Koo Might Be the Weirdest Kicker in the NFL

I both love and hate watching Koo play football, he's really good but I don't understand how in the slightest

[@salsanacho]

I hate how they count blocked FG's against the kicker. It's not his fault his line let everyone and their mother just waltz on through.

[@stevenschiro1838]

depends. Some yes, others no (if they kick too low and it gets blocked)

[@Ballinbmac]

Same reason interceptions are counted as incomplete passes

[@joelthewookie472]

@@Ballinbmacthat doesn’t translate at all lol

[@neelkumar9839]

then made FGs should also be counted for the team, since they didnt allow the other team to block it?

[@redsteel7292]

@@stevenschiro1838 or if they kick too slow

[@PrinceTalonSabre]

Well, you know how the quote goes: "It don't have to look pretty. It don't have to look smooth. It can look like a dying duck, but the ball has to go through the middle."

[@usdave2115]

i don't think that is a real quote

[@nickc.7800]

@@usdave2115 That's a quote from the film "Facing the Giants," I believe. It was from one of the assistant coaches to the team's kicker during a practice.

[@therealmonkfromtibet]

it doesn't*

[@Isaac_Abrahamm]

Haha you watch Kendrick brothers films? Me too 😂

[@FrancisAzarian]

@@therealmonkfromtibetit’s a quote, if your quoting someone usually don’t correct their grammar

[@MrKhatMan]

I literally noticed that too, how straight on he seemed compared to other kickers.

[@chucklestheclown8024]

Like old school field goal kickers from the 60's.

[@sneakerfacevids441]

You “literally” noticed ? Or maybe you just noticed ? WTF.

[@kickdeboll]

Same

[@axg5929]

@@sneakerfacevids441 damn that pissed you off a lot lmao

[@abnego9676]

​@@sneakerfacevids441At least he didn't figuratively notice? Lol

[@Hutch76k]

Koo has only started using this style and steps in the last season or so. He used a more conventional approach when he broke into the league and even in his first few seasons in Atlanta. Would be cool to see a comparison of Koo at Georgia Southern, Chargers to now.

[@chrisperry2754]

okay, really really bad, okay, okay, really good, maybe bad again. There is your super cool comparison.

[@jeffk4710]

ye cuz he trained with one of the GOATs

[@NoToBigBro]

👍

[@alexlevinson8629]

Damn I didn’t know he was a GS boy

[@bo0tybandit]

He sucked with the chargers, so I'd say whatever he's doing is working.

[@ConnorStephens25]

bro casually dropped the justin tucker college film after releasing his downfall video 😂 I've been loving the content, as a high school kicker where it seems nobody cares about special teams, I really appreciate your in-depth analysis like this that makes me feel like a more important part of the team.

[@IsaacPunts]

Kickers are important, the lack of people thinking they're important literally comes from how good all of us have become so we've created an unparallel equity in this position.

[@CoachCarter102]

I never understood the importance of a punt until this year and now every time a team gets pinned inside the 5 I jump for joy!

[@danielcooper8964]

Glad I'm not going crazy - i saw him hit the game winner against the saints, and thought he was lined up way more in-line than is normal in the league.

[@JW_03_]

So did I. Where were you sitting?

[@seojunpark5293]

I like to line up inside as well, my hips are rotated outward so its easier for me to generate power when lined up inside, maybe it's the same for koo

[@VictorSabater-s1f]

Thanks for the video. I appreciate the analytics you won't see on TV. He seems to draw more attention than other NFL kickers.

[@Kings0424]

He is so underrated

[@tkdalan]

i'm a fan of Koo... but he's legit considered one of the best in the league? Not sure how he's underrated at this point. Unless you a casual lol.

[@Boogie22ta]

Not sure about that. He’s been top 3 for years imo and I'm a Chiefs fan

[@Dixon_Cider407]

​@@tkdalan Stop calling everyone with a difference in opinion a casual smh

[@JaypH0924]

kickers usually have less popularity, just the nature of the sport's audience. not underrated but less glamorized than other positions for sure. And to be brutally honest, being asian doesnt help.

[@Sampdelu]

@@JaypH0924 That's fair, but he is very firmly one of the most famous kickers in the league

[@dyi620]

Crazy. I was JUST saying that to a buddy about Koo's form. We Koreans really love him since he's the only Korean in the league. Grew up not too far from me in North Jersey. Much love to your channel and all of your analysis. Keep up the great work!

