Bucs roundtable: Time for another kicking panic?

Five days after the beleaguered Roberto Aguayo got cut after missing a PAT and a field goal, new Bucs kicker Nick Folk had a PAT blocked and missed a field goal.

Soooooooooo, is there reason to be concerned about the Bucs' kicker situation? We asked the Tampa Bay Times' Bucs coverage team.

Thomas Bassinger, @tometrics

For this season, no. While coach Dirk Koetter didn't look happy after Nick Folk missed a 47-yard field goal Thursday, no kicker is automatic from that range. Folk has proven to be a solid (but not great) kicker over his 10-year career. As long as the Bucs are scoring touchdowns, he should be plenty good enough.

Tom Jones, @tomwjones

Heck yeah, the Bucs should be concerned. Another extra-point failure and a missed field goal Thursday night. And now, you have to think after what happened with Aguayo and all the attention we paid to that, Folk is now swimming around in his own head. This drama is nowhere near over.

Greg Auman, @gregauman

Folk will almost certainly be more consistent than Aguayo — he's hit a higher percentage than Aguayo's 71 percent clip every season since 2009. He's also hit at least one 50-yarder every season. Fans can focus their hopes on avoiding field goals entirely with an offense that can finish better than these last two games.

Rick Stroud, @NFLStroud

No. The Bucs have decided to go with Folk, who has made 81.3 percent of his attempts. Last season: 87 percent. If he hits his career mark that's a 10 percent improvement. It would be nice to have a transformative kicker, but the key is to not put yourself at a disadvantage.

Ernest Hooper, @hoop4you

No. Kicker is important, but it shouldn't be a tantamount concern until they miss going to the Super Bowl because Folk (or whoever) misses a 32-yarder in the NFC Championship game. The team's other needs remain a higher priority.

Martin Fennelly, @martyjfennelly

Maybe not as much as we think. Folk's shaky leg is nothing to ignore in a league where a sizable percentage of games are decided by seven points or less, or even three points or less. But let's be real. The Bucs are not searching for the Holy Grail. If Folk doesn't succeed he'll be gone. The Bucs will find a kicker on way or another.

Got a question you want the Times Bucs coverage team to answer? Email msherman@tampabay.com.