Mark Brunell

John Carney has made eight of 11 attempts this season, including a long of 46, but he has missed two of his past four kicks.

"It concerns me," Carney said. "It's my job to correct it. So yeah, it's very concerning. My job is to not miss field goals. It's up to me to make them."

The problems haven't been solely Carney's fault, according to Saints Coach Sean Payton. It's been a combination of snapper Jason Kyle, holder Mark Brunell and Carney.

"I said this at the beginning of the week with our players, that there are a number of things we have to improve on," Payton said. "The snap-hold operation has to be cleaner. We had a protection snap earlier in the year. I think it's the whole operation. There's some other areas where working on and have to improve on."

Carney was signed in the preseason after it was announced incumbent kicker Garrett Hartley would be suspended for the first four regular-season games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Hartley, who was 13-of-13 on field goals last season, has been inactive in each game since his return during the Saints' bye week.

Although it doesn't appear Carney is in danger of losing his job, the Saints do have the option of using Hartley as the kicker.