[@abtrtomr]

Not exactly, my friend. Kyler Murray is 1/4 Korean. Grandmother is full. Mom is half. He said he is proud of his [Korean] heritage, and even had a S. Korean flag sticker on his helmet with an American flag. There are a ton of pictures. Google it. Yes, I said that correctly. SOUTH KOREAN FLAG ON HIS CARDINALS HELMET. "I’m proud to play with the flag of South Korea on my helmet. It’s a great way to honor my mom, honor my heritage and highlight the diverse backgrounds that make up the NFL," Murray said, via the Cardinals official website.

[@abtrtomr]

Also, the most prominent would be Hines Ward, who is half-Korean, the former Steeler's WR. Probable future Hall of Famer. He was also a two-time Super Bowl winner, Super Bowl MVP, three-time All-Pro, four-time Pro Bowler, and three-time team MVP.

[@dyi620]

@abtrtomr agreed. Definitely the most prominent!

[@thek3289]

Kyle Hamilton is half-Korean

[@dyi620]

@@thek3289 a beast too

[@WT83]

The legend. In one of his first Falcons games he got two onside kicks in a row. He's a legit specialist, like Rock Lee.

[@lestersmith7]

Lol I was noticing his form again last night and no joke thought to myself that Isaac Punts has likely made a video talking about this and I should check it out. Also I think Auburn’s true freshman kicker Towns McGough developed the yips in last weeks game vs Oklahoma. It started due to more horrible clock/game management from Hugh Freeze. Unable to stop the clock and out of timeouts Freeze had the kicking team rush onto the field to get off what was a makable field goal before the half. McGough was rushed and hooked it pretty bad. Fortunately Oklahoma had a flag, which allowed McGough a second chance and time to make an even more makable kick. He hooked that one badly too. He then went on to hook every single kickoff and field goal attempt afterwards. I’m hoping the rushing just caused his form to get out of whack, but I seriously think the poor kid has the yips. He’s the backup to McPherson who’s been struggling with health issues. Keep an eye out for the Auburn kicking game against Georgia this weekend. Auburn is a train wreck right now, and I think too much blame is being put on Thorne. I think it’s a coaching issue more than anything. Thank goodness. It appears he was able to work out the issue. He was back to himself against Georgia. No longer hooking everything. Was likely a footwork/form issue and not the psychological issue that goes with the yips.

[@kingslayer3796]

On why he missed: Thoughts on ball placement on hashes affecting kickers? From watching every Falcons game, I know Koo almost always kicks a draw (golf term - right to left ball flight) and his preferred hash for XP's is the right hash. My thinking for his miss from 40 was the ball being spotted directly in the middle of the field, affecting his mental "line" for where he's aiming his kick. I think if he's on either hash, he has an easy target (right upright) to aim for with his ball flight. When he's in the middle, idk if he trusts it enough to aim outside the right upright knowing it will draw back.

[@toubeelo1979]

This makes sense. Back when my cousins and I would practice throwing football at the park, not having lines marked on the grass really missed with our anticipation throws. We just end up throwing after they made the cut instead of before the make the cut. When there were lines marked on the grass, throwing came a lot easier.

[@OTDub]

This is a good analysis.

[@emersonarriety]

I've been talking about Koo's kicking method lately so I'm so glad that you made this video.

[@miniharez]

say what you will, dude has a weird strength to him and his method that works and is pretty cool 😆

[@OTDub]

And he's not afraid to play free safety on kickoffs either!

[@brianandrews4716]

Thursday's night game against the Bucs.....Koo launches into a tackle attempt, and gets a pretty good helmet to helmet knock. Guy has to be careful out there. Be the TD saving tackler, not the teams headhunter.

[@DK-jy4jb]

In high school he was all-northern NJ as a D-back -- guy knows how to hit better than most kickers

[@brianandrews4716]

@@DK-jy4jb Appreciate the info, didn't know that about him. As a Falcon fan, I'm actually shocked that the upstairs booth didn't signal down after that one attempted tackle, (Falcons had I think three players that went in the tent that night), especially when they replayed it three times after the contact.

[@lukeplummer7521]

Bro, I totally noticed this watching him kick last week; and was telling my wife all about what your saying 😂😂😂

[@gracexpeace]

He dropped some heavy points in fantasy for me this week so I'm HERE FOR IT!

