Week 4 Grade: Indianapolis Colts Special Teams at Seahawks
By Andrew Ites
The Colts’ special teams have been pretty consistent throughout the first quarter of the regular season, and they put in another solid performance Sunday night against the Seahawks.
Special teams units usually aren’t going to play a huge factor in a game with a final score of 46-18, but the Colts’ kicking game was strong yet again and continues to be an important piece of this team.
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The story of the season for the Colts’ special teams has been rookie punter Rigoberto Sanchez.
Sanchez beat out Jeff Locke during training camp to replace the retired Pat McAfee, and he has had four great games punting the football to begin his career.
He pinned the Seahawks inside their own 20-yard line on 2 of his 6 punts this week, which brings his inside the 20 total to 9 through the first four games. Sanchez also kicked 3 touchbacks, and the kickoff team limited Tyler Lockett to 16 yards on his only return opportunity.
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Adam Vinatieri has returned to his old reliable self after a nightmare of a performance in Week 1. He hit his lone extra point attempt on Sunday night, and nailed a 40-yard field goal to tie the game at 18 late in the third quarter.
Quan Bray has been unspectacular in the return game this season, and it’s beginning to look like preseason superstar JoJo Natson would’ve been the better choice for the Colts’ return specialist.
Bray only averaged 16.6 yards on 5 kickoff returns on Sunday night, and the Colts’ offense needs to be given better starting field position if they are going to succeed against the league’s best defenses.