The Atlanta Falcons have made a pivotal decision regarding their kicking game by benching Younghoe Koo, following a series of missed opportunities that have raised concerns about his performance. Koo, 31, has been through the hardest falls this season with bad misses that have cost the team dearly.
Koo had a rough go during Atlanta’s recent game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He blew a very important 44-yarder in the last few seconds of the game that would’ve tied the contest at 23. The most symbolic moment came when he shot two-for-three during the game. Even more concerning, one of his kicks doinked off the right upright, which further exemplified his inconsistency. On the personal side, this has been a difficult season for Koo. He’s made just 12 of 20 field goals in his last nine contests over the last four seasons.
Statistically, Koo’s performance has been concerning. Last year, he averaged a field goal percentage of just 73.5%. That would be his worst showing since becoming the Falcons’ full-time kicker in 2019. Right now, he sits 29th out of 31 kickers with 20+ attempts since the beginning of 2024. That’s nine missed attempts just last season, leaving little confidence in his ability to deliver in the clutch, when it matters most – in those heavy, clutch moments.
Koo’s brutal recent stretch can be blamed in part on a hip injury that sidelined him last year. His recent downgrade to out for Sunday night’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings wasn’t due to an injury at all. This ruling marks a big change from the team’s approach as the costs have mounted. Not surprisingly, the Falcons are busy looking for a replacement at kicker. They’ve looked at Matthew Wright and Tyler Bass, but after all said and done signed Romo.
Once regarded as one of the most accurate kickers in the league, Koo led the XFL in field goal percentage in 2023 with an impressive 89.5% success rate (17 of 19). His recent string of struggles has put him under serious scrutiny from the Falcons’ front office about his long term fate in Atlanta.
After being signed by the Atlanta Falcons in 2019, Koo quickly made a name for himself as a bona-fide reliable kicker. He’s been underperforming in recent games and his status with the squad has been put on the chopping block after this past performance. Like every team, the Falcons are intent on improving their long-term prospects this year. They’ll just have to pay all the more attention to their overall kicking situation and find a difference maker that provides them with better results in key moments.
Leave a Reply