Los Angeles Rams Make Kicker Change After Special Teams Woes

Sean McVay, head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, announced an overhaul of the team’s kicking game following continued special teams troubles. On Monday, kicker Harrison Mevis missed a critical 50-yard field goal early in the game and had a potential game-winning 48-yard attempt blocked in overtime against the Buffalo Bills. This led to a narrow 37-34 loss.

As a result, the Rams released Mevis on Tuesday, a move verified by OutKick, with NFL Network initially reporting on these changes. To fill the vacant position, the team signed Blake Grupe from the New York Jets’ practice squad. McVay openly criticized the performance of the special teams, indicating it’s been a point of ongoing frustration since he became head coach in 2017.

“In the kicking game, especially with our PAT, field goal, not even close to good enough,” McVay stated post-game. “It cost us the game tonight.”

The Rams have experienced significant challenges with their special teams under McVay’s leadership. Since he took charge, both regular season and playoff games have seen a total of 81 kicks either missed or blocked, ranking third highest in the NFL. This specific issue has been exacerbated this season with opponents blocking three of their kicks, tied for the most in the league as reported by ESPN.

Despite the missed opportunities, Mevis commented, “I felt like I hit it good. That’s all I can tell you. I mean, I hit it good, gave it a chance. I’ll have to look.” Known for his unique moniker, the “Thicker Kicker,” due to his 245-pound frame, Mevis had once displayed strong statistics. Last season, he nailed 12 out of 13 field goal attempts and was flawless in playoff performances.

However, this season has proven to be more challenging for the 24-year-old, making only five out of nine attempts in the first five games. Hoping for more consistent results, the Rams are turning to Grupe, a 27-year-old who has previous experience with the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. Across his career, he has successfully completed 86 of 106 field goal attempts and 96 of 98 extra-point tries.

Having concluded the prior season with the Colts, Grupe made all of his 11 field goal attempts in the five games he played. The Rams are optimistic that he provides the stability needed in their kicking game moving forward.