Stampede Blue
The Colts enjoyed stability at the kicking position once upon a time when Adam Vinatieri would trot out to make his attempts. He wasn’t perfect, as no kicker is, but he was comfortable. Not blessed with the biggest leg, there were still no areas on the field that made fans feel uneasy. Over the years, that has changed with unreliability taking center stage as fans found themselves unsure of what to expect out of the place kicker for the Indianapolis Colts. That seemed to be somewhat solved as Spencer Shrader brought reliability and dependability back into the fold. After a season ending knee injury, that is all gone, however. The Colts are now back on the market for a kicker which is a bad place to be.
In what seemed like an incredibly late hit, Shrader was injured on an extra point attempt and tumbled to the ground. He got up but not without help, and the Colts greatest fears were realized as he is now out for the season. There are plenty of kickers on the open market. Stories surrounding the available names have been written over the last few days, but they are on the open market for a reason. They clearly have flaws but can also flash potential. Look at Mike Hilton. He has been very serviceable in his relief of the injured Kenny Moore. There are good players who are at home on the couch who can come in an contribute in a meaningful way. While that is true, it doesn’t make it ideal.
Shrader wasn’t perfect. Let’s get that out there. His leg strength could have become a factor if/when the Colts find themselves in situations in which games are tighter and the defenses stiffen up before the redzone. He was having an excellent season up to this point, however. He was 13/14 on field goals and perfect on extra points. That is steady production. As fans were just starting to become comfortable with him, it is time to look elsewhere to complete the season. The Colts could turn to familiar faces like Maddux Trujillo, Rodrigo Blankenship, or Michael Badgley or look for a completely new prospect. There are options. Making the right move will be crucial. The kicking game has to continue clicking at a high rate because although the Colts are scoring in droves right now, it doesn’t mean they are at a level of talent and ability to let points come off the board.
Kickers can be taken for granted or seen as secondary to many when building a roster, but having a reliable kicker can mean everything. How many games have been altered just by missing an extra point? In a game of inches, every point matters. Spencer Shrader was demonstrating he was a winner, and losing him is a major blow. Ideally, he will be back healthy next year and fans won’t even feel the transition. If the new guy starts to miss a few from 45-yards or an extra...
