Falcons exploring choices at kicker after Younghoe Koo misses game-tying subject purpose in loss to Buccaneers

The Falcons will discover their choices at kicker after Younghoe Koo missed what would have been a game-tying kick within the ultimate seconds of the 23-20 Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers. Coach Raheem Morris mentioned Monday that the workforce will maintain a Tuesday exercise that can embrace veterans and a few “up-and-comers.” He additionally alluded to apply squad kicker Lenny Krieg as a potential choice. 

“There is not any secrets and techniques round right here how we go about our enterprise,” Morris mentioned. “There’ll all the time be a extremely aggressive ambiance. … Clearly, we’ve got a younger man within the constructing that’s extra of a younger, up-and-comer, growing prospect, however we’ll positively take a look at inside and outside the constructing.” 

Morris did acknowledge that, at this level, Koo continues to be the workforce’s beginning kicker as Atlanta prepares for Sunday’s upcoming sport towards the Vikings. The 31-year-old former Professional Bowler is at first of his eighth NFL season and seventh with the Falcons. 

“It is robust, clearly,” Koo mentioned on Monday. “However, as all the time, I’ve simply received to get again to work. Positively pissed off. Had a fantastic offseason, a fantastic camp. Two weeks main into Week 1, I felt nice. I nonetheless do. There’s only a couple issues I’ve received to regulate higher on the go, like throughout the sport. Study from it and transfer on. There’s actually all you are able to do.” 

If historical past repeats itself, Koo ought to have the ability to rebound from his present adversity. As a rookie with the Chargers, he was waived after simply 4 video games regardless of not lacking a kick throughout his final two video games with the workforce. 

Koo then spent a 12 months kicking within the Alliance of American Soccer earlier than having a short stint on the Patriots‘ apply squad. He made essentially the most of his alternative after the Falcons signed him throughout the 2019 season. He made 88.5% of his subject purpose makes an attempt that season and was tabbed as a Professional Bowler in 2020 after making a career-high 94.9% of his subject purpose tries. 

Koo continued to be a strong kicker for Atlanta for the subsequent three seasons earlier than he skilled a dip in efficiency final 12 months when he made a career-low 73.5% of his kicks. He made two of his three subject purpose makes an attempt and each of his PATs throughout Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay.