With training camp drawing closer, we will be highlighting the one big question that faces each of the Indianapolis Colts’ position groups.
Up next is the special teams unit, where a competition at kicker is taking place.
Who will be the Colts’ kicker this season?
Competing for this job are Blake Grupe and Spencer Shrader.
Shrader missed most of last season after sustaining an ACL injury. Before then, he was 14-for-14 on extra points and 13-of-14 on field goals, which included hitting a game-winner against Denver.
Grupe joined the team in Week 14 and was a perfect 10-for-10 on field goal attempts and 11-for-11 on extra points, according to PFF. He was then re-signed this offseason as a free agent.
Special teams coordinator Brian Mason said that this year’s kicking competition between Grupe and Schrader will be structured similarly to last year’s. Every attempt, even in individual periods, will be tracked, while how these two perform in more high-leverage situations will be factored in as well.
While there is still a way to go in this battle, Grupe may have the early advantage. According to Jake Arthur of Colts Roundtable, Shrader would go just 3-for-5 on his attempts during one minicamp practice, missing one to the left and another to the right. Grupe, meanwhile, went 5-for-5.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Key question for Colts’ special teams unit in training camp
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Paul Bretl, Colts Wire | USA TODAY Network
