In the high-stakes world of the NFL, a missed kick can shatter dreams and shift playoff destinies—imagine the Colts, battling for supremacy, suddenly scrambling for a reliable kicker mid-season. It's a drama that's got fans on the edge of their seats, and we're diving deep into the chaos unfolding in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis is hosting tryouts for kickers this Tuesday, as revealed by league sources to IndyStar. Among the hopefuls is Blake Grupe, the former kicker for the New Orleans Saints, stepping in after the Colts faced a major upheaval. This group notably excludes some of the eight kickers who auditioned right after Spencer Shrader's devastating season-ending injury—a torn ACL and MCL that threw the team's kicking plans into complete disarray. For those new to football, a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and MCL (medial collateral ligament) are serious knee injuries that often sideline players for months, crippling their ability to perform explosive movements like kicking.
The Colts opted for veteran kicker Michael Badgley, banking on his precision for shorter field goals under 50 yards, even if he lacked Shrader's powerful leg for longer kicks. Badgley has impressed with 10 out of 11 field goals, including two over 50 yards, but his recent stumble—a missed extra point (often called a PAT, or point after touchdown) in their seventh game on Sunday—has the team rethinking things. It's a stark reminder that in football, consistency in the basics can make or break a team, especially when every point counts in tight races.
Indianapolis special teams coordinator Brian Mason summed it up frankly: 'We have to nail the easy ones—the layups and free throws of kicking.' He acknowledged it's unacceptable, but he's leaving the kicker evaluations and any potential roster changes to head coach Shane Steichen and the front office. Mason emphasized they're exploring every possible option to ensure reliability.
But here's where it gets tricky: finding top-notch kickers mid-season is like searching for a needle in a haystack, with few standout choices available. The challenge at Week 14? The market is thin, and many available kickers come with baggage—they've already been cut or struggled elsewhere. Grupe, like many in this group, fits that profile, having lost his job in New Orleans this season. And in early December, every option carries inherent risks, as Mason pointed out: 'Shane, as the head coach, has to trust the kicker completely while he's running the game—that they're not going to botch crucial kicks or force risky decisions.'
This evaluation differs starkly from how the Colts discovered Shrader earlier. Back then, they valued raw leg strength and mental resilience, betting on his potential to grow over time. But time is the enemy now—Indianapolis is neck-and-neck with Jacksonville for the AFC South lead, staring down one of the NFL's toughest remaining schedules over the next five weeks. As Mason explained, 'In Week 14, we're prioritizing experience, pressure-handling, and consistency. Sure, everyone dreams of a kicker who can drill 60-yard field goals and never miss a PAT, but right now, we're focused on who can reliably convert extra points, handle kicks within 50 yards, and be trustworthy for these crucial weeks.'
And this is the part most people miss: kicking isn't just about making or missing—it's about the art of the kick itself. A kicker's full season track record reveals their overall reliability, but tryouts allow the Colts to gauge current form. Kicking is notoriously unpredictable, so coaches like Mason scrutinize the ball's spin, height, and trajectory. 'It's straightforward to judge: Did they make the kicks or not?' Mason said. 'But we dig deeper—what's the ball's rotation like? Is it end-over-end? How high does it go, and does it sail straight down the middle? And crucially, how consistent are their mechanics and execution?' These nuances help predict future performance, turning a tryout into a mini performance review.
A roster shake-up for the Colts' kicking spot seems imminent, with the team desperate for a leg they can count on to seal drives. In the competitive AFC South, where games hinge on single points, this decision could define their playoff hopes—or doom them.
Now, here's a controversial twist: some fans argue that raw talent and leg strength should always outweigh experience in a position as volatile as kicking, even late in the season. Others swear by veterans who thrive under pressure. What do you think—should the Colts gamble on a young gun with potential, or stick with proven reliability to secure those close wins? Do you believe Mason's focus on consistency over distance is the right call, or is it short-sighted in an era of long-range heroics? Share your take in the comments below—we'd love to hear if you're backing Badgley to bounce back or rooting for a fresh face like Grupe!
