Kicking Battle Goes Undercover
June 1st, 2017
Very quiet day
Was it a coincidence that Roberto Aguayo and Nick Folk didn’t kick in practice today during the two-hour session open to media at One Buc Palace?
Joe doesn’t think so. But that’s strictly an educated guess.
Yeah, it’s possible the lack of a public kicking battle was just part of today’s spring practice plan set by Dirk Koetter long ago. Regardless of the reason for no kicking, fans have been pounding Joe all day for results of today’s Folk-Aguayo escapades. Sorry, there is no answer.
There’s plenty of time for Aguayo and Folk to show their true kicking colors, so maybe this is all silly. However, if spring pressure is ramped up on Aguayo and he has a meltdown, then wouldn’t that give the Bucs more time to cut him and find a replacement to compete with Folk?
Joe is not rooting against Aguayo. It would be an incredible story if Aguayo emerged with the kicking job and thrived. It would be the best Bucs comeback story since Antonio Bryant got off his couch and had a 1,000-yard receiving season in 2008.
But Joe also wants the Bucs to have the best kicker available. Last year, Bucs officials publicly said Aguayo’s problems were mental. If so, then Joe would rather see all kinds of pressure thrown at him this spring — like kicking before drooling media — to see how he responds.
If he can’t take June pressure, then, well, you get the idea.
June 1st, 2017 at 5:49 pm
If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen!
June 1st, 2017 at 5:53 pm
Good point Joe. Bucs coaches should use every opportunity available to put pressure on Aguayo and see how he responds. This is a HUUUUGE decision that could easily effect the outcome of our 2017 season more than any other single personnel decision.
June 1st, 2017 at 5:54 pm
I am tired of this competition. “Family feeding” Nick Folk is proven. Save us the trouble.
June 1st, 2017 at 6:21 pm
I wish Aguayo could step up and break out of this funk. Jeez we traded up and use a 2nd round pic on him. I’m a big FSU fan so if he can turn it around, I’m in his corner. I mean with Folk we have a kicker for a couple of seasons, with Aguayo we have a kicker for a decade. I mean we have seen this before with another FSU kicker in Janokowski, but Aguayo just looks weaker both mentally and physically. Please bud, get your Sh!t together.
June 1st, 2017 at 7:05 pm
I would’nt trust him to make a 10 yard chip shot at this point!
June 1st, 2017 at 9:14 pm
This is why I don’t like or watch college ball. The Idea is all these kids want an NFL job. But the rules and set up are not NFL. If they were I bet this and a lot of other problems we see after the draft would be eliminated. They just would not happen to begin with. And I am not saying all because of the talent. Just more would be weeded out.
June 1st, 2017 at 9:22 pm
Actually, taking a day to review things and teach him up is a good thing. Remember, this is not JUST about competition. The Bucs would prefer Aguayo turn things around, and to do that he clearly needs some teaching along with the coaching. Some players are just that way.
I’m rooting for him. Better a good Aguayo for 15 years than a good Folk for 2 years.
June 1st, 2017 at 9:24 pm
Danati74 Says:
“I mean we have seen this before with another FSU kicker in Janokowski, but Aguayo just looks weaker both mentally and physically.”
You bring up a good point. I wonder what he looked like in the off season training program following his bad first season.
June 2nd, 2017 at 8:49 am
The problem is, winning a competition when wins don’t count means nothing.
Even if he beats Folk in camp, there’s no way to tell how he will handle the pressure once the regular season begins.
June 2nd, 2017 at 10:59 am
It’s a pressure position. We need a competent, mentally tough kicker, plain and simple.
June 10th, 2017 at 2:52 am
The right thing to do here is to go with Folk and sign Aguayo to the practice squad. We need a solid kicker but it would be a shame to just waste a second round pick…maybe he can get better.