Two Former AAF Kickers Hope to Join Growing Bears Competition

GM Ryan Pace said he wasn't going to stop searching for more help for the Chicago Bears kicking position. Thus far he's been true to his word. He already signed both Redford Jones and Chris Blewitt to contracts ahead of the offseason activities this spring. It would appear he's by no means done according to several outlets. NFL Draft Diamonds reported that the team was set to meet with former AAF kicker Nick Rose for a workout. That was soon expanded by Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune stating that it was both Rose and fellow AAF alum Younghoe Koo that would be working out for the team. It's not a surprise they chose the Bears as their first destinations. It isn't a secret this team has a wide open kicking position. Most would view it as their best chance to get onto an NFL roster. All they'd have to do is make a good impression and get to training camp. From there they can just do what they do best.

"Multiple sources told the Tribune the Bears will host Younghoe Koo and Nick Rose in a tryout Wednesday at Halas Hall. It’s believed they might bring in at least one additional kicker that day. The Bears have two kickers under contract, and neither Chris Blewitt nor Redford Jones has NFL experience. Koo and Rose have both kicked in the NFL and were two of the best in the short-lived AAF season."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku4Y5ZwjCRY

Chicago Bears have two different types of kickers in Koo and Rose

Both kickers enjoyed a tremendous year for their respective teams in the AAF. Each kicked 14 field goal, connecting on all of them without a single miss. So what exactly separates them if anything? The simple answer would be leg strength. Rose has plenty of strength and proved to be reliable from range, going 3-of-4 from beyond 50 yards between his NFL and AAF stints. Koo? He's more about precision inside a certain zone. In his pro career to date, he's 1-of-4 from beyond 40 yards. However, he's a perfect 16-of-16 from inside 40. So while he might not have leg strength, he is deadly accurate when in his own range. Still, in a place like Chicago with its unpredictable weather, it isn't easy to see a kicker who lacks leg strength winning the job.