Colts' Coaching Decisions Under Scrutiny Amid Kicking Changes

The Indianapolis Colts are currently facing intense scrutiny regarding their coaching decisions, particularly concerning their kicking game. Recently, the team signed kicker Blake Grupe to their practice squad after a workout that also included Justin Tucker, a five-time first-team All-Pro kicker who was reinstated from a suspension this season.

Despite his impressive career stats, Tucker's performance this season has been subpar, making only 24 of 32 field-goal attempts, which ranked him last in the league with a 73.3 percent success rate, according to Pro Football Talk.

This decision to explore options, including Grupe, comes amid mounting frustration with current kicker Michael Badgley. In a critical Week 13 loss to the Houston Texans, Badgley missed an extra point that proved costly, as the Colts lost 20-16.

Head coach Shane Steichen expressed his disappointment in Badgley’s missed opportunities while trying to maintain a supportive tone, stating, 'Badge knows he's gotta make the PATs. But I love Badge. I love Badge the player.

I love Badge the person.' Despite Badgley’s strong field-goal performance, making 10 of 11 attempts, his three missed extra points have drawn significant criticism and have not been seen since Adam Vinatieri in 2019, as noted by Horseshoe Heroes.

The Colts are in a precarious position as they consider potential kicking changes while also needing to maintain a sense of confidence in their current roster. The upcoming weeks will be critical as they navigate these decisions and work towards improving their performance as they approach the end of the season.

The uncertainty surrounding Badgley’s future and the team’s overall trajectory is likely to keep the coaching staff under a microscope as fans and analysts alike await the outcomes of these pivotal choices.