Bucs' 2nd-rounder Roberto Aguayo has never kicked in cold weather
There was plenty of skepticism surrounding the decision to trade up for a kicker
By
Ryan Wilson
•
2 min read
There was plenty of skepticism surrounding the Buccaneers' decision to not only draft kicker Roberto Aguayo in the second round, but to trade up to do it.
Aguayo. Grade: F. Why? Why? He's a kicker. A kicker. Say it again: A kicker.
-- Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) April 30, 2016
Never mind that the Buccaneers had just two games decided by three points or less last season, general manager Jason Licht told PFTLive that Aguayo was "the best kicker I've ever seen coming out of college."
Licht also cited the extra point permanently moving to a 33-yard field goal as a factor in his decision.
"He's super consistent," he continued. "He's never missed inside the 40 in his career, which is rare. And he's the best and most accurate kicker in college history."
You know what else Aguayo has never done? Kick in cold weather.
Playing in Tampa certainly lessens the likelihood that he'll now have to do it regularly, but playoff football has been known to take place in less-than-ideal environments. Having a kicker with some -- even a little -- experience would seem beneficial.
"The coldest I've ever kicked in I want to say is probably about 50 degrees," Aguayo told PFTLive. "I mean to tell you the truth I haven't really kicked in cold weather games . ...I think I'm up for the task.
"All the teams asked me that question, and I told them you know the coldest is probably 50 degrees and I'm willing to adapt. That's all it takes is just adapting to the cold and just going out there and getting it done. You know, with all the conditions that I've been in and all the adversities that have come to me on the field in my life I think I've adapted well. You either adapt or you don't so I think it'll be a good, fun challenge and I'm ready for those stadiums and that weather."
Aguayo could get his first -- and possibly only -- regular-season chance in Week 11 when the Bucs travel to Kansas City (average temperature in late November: High of 55, low of 37 degrees). After that, however, Tampa faces the Seahawks, Saints and Panthers at home, and play at San Diego, Dallas and New Orleans.
So, realistically, Aguayo might not have to attempt a cold-weather kick until January, and that assumes the Bucs make the playoffs. Whatever happens, he's not worried about the critics.
"There's going to be critics everywhere, you know?" he said. "I think the Buccaneers and the coaching staff here made the right decision. I think you're just going have to wait until the season gets here. I mean kickers, I think, they score points so they're an offensive weapon and as we can see with the extra point moving back to 33 yards you know it's gonna change the game. I think in the future that there's going to be a lot more draft picks used on good kickers, and I think the kickers are gonna change the game."
Plus, just because you have experience kicking in harsh weather doesn't mean you're immune to ill-timed, heart-breaking shanks.
