Tampa Bay Buccaneers Signing Punter Michael Koenen is the Right Move

Tampa Bay fans have been less than accepting to the Michael Koenen signing. The veteran punter signed a six-year, $19.5 million contract on Friday and most are left scratching their heads.

Buccaneer fans have scoffed at the acquisition via message boards and Twitter, and the majority of them are wondering where the “splash” free-agent signing is.

And, for the most part, fans should be asking, “With so much money under the cap, why such a lucrative deal on a punter?”

But Buccaneers fans need to look at this from a much broader scope.

If you follow the Buccaneers, you’d know that GM Mark Dominik and company no longer operate like NFL free agency is some sale, purchasing anything in sight and praying that the player pans out.

The Buccaneers want to construct a winner via the draft and retain players such as Quincy Black and Davin Joseph that have been a part of their system, which benefits the team as a cohesive unit.

Koenen shouldn’t have to apologize for being lured to Tampa Bay.

At first glance, his stats are unimpressive, finishing the 2010 NFL season 28th in net average per punt, but, as Buccaneer head coach Raheem Morris so famously stated, “Stats are for losers.”

Koenen tied for eighth in the NFL and tied for fourth in the NFC when getting the ball pinned inside the 20-yard line.

That’s a massive weapon to have, especially for a young defense that will need all the help they can receive this season.

Imagine holding down a rookie quarterback like Carolina Panther’s Cam Newton inside the 10, or a team like the Detroit Lions—that finished 23rd in rushing offense—forcing them to be one-dimensional.

Koenen’s consistent enough to get the ball backed up inside the 20 and has the hang time to alleviate the punt cover team by limiting the amount of returns the opposition takes.

In 2010, Koenen averaged nearly five punts per game, but opponents averaged only two attempts to return punts in each contest.

Two chances to manufacture good field position or a house call does not bode well for any team going against the Buccaneers.

Most importantly, Koenen didn’t allow a touchdown in 2010.

But let’s turn away from the facts for just a moment. How about, the Buccaneers addressed a need they desperately sought and got one of the better punters in return.

Koenen’s locked up for the next six years and it’s one less problem the Buccaneers have to worry themselves with.

Is Koenen the “game changer” coach Morris confidently stated? No, but he is a player that’ll help the defense tremendously and improve a punting unit that finished 14th in the NFC.

Face it, Buccaneers fans: if the organization is luring punters to come to Tampa then you know the coaching staff is confident in what they currently have to build a winner.