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Bucs kicker Ryan Succop trying to regain 2020 consistency

Coach Bruce Arians says the 34-year-old veteran has been “up and down” so far in camp.
 
Veteran Bucs kicker Ryan Succop (3) signed a three-year deal with the team in March after a highly proficient season in 2020.
Veteran Bucs kicker Ryan Succop (3) signed a three-year deal with the team in March after a highly proficient season in 2020. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Published Aug. 3, 2021

TAMPA — Veteran kicker Ryan Succop couldn’t quite flourish in the windless conditions of the Bucs’ indoor facility, bouncing one long field-goal attempt off the left upright and sending another wide right during an extensive special teams sequence.

The session seemed to typify Succop’s ebb and flow training camp performance to date. Nine practices in, Bruce Arians insists that’s no reason for alarm — yet.

“He’s been up and down, just to put it mildly,” the Bucs coach said after Tuesday’s workout, moved indoors due to steady morning showers. “But I’ve got all the confidence he’s going to figure it out real quick and get his timing back down and speed his operation up just like he did last year.”

A Succop sequel that matches the 2020 version would represent a boon for the reigning Super Bowl champs. After beating out Matt Gay in an abbreviated training camp, Succop, who turns 35 in September, went on to enjoy one of his most proficient NFL seasons.

A two-time NFC special teams player of the week, he finished 28-for-31 on field goals in the regular season, making 16-of-18 from 30 to 49 yards. He then hit all nine of his playoff field goals, prompting the Bucs to sign him to a three-year, $12 million deal in March that includes $6.25 million in guaranteed money.

But at the dawn of August, that consistency has yet to resurface, according to his coach, who also has former University of Miami star (and 2020 Lou Groza Award winner) Jose Borregales in camp.

“He’s in really good shape; best shape he said he’s been in the last four or five years,” Arians said. “So I don’t have any questions he’ll get it ironed out.”

Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls

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