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Indianapolis Colts: 3 battles we’re excited to watch at OTAs

By Jerry Trotta

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Frank Reich head coach of the Indianapolis Colts is seen at the 2019 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Frank Reich head coach of the Indianapolis Colts is seen at the 2019 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Colts kicker Eddy Pineiro (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

2. Rodrigo Blankenship vs Eddy Pineiro

It didn’t take long for fans to connect the dots that Rodrigo Blankenship’s job is somewhat up for grabs following the surprise signing of Eddy Pineiro.

While some fans might consider that harsh against Blankenship, his inconsistency as a rookie proved he needed to face some pressure heading into his second season.

For starters, Blankenship missed a chip shot field goal against Buffalo in the playoffs…a game Indianapolis ultimately lost by three points. Though that loss wasn’t entirely his fault, coming up short on the big stage while trying to follow in Adam Vinatieri’s footsteps definitely has the Colts questioning whether he’s cut out for the job.

Could Eddy Pineiro supplant Rodrigo Blankenship as the Colts starting kicker?

On top of that, Blankenship was anything but reliable from distance, as he converted just one of his three attempts from beyond 49 yards. You might be thinking, “He didn’t get enough opportunities from that range to warrant having to fight for his job.”

Folks, the reason Blankenship only attempted three field goals from that distance is because Indianapolis didn’t think he had the requisite leg strength to make them consistently. That really limited the Colts’ options once they crossed midfield last season.

Though we don’t have a large sample size with Pineiro, who missed all of last season with a lingering groin injury, he enjoyed a fine rookie season with the Bears in 2019 and hopefully his presence at OTAs and training camp will light a fire under Blankenship.

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