Former FSU kicker Roberto Aguayo failed to meet expectations of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived former second round draft pick Roberto Aguayo Saturday after he missed an extra point and a 47 yard field goal in the teams first preseason game.
Aguayo was already on thin ice after a rookie season filled with tremendous expectations after the Buccaneers moved up in the 2015 NFL Draft to take him in the second round.
It was a move most pundits blasted at the time, and ultimately they were proven right. So how does a player like Roberto Aguayo, a former Lou Groza award winner at FSU go from sugar to boo boo so fast?
Aguayo only missed nine field goals in three seasons at FSU, (69 of 78) making 88.5 percent of his kicks. However, he only made (22 of 31) his rookie season in Tampa Bay, missing he same number of kicks in one season as he did his entire time in Tallahassee.
Why?
Was it the pressure of living up to expectations of a kicker the team moved up in the draft for? Possibly, as I can’t think of much else to blame.
Ultimately, Aguayo lost all the confidence he had in becoming the greatest kicker in FSU history. Aguayo made huge kick after huge kick in big time pressure situations at FSU. He played in front of huge crowds in college, and went up against NFL talent each week while in Tallahassee.
The football was the same size as was the field goal posts, yet Aguayo could not put it together after being perfect in his first regular season NFL game in 2016.
He went on to miss a field goal in games No. 2 and No. 3 and extra point, and then missed three of his next eight field goals over the next two games.
No Self Confidence
Have you ever heard of the “Steve Blass Disease” which has affected several major league baseball players?
Essentially, players that were once great all of a sudden lose their ability to do what they’ve been doing most of their life. Pitchers lose all ability to consistently throw strikes and hitters can hit a sack of balls thrown at them.
It’s usually a mental block that affects baseball players, but kickers are very similar to baseball pitchers in that everything is usually dependent upon them to be successful or not.
I wonder if that’s what happened with Aguayo? It’s amazing a kid that was so good now struggles to make 33 yard field goals. He was almost automatic from 50+ yards when he was at FSU.
Aguayo is probably the only FSU kicker I never really got nervous about when it was time for him to do his thing. Now you could flip a coin for every time he attempts a field goal.
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Players that have the “Yips” or “Steve Blass Disease” almost never regain the form they previously had. However, it looks like the Chicago Bears are willing to take that chance via ESPN’s Field Yates:
Source: former Bucs K Robert Aguayo has been claimed by the Chicago Bears off of waivers.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 13, 2017
Here’s to hoping Aguayo can use the change of scenery as a jumpstart to his career that seemingly never got started with the Buccaneers.