The Falcoholic
Week 1 is in the books for the Atlanta Falcons, and in case you missed it, the Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers played each other tough, with a final score of 20-23 and Tampa taking the win. Falcons’ quarterback Michael Penix Jr. led a late drive for the Falcons to potentially tie the game and go to overtime, but Younghoe Koo missed a 44-yard field goal wide right, costing the Falcons an opportunity to win the game in overtime.
Earlier in the game, Koo doinked an attempt off the crossbar that luckily bounced in and then messed up a kick-off causing the Bucs to get the ball at their own 40-yard line due to Koo missing the “landing zone.” These issues add to an overall issue Koo has been having in the kicking game going back at least to the 2024 season, where he made 12 of his last 20 attempts, and is 9 for his last 16 indoors, which the Falcons obviously play indoors.
Following Sunday’s game, a frustrated Koo reportedly left the locker room before media members were allowed in. The NFL rules dictate that all players must be available to the media following games. On Monday, Koo spoke with the media.
“Throughout the game with that turf, I was kind of hitting the ground a little bit,” Koo said via ESPN’s Marc Raimondi. “So, I tried to make an adjustment, which I have done multiple times, and I just made the wrong kind of adjustment at that time, and I know what to do. But it’s just frustrating. I know better than that and I just got to do a better job.”
When asked about being emotional after the kick, Koo added “I mean, every point really matters in this league and we’ve been in this situation so many times and the frustration just came out of just disappointment in myself with knowing that I know I’m better than that. And on top of that, letting the guys down. Unfortunately we’ve been having this conversation just more than I would like to, but I think it was just those kinds of things just showing up.”
With the loss, many, including myself have been confused as to why the Falcons have not brought in any actual competition for Koo in recent years. On Monday, head coach Raheem Morris shed a light on what to expect this week.
Morris added, per Josh Kendall of The Athletic, that “You have to say (Koo is the kicker) right now, but we’ll work out some veterans, we’ll work out some up-and-comers.” Morris called Lenny Krieg, who is on the practice squad, a “developing prospect” but indicated he would have a chance to compete.
The Falcons signed German-born Lenny Krieg, after an impressive NFL combine in which he made 14 of 14 field goal attempts. Krieg is a solid young prospect, but obviously lacks in-game experience. We shall see, likely on Tuesday, who the Falcons bring in and who they possibly sign to...
