It cannot be emphasized enough that NFL teams need all three phases of the game to help you win. Bucs punter Jake Camarda was very helpful in the Bucs’ 27-17 win over the Bears in Week 2, which has earned him this week’s accolade of Special Teams Player Of The Week.
Jake Camarda also won this award in Week 9 last season. That makes him the first Bucs player in team history to win the award at least twice in his career and is the only player to win Special Teams Player Of The Year twice since the 2022 season, according to Buccaneers.com.
With only two games so far in the 2023 season, Camarda has the chance to break even more records.
https://x.com/Buccaneers/status/1704525827097194918?s=20
Jake Camarda Is Booting The Ball
His four punts in last week’s game went for 211 yards, averaging out to 52.8 yards per punt. Three of his four punts went inside the 20, helping Tampa Bay out with field position. His last punt was most vital, setting the Bucs up for the win. With 2:38 to go in the fourth quarter and the Bucs up by three points, Jake Camarda’s punt landed deep in the Bears’ territory ending up at the seven-yard line. Following a penalty, this backed Chicago up to the five.
That’s when Tampa Bay closed out the game on the next play when outside linebacker Shaq Barrett intercepted Justin Field’s attempted screen and took it about three yards with the help of his teammates for a thrilling pick-six. That put the Bucs up 10 and kept the game out of reach.
Barrett deserves all the praise and attention he’s receiving for the huge play, but let’s also not forget that the Bucs aren’t in that position without Camarda’s punt.
Camarda’s Biggest Play
Jake Camarda has shown he can do a lot for Tampa Bay on special teams. He takes care of the kickoffs for the Bucs and is also the holder on field goal and extra point attempts for kicker Chase McLaughlin.
The biggest play that Jake Camarda made wasn’t actually even all the punts, it was saving a touchdown off the board in the first quarter. Looking to make it a 7-6 game, the Bucs had their field goal attempt blocked by the Bears. As the ball went flying in the other direction, Camarda sprinted to jump on the football and recover it, preventing the Bears from getting a scoop and score.
This play proved to be enormous as the Bucs’ defense forced a three-and-out, keeping the score at 7-3. Without Camarda’s hustle, the Bears may get points on that play and change the entire outcome of the afternoon.
“Jake was huge,” head coach Todd Bowles said about Camarda’s game. “From the kickoffs in the end zone to the punts and him booming them. He was getting them to the sideline, as well. That was about as big for us as anybody yesterday. He had a heck of a ballgame.”
PewterReport’s Josh Queipo, who went into detail recently on Camarda’s great start, has called Camarda a weapon for the Bucs. He certainly isn’t wrong. Jake Camarda is becoming an MVP for the Bucs on a team that is going to need everyone to pitch in to succeed.
More must-reads: