Bucs Special Teams Got Faster Through Draft

There’s understandably plenty of excitement over the Bucs’ 2023 draft class. Many of these rookies are going to help the organization improve – some sooner than later. One way that each draft pick will immediately impact the Bucs is on special teams, particularly with the return and coverage units for kicks and punts.

Tampa Bay had its struggles covering punts and kicks last season. The Bucs allowed 374 punt return yards, which was the third-highest in the league.

While kick returns are much more rare in these days, the Bucs still found themselves in the bottom 10 of the NFL in kick return yardage allowed with 595 yards on the season and an average of 25.82 per return.

Bucs ST coordinator Keith Armstrong – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Selecting the likes of Pittsburgh inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis, Kansas State defensive back Josh Hayes and Nebraska’s speedy wide receiver Trey Palmer on Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft can help solve these problems.

“We got younger, we got faster,” Bucs special teams coach Keith Armstrong said. “I’m looking at the list and you have linebackers that are 4.5 and 4.6 [40-yard dash times] – and that’s what you’re looking for. We’ve got some good body types – that mid-sized guy: linebackers, running backs, safeties.

“So, you have some guys in that mid-range body type that can match up with a linebacker, can match up with a fast guy – because they can run.”

Bucs Did Improve Returning Kicks

In fairness to the Bucs they did level things out a bit in their return game. Deven Thompkins, an undrafted free agent last year, took over halfway through the season and Tampa Bay ended up second overall for most punt return yards, ninth in average yards per return, and also landed  in the top 10 in kick return yards and average yards per kick return.

Bucs KR-PR Deven Thompkins – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

That doesn’t mean it’s Thompson’s job this year, though as Palmer and his 4.3 speed plus return game experience will make for an exciting competition.

“You’ve got Thompkins out there right now,” Armstrong said. “We’ve also brought in a young guy, but I think Deven will get better. I think after [last] year – that was really the first time he’s really caught punts and kickoffs in consecutive games. The arrow is pointing up with him. I’m very pleased with him. I think he’ll do a much better job this year.

“He’s (Palmer) going to get a chance. A 4.31 [40-yard dash time] and he’s returned in college. He’s actually done it, so it will be a good competition.”

Bucs Rookies Can Help Create Their Own Playing Time

New Bucs LB SirVocea Dennis Photo By: USA Today

Getting playing time on special teams is actually going to help the Bucs’ draft class in two ways. First, it gets them necessary NFL experience. Second, the better they do, the more that experience will assist in creating opportunities for them at their individual positions on offense or defense.

Dennis, for example, could be the future replacement for Lavonte David or Devin White. While Hayes has a great chance this year to be Tampa Bay’s starting nickel defensive back.

Armstrong alluded to the fact that players get rewarded in that regard. Some of his best special teamers last year were from the 2022 draft class with tight ends Cade Otton and Ko Kieft along with cornerback Zyon McCollum. Otton is now the top tight end on the roster, while Kieft has carved out a role for himself on offense. McCollum is still a work in progress, but the Bucs have big plans for him and he has a shot at slot corner as well.

It would work best for this year’s draft class to learn from Armstrong and use special teams as a path to be able to receive more playing time on offense or defense eventually.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum and Falcons KR-PR Avery Williams – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I get these guys as young guys,” Armstrong said. “Everybody in that tight end room wants to play tight end; everybody in the wide receiver room wants to go catch passes; all the DBs want to play defensive back; all the linebackers want to play linebacker – somebody has to cover a kick. That’s my job. What I usually do is I’ll adjust to you – so you’re really telling me how to coach you.”

Armstrong continued.

“I have to somehow find a way to spark you or to get you going…because you want to be that tailback, and I want to help you be that great tailback or that great receiver, but this is the path that you’re going to have to take. You’re not a first-round pick – that’s what I deal with everyday. You’re not a first-round pick, you’re a free agent or a seventh-round pick. So, look here: if you get good at covering this kick, guess what’s going to happen? The offense is now going to want to use you.

So, Zyon McCollum, Cade Otton, Kieft – all three leading tacklers were all rookies last year. The more they play, guess what? The more the offense wants them, the more the defense wants them. That’s the role that I get put in. Sometimes I get to coach guys that want to cover kicks and then sometimes I have to help you cover the kick – that would be a good way of saying that.”