Week 1 Grade: Indianapolis Colts Special Teams
By Andrew Ites
The Colts were thoroughly outplayed on offense and defense in their season opener against the Rams, but their special teams actually played pretty well.
Special teams weren’t going to be the difference in the Colts’ 46-9 blowout loss to the Rams on Sunday, but there will come a time when Indianapolis could possibly steal a close win with a solid special teams performance. Most of the Colts’ special teams units looked good in Week 1.
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In a game where the Colts only scored 9 points there were going to be plenty of punts, but Rigoberto Sanchez punted some absolute bombs in his first NFL game. Sanchez beat out veteran Jeff Locke for the starting punter job, as we predicted at the beginning of training camp, and he did not disappoint.
He punted 6 times on Sunday with over a 50-yard average, and two of those punts pinned the Rams inside their own 20 yard line. Tavon Austin is one of the league’s most dangerous punt returners, but the Colts’ punt team only allowed 15 yards on 3 Tavon Austin returns, and successfully kicked away from him.
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Sanchez also handled the kickoff duties and kicked two touchbacks on his four kickoffs. The Colts gave up one 35 yard return to Pharoh Cooper, but held Austin to 13 yards on his only kickoff return.
Adam Vinatieri made a 20 yard field goal, but his only other field goal attempt hit the left upright from 38 yards out. He also missed his only extra point attempt, and he finally looked like a 44-year-old kicker.
The missed field goal and extra point is disappointing from Vinatieri, but Sanchez looked really good, and that may be important in a season that involves a lot of punting.