Younghoe Koo’s NFL debut was a brutal introduction to the harsh realities of life at the highest level.

The undrafted free agent won the starting job with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017.

Koo only lasted four weeks into his rookie seasonGetty Images – Getty

His game-tying 44-yard field goal was blocked on the road against the Denver Broncos in Week 1.

And the South Korean’s home debut saw him miss from the same distance with seconds remaining in a 19-17 defeat to the Miami Dolphins.

Two weeks later, Koo was cut in favor of 10-year veteran Nick Novak by the 0-4 Chargers with a 3-6 record on field goals.

“Koo was kicking the ball fine,” head coach Anthony Lynn said.

“He had the one bad outing in Miami. Players have a bad day. But watching him over the last couple weeks, pregame, in practice, you know, I’ve seen enough.

“It was time to bring in someone with a little more consistency and experience.

“But I think Koo is gonna have a long NFL career. I told him a lot of rookies get cut early in their career and come back and play for a lot of years. He may be back here, who knows?”

Lynn was right about his rookie’s potential.

After a spell in the AAF with the Atlanta Legends and an 11-day period on the New England Patriots practice squad, he joined the Atlanta Falcons in 2019 and has not looked back

NFL kickers have taken their craft to new heights this season with 50-yard-bombs being dropped up and down the country every week.

And Koo has been the pick of the bunch so far as Justin Tucker endures a rare run of poor form.

Koo has been perfect with the boot this seasonReuters – USA Today Sports

A 58-yard walk-off missile in the 26-24 win over the New Orleans Saints left the 30-year-old a perfect 9-for-9 on the season.

Koo sat down with talkSPORT’s Will Gavin ahead of the game and discussed how the standard of kicking has reached new heights.

“I think it always has been a high standard. At our position, you have to do your job every day, whether in practice or a game, try to stick around and make sure that you’re doing your job,” he said.

“So you’re not hurting the team and you’re helping the team. But I think it’s credit to kickers across the board just elevating the game and elevating the standard for all.

“So it’s been a great competition. It’s been great for the game.

“I think the standard always has been there, but guys have just been making kicks. The standard and the expectations have gone up for sure.”

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey matched Tucker’s record 66-yard field goal during preseason.

He also nailed a 66-yarder in the regular season, but it was called back for a delay-of-game penalty.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy came under fire – not only for failing to avoid the flag by calling a timeout, but for denying his star a shot at history with a 71-yard effort after the penalty.

Koo, who has made 89.1% of his career field goal attempts, says it is a matter of time before Tucker’s record is broken.

“I think at this level everybody can hit 60-plus yard field goals. Everybody has that leg,” he revealed.

“But my mindset is, ‘How do I make that thing go straight?’ So you can hit a big ball, you can hit 70, 80 yards.

“But if it’s not inside the uprights, it doesn’t matter. So I’m just trying to dial it in. How far can you go back without missing the kick? My mindset is a little bit different.

“My approach to the ball is a little bit different, a little bit narrower. I lose a little bit of power that way, but it’s still good. 60 and in, 61, 62, 63. I think it’ll be fine.

“But realistically, in a game, if you look at the stats, how many times are you really kicking 63-yard field goals?

“It’s a lot of the 30s and 40s inside the 50. And now, I guess inside the 60, those are the ones that you have to make.

“Guys are strong right now. Guys are hitting the ball really well.

“I think it’s credit to not only the kickers, but the full operation.
The snapper and the long snapper and the holder, they’re taking their craft seriously to make our jobs easier.

“So the operation is as clean as it can be. I think all records are meant to be broken.

“This year I definitely see it with the guys that we have in this league that are really excelling right now.”

The NFL makes its long awaited return to London this weekend and talkSPORT 2 will bring you all three London games over the next three weeks, starting from this Sunday as we have exclusive commentary of the New York Jets taking on the undefeated Minnesota Vikings at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium!

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