[@An_Enraged_Pig]

As an Asian American I hope one day we see a full Asian QB or star player in the NFL! At least we got MLb hahaha!

[@usersixnine347]

Dat Nguyen was a full 5’10 Vietnamese linebacker for the Dallas cowboys, was an all pro and is franchise top 10 all time in tackles. Also in the college football hall of fame for Texas aNm

[@GraveDigga816]

waiting for a yao ming and jeremy lin

[@ADUSN]

@@usersixnine347 Didn't know about this guy( a little before my time), thanks for sharing. Koo is special and has an entire country behind him!

[@squiggs1002]

@@usersixnine347 Troy Polamalu, Roman Gabriel was filipino american- won MVP one year multiple pro bowls

[@davidjones7493]

Also Haruki Nakamura of the Ravens.. he played high score in my city

[@philbridges3033]

As a Falcons fan, he drives me crazy with that approach, but hey, it works.

[@Christian-zk6wf]

Dude is clutch as fuck when it counts.

[@Upsideround]

You don't know what clutch means. Dude is wildly inaccurate. But hey tell yourself whatever you have to. He misses more FG than most other kickers. He wouldn't be "clutch" if he didn't miss in the first place

[@utryping]

@@Upsideround 4th in career fg% ydkb

[@canucan]

@@Upsideround What an ourageous statement.

[@abhinavpotluri9654]

@@Upsideround This is just dishonest. He is statistically one off the most accurate kickers in the league, and he's never missed a walk-off field goal.

[@Josh-uq8yx]

​@@UpsideroundThis mf gotta be a saints fan

[@seaborn7023]

Thanks for this, I have often wondered about Koo’s form and why it looks so different from other kickers. And, yes, I get anxiety every time he kicks, regardless of the fact that he’s one of the best FG kickers in the NFL….And that ‘tell’ there on the snap just worries me more.

[@securitychiefodo9382]

The way butker stands before he kicks a fg is absolutely fabulous fancy pants man. The hand flare and all

[@Session26]

Actually its old taught technique from the 80s. Ray Pelphrey of Professional Kicking Services instructed on this approach. Others perfected the concept as well. Look at old video of John Kasey (Charoltte), Roger Ruzek (Dallas), Jeff Hall ( TN Vols). Very straight set up to the uprights and approach step is straight at the target. Hips don't move from start through the kick. This guy just has some things in his set-up to kick that puts him in his comfort zone. Nothing wrong with it as long as it goes through. Longest high school fieldgoal in history was made with this technique (Dirk Borgonone, Nevada Sparks 1985 68 yards).

[@esongsore]

As a saints fan, I always thought something was unique about his approach. Interesting video...haha

[@hks956]

Love his form. He just found something that worked and took it to the nfl. Cool to me.

[@todaywaspretty6309]

His form has evolved because he was not kicking like the with the chargers. I know he attended john carneys kicking camp where he eventually got his shot with the aafl team and impressed the falcons enough for a tryout

[@mhtate3626]

I think he also had one that was blocked which was a bummer to see - Can't be strongly blamed on the kick/snap/hold though.

[@jarredmattingly5369]

Could his unsettled movements pre-snap be an attempt to mis queue the defense, or obfuscate any possible reads on the snap timing?

[@dishannaik9133]

He has soccer origins so it might be that

[@LancerXDS]

I know many kickers be like will judge him and say he is isn't doing it right but his stats don't lie.

[@seoulglo1999]

Nice analysis! Have you compared Koo's form to kickers in the past, like Tom Dempsey? Don't see ANY straight on kickers now.

[@DesertDonkey-c8x]

Because if a kicker did that today than they will be cut three games into three career there are better ways to kick. Koo is not a straight kicker

[@teebob21]

The straight-on toe kicking technique hasn't been effective since the early 1990s.

[@aaronkindig8016]

Thanks, I been wondering about his different form.

[@ChiefKillaCue]

I noticed this as well when he nailed that one to tie it up

[@JSalonsky]

I think when he first came in on the chargers he was traditional how normal kickers do with the 2 over, but now he does the way he does it , he just feels comfortable

[@matthewholmes8638]

After he was cut from the chargers he went and got a kicking coach. Cant remember dudes name but he was one of the best longest running nfl kickers.

