Saints rookie kicker Blake Grupe impressing during training camp
Over the past two seasons, the kicker position has been a bit up in the air for the New Orleans Saints. Wil Lutz has missed time with injuries, and his performances have been much more inconsistent since the earlier days of his career. That being said, he is 100% healthy right now. Lutz has performed […]
Over the past two seasons, the kicker position has been a bit up in the air for the New Orleans Saints. Wil Lutz has missed time with injuries, and his performances have been much more inconsistent since the earlier days of his career. That being said, he is 100% healthy right now. Lutz has performed well so far in training camp, but one rookie is jockeying for his spot as the Saints' starting kicker.
That's Blake Grupe. Grupe may be the smallest player on the team, but his play is standing out to the coaching staff and media members as quite large. On two different training camp practice days, he hit all six of his attempts.
He's hit a 59-yarder during his time with the team already as well. It doesn't look like nerves have been an issue for the rookie so far.
The Saints gave Lutz a new deal in the offseason, but the money isn't preventative to choosing a different kicker to be their top option. Specifically, it was a pay cut in comparison to what Lutz was set on making this year.
At that position, you have to choose the player that is performing better. As of now, Grupe and Lutz have been on the same wavelength when it comes to practice so far.
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