Tampabay.com
SEPTEMBER 03, 2007

Not-so-special teams?

So, the Bucs cut Mark Jones, who was probably more than adequate as a punt returner, and now the Bucs are going to use a "committee" of players to return kicks and punts, according to Jon Gruden.

Anyone else see a problem with this?

Here's what the Bucs have in mind: they'll use a combination of Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard on punt returns. And on kickoffs, Michael Pittman is probably at the front of the line. That means the Bucs' youngest returner is Hilliard, at 31. Now, none of these guys has been particularly injury-prone, but is this really a good idea?

Galloway, in particular, is a surprise. There's no doubt he could give the Bucs some energy as a punt returner. But considering the way Gruden shields him from contact whenever possible in practice, why then would the Bucs subject their top offensive weapon to the 11 kamikazes on the other team during punt returns?

We think the Bucs might address this need eventually, but there's always the chance they could stand pat. What do you think they should do?

Join the discussion: Click to view comments, add yours

About the blog

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans: Keep up with your team news on Bucs Beat, our blog for all things Bucs. Tampa Bay Times sports writers keep you posted on the latest Bucs news, and you can weigh in with your own thoughts.

Advertisement

Follow us on Facebook

Registration FAQ

Read our Frequently Asked Questions on how to register to comment on the site.