[@Lovetheducks]

Kickers, goalies, and catchers are all like this they are all very unique lol

[@RippedfromVHS]

What you are watching with Koo is a kicking technique conceived in the early 90's called "American Wedge" which was created by Ray and Rob Pelfrey. The Pelfrey's created this technique to do a few things. The first is to open up your foot very wide to get under the ball and create maximum height. The second reason for the wedge is to get your leg up and through the ball in a straight line, instead of roundhouse swinging at the ball like Justin Tucker does. They believed that going straight through the ball leads to better accuracy. The biggest problem with the American Wedge technique is that it takes about 5 yards off your kicks, which is why most kickers moved away from it by the late 1990's.

[@bobbymoss6160]

Doesn't matter what his form is as long as he kicks that ball between the goal posts.

[@Propane_Acccessories]

When his family goes outside and flies a light frame covered with cloth at the end of string, they are Koo Kiters

[@themods175]

Koo sometimes misses easy kicks, but he's so good at the clutches. I think he is just the guy who is naturally loves and enjoys hard situation.

[@steve13191]

it really doesnt matter. watch european football sometimes the real football and the variety of technique they actually use. there is no right or wrong technique.

[@nochepatada]

"Things kickers do that you never cared about but are kinda interesting"

[@KingMuncheez]

With this kind of breakdown it actually is a genius way to kick on a couple levels; there’s no tells for the kick/snap count because he doesn’t have to cover ground or move a lot before the kick so the defense can’t jump or predict the snap to block the kick and he reduces the chances if they do because his motion is compacted which keeps his legs out of harm way. But to generate such burst in a limited set of motion means that homie’s legs are tactical nukes lol😅

[@trimule]

(Old man voice) "You young punks ain't seen nothin'! Back in '61 when these two Hungarian brothers from the ivy League started this weird "soccer style" kicking and were booming the big ones, people went nuts!" "That's not how you kick a football! You line up straight behind the ball, take a couple of steps and put your toe into it. Of course if your toe is a half inch off center, God knows where it will go, but THATS how you kick a football!"

[@DK-jy4jb]

Remember the barefoot kickers like Tony Franklin and Rich Karlis? What happened to the barefoot kickers?

[@Session26]

Pete and Charlie Gogolak

[@MCLthree000]

The guy is undeniably great. His form is definitely due to Korean soccer instruction mixed with American football place kicking instruction (oddiy?)There’s a bit of both. I think he found what worked and rolled with it

[@cauzey1319]

it always felt weird seeing him kick idk why, but this vid helped explain why lol

[@1ballinboyz]

The way he lines up makes it seem like he's going to miss left every time.

[@jayblake682]

He may have weird form, but down her, In Koo We Trust

[@dopedafi03]

The kicks go through the post that’s all the matters. Ask Rick Barry about his free throw shooting

[@tobiasnicholls9837]

Kaimi Fairbairn is also sorta weird, his kicks are curveballs, theyll start faking one direction before cutting back the other way

[@topsykretts2264]

Koo has been one of the best kicker in the league for years!

[@cmonkey3698]

Usually when the ball curves in the air like that it's because the holder didn't have the laces lined up right. Maybe with his form the holder should be angling it differently? It seems like his kicks do that every time.

[@HahahaNicholaskyle]

He’s originally a soccer player…he learned football when he moved to America…I was thinking that’s just what feels comfortable to him. He has more of a soccer kick to his form.

[@Haddonfield63]

I love Koo. He don’t miss. Best replacement for Matt Bryant

[@yodaddy9362]

It just how he feel most comfortable. In Soccer some players need like 4 or 5 strides to get power. Some just need 2 or 3 step.

[@yukotrey9422]

Still my GOAT tho. KING KOO 👑

[@MikeGoneFishing]

It might not look good but it works.. sometimes

[@evanbc813]

I was saying this to myself when I was watching the game, his form of kicking is so unusual and unlike anything else I've ever seen out of an NFL kicker. And he's top 5 in the league.

