Colts 2019 season preview: Special Teams

We look at the last unit on the team as a whole before the first game on Sunday. Is this the year the special teams start to falter?

Adam Vinatieri is the only guy left on the roster who has played in a Super Bowl for the Colts. In fact, he played in two of them and won one of them. He is the NFL’s oldest player at 46, and has been in the league longer than some of his teammates have been alive.

That being said, he has been a great kicker since he’s been in the league. He is a no doubt Hall of Fame guy when he does decide to retire. But last year ended roughly for him. He missed a short field goal and an extra point in the divisional playoff loss to the Chiefs.

Unfortunately, those look like signs that this is the year that he starts to decline in terms of his play. Father Time is undefeated, and this might be the year he gets Vinatieri. He is on a year-to-year basis in terms of his career at this point. The end is very near.

The punting situation is great for the Colts however. Rigoberto Sanchez got re-signed to a deal in the offseason. He has been one of the best punters in the league since coming in. He should continue to do a great job not only this season, but years from now as well.

The return game has some room for improvement. Mainly, the Colts just need a guy with reliable hands who won’t fumble the ball. That’s the main reason they kept Chester Rogers and Zach Pascal on the team. They will be able to hold onto the ball.

For this season, the special teams don’t look to be great, but they don’t look to be terrible either. They will probably be average to above average, depending on how Vinatieri does.