hurting the team early this season.
Joe can’t say that. Just look at what happened today before the final Bucs drive.
The Panthers kicked off to the Bucs with 2 minutes and 20 seconds remaining after a field goal put Carolina up 23-20. In a brain-freeze move, kick returner Sean Tucker did not catch the kickoff. It bounced near the 2 yard line — inside the “landing zone” — and went into the end zone. That meant an old school touchback was in effect, so the Bucs would get the ball at the 20 yard line.
Catch the damn ball! A typical kickoff this season is brought out to about the 28 yard line.
But it gets worse.
Rookie linebacker John Bullock was called for a personal foul on the play — a play that bounced into the friggin’ end zone. The FOX broadcast cameras caught Bullock head-butting a Panthers player. The penalty, of course, was half the distance to the goal line. So Baker Mayfield and the offense started at the 10 yard line.
What happens if Tucker and Bullock don’t lose their minds on special teams and start at, say, the 28 yard line? Oh, well.
Is there any reason to think the Bucs are a well-coached football team?