[@zalaquin]

1:15 dude thinks he’s in salsa class

[@kaspershaupt]

His form was honestly pissing me off. Was hoping you would talk about it

[@Jordan.Vaughn]

You should do a video on 49ers kicker Jake Moody. Allegedly has the worlds bigest leg but can't make a kick under pressure to save his life

[@lamThinker]

My fantasy team lives and dies with Koo. In Koo I trust

[@agabello]

Weird but man was he clutch when it mattered

[@CruceEntertainment]

The important thing is that it goes through the uprights

[@fam-a-lee7513]

His Taekwondo training is probably to blame, especially with the planting foot opening wide. We do that to stop and generate jumping force into spinning kicks.

[@warrennilsen637]

Yes. It’s unusual

[@neubiineubii2931]

and people say scotty scheffler has a weird swing, but the guy dominates the pga tour.

[@teebob21]

And Jim Furyk before that

[@ish0tyou993]

I've been told that his form is more inline with what he did back when he played soccer.

[@uscitizen5656]

If Koo actually hit the ball like most guys he could probably hit a 65 yarder with no problem. He's leaning back and falling away when he kicks the ball. I played soccer @ 28 and wish I had learned this style in High School.

[@guccixmouse]

I always imagine when he misses a kick there is two Chinamen waiting on the sidelines to whip him while he apologized in Mandarin to a photo of Xi Chi Ping

[@seanzibonanzi64]

Ditto, I get anxious watching him and I'm not even a Falcons fan.

[@az00001]

He's a tae kwon do black belt! What do you expect?

[@RippyClippy]

Nice sign of the cross before kicking a football in practice

[@stubby1122]

He kicks by feel instead of form. My kicking didn't look like his either but I never counted steps....all by feel.

[@lyonkang7402]

His kicking form is actually really unsettling to watch. There’s just something about it

[@SteezyKyung]

He lines it up how soccer players line up free kicks. It’s a better technique for smaller kickers to generate more power while they sacrfice accuracy. If you hit a soccer ball like that he hits a knuckle ball.

[@willburgos5963]

This guy has no soul. Totally unconscious. What an animal.

[@KunaiForce]

As one of the most accurate kickers lately, maybe it’s the new meta

[@joenogra2968]

As long as he gets me my fantasy points, he can kick running backwards for all I care.

[@weirdinterestingideas]

Wow, this is genius.

[@laughingpanda4395]

Koo is quickly becoming a legend here in the ATL for his weird stance to his near automatic kicks. I never worry when he needs to hit one from 55+, although that stance does indeed induce some anxiety 😂 I still have no clue why Young HOE is pronounced Young WAY, though. Maybe im just an idiot. Guess it doesnt matter so long as he keeps hitting them FG's

[@PowerliftingCollege]

His name is 구영회 in Korean and 회 is pronounced more like Hwey. I'm actually impressed that announcers know how to correctly pronounce his name instead of saying Hoe 🤣🤣

[@livefreefamily]

But he is still one of the best kickers in the league right now who cares it’s his way

[@devinmoran59]

He also celebrates his made kick in his routine before he kicks the thing.

[@diontelatte]

bruh’s government is YoungHoe , thats pretty Koo

[@Omar-us9ir]

Whatever works for him right, Aaron Rodgers said he doesn’t believe getting up at 5-6 am to start grinding out training. Whatever works for that person.

[@soolly357]

He kicks it like a soccer ball

[@2irl]

That's my goat

[@Boothreviewbricks]

Makes me anxious

[@Rayzajw]

He's the Shawn Marion of kickers

[@danieledlin9154]

Koo story bro. 😎

[@Ace911-k1h]

I’ll take him on my team any day

[@Kdang05]

Cairos santos will forever be the weirdest kicker in my book.

[@ah-xc5ex]

greatest kicker of all time

[@Alex-p5e5k]

Koo is a legend lol

[@TheGuitarded1]

Koo de grâce

[@ChristianCageWWE]

Waiting for Koo on Physical 100!!

[@Richxwolf]

Bro has a tyrese haliburton typa jumper. Weird asf. But does the job really well 💯

[@younged510]

I seen that too.. I was like what....

[@allphornunn]

It's almost like he taught himself without formal training & settled into his technique organically. Especially the peculiar foot movement after he takes 3 steps back - no way anyone with formal training would encourage that imo

[@JT_for_Three]

I seriously thought at first that his name was SumyoungHoo

[@jr4chargers]

He seems to kick more like a free kick in soccer/football.

[@_Itchy_Bones_]

It sounds like kicking is just golf swing mechanics with your legs