The scoop on Bucs drafting of kicker Aguayo. A lesson from Belichick?

[top dawg]

Why did the Bucs draft  kicker Roberto Aguayo in the second round and trade up to do so? It appears that it was a lessoned learned, of sorts, from Bill Belichick. At least that's what their GM, Jason Licht, took away from a Billy B exercise as a scout for the Pats. It seems Billy B had his scouts rank the entire roster based on value. He then apparently took issue with his scouts' ranking of Stephen Gostkowski.

 

"None of us had the kicker, Stephen Gostkowski, in our top 10 -- even though he was an excellent kicker," Licht explained, via PewterReport.com. "After we were done, Bill said, 'Nobody wants to put Gostkowski in our top 10? Why, just because he's a kicker?' Bill made us 'rethink that' and he got his point across. He said, 'You tell me 10 other players that are more important than him'"

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000664087/article/belichick-gostkowski-inspired-roberto-aguayo-pick

Hmmm. That's food for thought. Why undervalue a position that can be extremely vital to a team's success? I mean, I can actually almost see it if you believe that the kicker is a generational, dual threat talent. The only problem is, like Chris Wesseling alluded to, may be the value part of the equation. 

With hard work, faith, patience, and maybe even a little luck, a great kicker can be found among UDFAs. I guess that Licht didn't care for bargain hunting for the position.

It will be interesting to see how Aguayo stacks up once it's all said and done. If he becomes the new Stephen Gostkowski or Adam Vinatieri for the next 18 years, then today's scoffing at the pick will similarly be scoffed at.

Not trying to disrespect Graham Gano, but if there was a guy that I believed would be as reliable for the Panthers as John Kasey was over the years (but for one choke on a kickoff), I wouldn't mind Getty pulling the trigger on him early. Would you? Tell the truth.

Sometimes the risk may be worth the reward, even for a kicker. Even if that's arguable, you certainly can't argue that it's better to secure a great kicker than not.

 

 

[Daddy_Uncle]

They can try to explain it all they want, but Gettleman isn't dumb enough to take a kicker in the second round. If you're trying to rely on kickers to win games for you then you're doing something wrong.

[PoundCat]

He would have been there in the 3rd round or later most likely. But I'm glad our division rival mismanaged their picks. It will be harder for them to rebuild and contend making moves like this.

[ColumbusCounty]

Not earlier than 3rd....for me, but thats just how I would handle things. 

If your going to pick a kicker ... then by all means pick a kicker if you think he's bpa when your on the clock ... BUT don't trade away two draft picks to do so especially a 3rd AND 4th. 

Kickers have value ...but so do long snappers.

Atleast it wasn't a punter though.

[rodeo]

Belicheck is a garbage drafter

[Jase]

Adam vinatieri went undrafted FYI 

[billionairemonk]

the position is important but there are lots of guys that can do it.  drafting a kicker is pretty dumb, much less trading up and taking one in the 2nd round.  all they're doing is giving the guy leverage come contract time.

[outlaw4]

Aguayo doesn't have elite leg strength, he hardly tried kicks over 50 yards in college and his accuracy took a hit last season. That said, had we taken him further down the round, I wouldn't have been that upset. Of course, our roster is miles ahead of the Bucs; we could have afforded to make that move. They just gave away picks for a kicker in the 2nd. I'm not sure even a modern day Janikowski would be drafted that high today.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

5 hours ago, Daddy_Uncle said:

If you're trying to rely on kickers to win games for you then you're doing something wrong.

kickers win and lose games every week of the season.

[pantherclaw]

You don't draft kickers.

[top dawg]

2 hours ago, Jase said:

Adam vinatieri went undrafted FYI 

I knew that. But he's still one of the best in the business, and that's why I mentioned him. If Aguayo is in that league, a few years from now no one will care what round he was drafted in.

[ctrcat]

Still stupid.  Gostkowski was taken in the 4th round in 2006, BEFORE their own Rob Ninkovich (by the Saints).  They could have had Matt Prater as an UDFA that same year.  Pro Bowlers they passed on for Gostkowski...

Brandon Marshall, Elvis Dumervil, Kyle Williams, Delanie Walker, Lawrence Vickers, Antoine Bethea, Cortland Finnegan, Brent Grimes, Miles Austin, Tramon Williams, Montell Owens, and Donald Penn.

[2jakefansinva]

Stupid pick....................but I love that they did it.

Just what the Buccnqueers in Tampon Bay needed.......a kicker

[aussiePanther]

22 hours ago, 2jakefansinva said:

Stupid pick....................but I love that they did it.

Just what the Buccnqueers in Tampon Bay needed.......a kicker

Made even better by the fact they TRADED UP to get him... as if another team was going to pick a kicker in the second.