Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo hasn’t taken anything for granted since becoming the starter at the midway point of the 2019 season. Koo’s impact down the stretch was noticeable as the team won six of its final eight games.
Despite entering the 2020 season as Atlanta’s presumed starting kicker, Koo knows just how quickly you can be replaced in this league if you don’t do your job at a high level. Practicing hasn’t been easy for the 26-year-old, though, due to the national lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Koo, who lives in New Jersey during the offseason, apparently had trouble finding practice fields to kick on. As tweeted by team reporter William McFadden following Monday’s practice, Koo said cops kicked him off of fields many times over the summer.
Younghoe Koo says cops kicked him off of fields many times this summer while trying to work out, because he was in New Jersey where they were in lockdown.
— William McFadden (@willmcfadden) August 31, 2020
That wasn’t all Koo had to say on Monday, however. He addressed a number of topics, including his ability to kick a 60-yarder if necessary, per beat reporter Kelsey Conway:
Younghoe Koo says he thinks if the Falcons asked him, he could nail a 60-yarder to win the game for his team depending on the wind.
— Kelsey Conway (@FalconsKelsey) August 31, 2020
Koo was also quick to credit his teammates for last year‘s success with onside kicks, despite his clear knack for onside-kick placement. He said the other Falcons players hustling their butts off was the real reason the team was able to convert.
Younghoe Koo says his success with onside kicks last year wasn't him but rather his teammates "hustling their butts off to get the ball."
— William McFadden (@willmcfadden) August 31, 2020
Head coach Dan Quinn sounds more committed to Koo this week after backing off of his comments about bringing in another kicker for competition. It sounds like the former Georgia Southern standout is doing everything possible to become Atlanta’s long-term starter.
Perhaps it’s time to get used to Koo in that No. 7 jersey.
