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Rodrigo Blankenship appears to be at ease heading into NFL season

On3 imageby:Wes Blankenship•08/22/22
On3 image
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 11: Rodrigo Blankenship #3 of the Indianapolis Colts looks before missing a field goal during the fourth quarter in a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Rodrigo Blankenship could not be cooler heading into his third NFL season. His entrance for the Colts’ preseason game with Detroit says it all.

Most guys walk in to their pregame rituals with some designer shoes.

Maybe some elite sneakers, or a shined up pair of high-fashion dress shoes. Cowboy boots are also on the table.

But Rodrigo Blankenship walks his own path. Marches to the beat of his own drum.

Rolls to the tune of his own Heelys.

Rodrigo Blankenship enters his third season with the Indianapolis Colts in a kicking competition

Jake Verity handled the kicking duties for the Colts in their 27-16 preseason loss to the Lions.

According to team beat writers and those who cover the team, it appears as if it’s just a trial run to see how much Verity can push Blankenship.

I’ll admit, I don’t keep up with the Colts on a daily basis.

Indianapolis has a special place in my heart after I witnessed Georgia football’s first National Championship win since 1980.

And I’ll admit, I’m pulling for Matt Ryan after his unceremonious exit from the Atlanta Falcons.

But other than Rodrigo Blankenship, I find myself identifying more and more as a NFL nomad.

Obviously, I want the Dawgs in the NFL to do well.

Go Chubb. Go Pickens. And so on.

There are a lot of those former Dawgs in the League, in case you missed it.

So I’ll defer to the experts for claims like this one, per Roto Baller:

“The Athletic’s Zak Keefer gets the sense that the Indianapolis Colts kicking job is Rodrigo Blankenship’s to lose in training camp.”

Seems easy enough. And Blankenship’s wheeled entrance all but confirms his confidence in himself, at least.

Should Blankenship win the job, he will have to continue his rookie momentum – and stay healthy – to keep it

Blankenship hurt his hip in his second professional season and only played five games.

Dating back to his rookie year, Hot Rod is 43 of 51 in his NFL career for an 84% success rate. He is also a 62% touchback kicker (I think that’s how you phrase that) through 15 attempts.

Rodrigo is rollin’ right along after his Georgia career made him a cult hero with Bulldogs fans and College Football fans alike.

He married his college sweetheart over the summer.

Now he has some more work to do on the field.

Yes, his feet are his money makers.

Doesn’t mean he can’t have a little fun in the process.

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