Colts' punt-blocking guru got rival coach fired
The Indianapolis Colts were able to block a punt and force the punter to fumble on back-to-back drives in Week 13. And that accomplishment has led to the Tennessee Titans firing their special teams coordinator. While some may say it was just dumb luck that the Colts were able to force two turnovers on back-to-back […]
The Indianapolis Colts were able to block a punt and force the punter to fumble on back-to-back drives in Week 13.
And that accomplishment has led to the Tennessee Titans firing their special teams coordinator.
While some may say it was just dumb luck that the Colts were able to force two turnovers on back-to-back punts, I'd say it was years of work and success from first-year Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason arriving on the NFL stage.
During his time coaching at the collegiate level, Mason began to be called a "field goal/punt blocking guru" as the programs he ran would have tremendous success in that category. Mason was the special teams coordinator for the Cincinnati Bearcats in 2021 when the team would earn a spot in the College Football Playoffs. His unit led the nation in blocked field goals with six and was seventh in the nation in blocked punts with three.
His success at the University of Cincinnati would lead to him getting the opportunity to return to his home state of Indiana to become the special teams coordinator for the University of Notre Dame in 2022. While his tenure with the Irish was only one season, his group was able to block seven punts, which led the nation. To make it even more impressive, the Fighting Irish had only blocked six punts total over the last decade before Mason joined the team.
This leads us to present day, where Mason is in his first season in the NFL as the Colts special teams coordinator. And he is coming off a week where his team was able to block one punt and force a fumble on the very next drive to lead to the Colts picking up a needed win. Mason's Week 13 success led to Titans special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman losing his job, and if other teams aren't careful, Mason may do the same to them.
A big reason for the Colts four-game winning streak
The Indianapolis Colts are among the best in the NFL in this specific stat during their four-game winning streak.
Indianapolis Colts Week 13 Player of the Week
Highlighting the Indianapolis Colts Week 13 Player of the Week following their win over the Tennesee Titans. Or should we say Players.
