As a long time Falcons fan, I’ve seen the highs and the lows. This season, though, there’s a glaring issue on special teams, and it’s time to address it head on. Younghoe Koo, once our clutch kicker and a fan favorite, is struggling. The same guy who used to come through when it mattered most now seems to have lost his touch. So, what’s going on? And what can we do about it?
Let’s rewind to that epic 58-yard game winning field goal against the Saints earlier this season. It was vintage Koo, showing off his ice cold nerves and powerful leg. But since then, something’s been off. Over the last several games, Koo has missed nearly half his attempts, converting just 8 of his last 15 field goals. For a kicker who once felt automatic, this slump is both surprising and concerning.
Now, I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but there’s a lot to unpack here. Did that monster kick against the Saints tweak something physically? Or maybe the pressure of being the team’s savior in so many tight games is starting to weigh on him? Whatever the case, his struggles have made our games a lot closer than they should be……and that’s not all on him……
In some aspects special teams has been a weak point for the Falcons this season. We’ve been giving up crucial yardage on returns, and don’t even get me started on penalties overall. In recent matchups we racked up a lot of penalties. That’s free yardage for the opposing team and momentum shifts that we simply can’t afford. It’s not just about Koo missing field goals, it’s the combination of mistakes that’s holding us back on all phases of the game.
Koo’s role is critical. When a game comes down to a field goal, he’s the guy we rely on to get it done. And while it’s easy to blame him for our close losses, football is a team sport. Every missed tackle, every penalty, and every bad snap adds up. We can’t pin everything on one player, but we also can’t ignore the fact that Koo’s slump is costing us points.
What’s frustrating is that the Falcons have all the pieces to be a great team. Our offense, led by rising stars and seasoned veterans, has shown it can put points on the board. Our defense, though inconsistent, has had its moments of brilliance.
The coaching staff needs to take a hard look at what’s going wrong. If Koo is battling an injury, let’s get him the help he needs. If it’s a mental game, maybe some focused training or even a sports psychologist could help him regain his confidence. It’s time to clean up the penalties and tighten up the fundamentals.
