Rams Employ Unique Kicking Strategy in Victory Over Chargers

The Los Angeles Rams employed a distinctive approach to their kicking game during their triumph over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. They used three different players for kicking duties. Brandon McManus successfully nailed all four of his attempts, which included three extra points and a simple field goal. Joshua Karty, brought in specifically for kickoffs, received penalties on two of his five kickoffs for falling short of the intended area. Meanwhile, Ethan Evans took charge of the punts, maintaining his role throughout the season.

This scenario marked a rare instance where kickoffs and kicking responsibilities were assigned to separate players within the same team. Rams head coach Sean McVay discussed the strategy after the team’s 24-9 win at SoFi Stadium.

“The thought process behind it was we had not been having any success covering kicks,” McVay mentioned, as reported by Pro Football Talk. “We’ve got to be better in that area, but you did see when we were able to cover it, because he hits a really good ball that’s hard to field. They’re not going to be able to field it clean and we’re getting a start before they’re getting their return set up. That was the thinking behind it. But obviously we did not want to have two plays that put it on the 40, where you’re kicking it short of the landing zone.”

The Rams have faced ongoing special teams challenges, which have significantly impacted their recent seasons. Their playoff run ended last season due to a punt return touchdown by the Seattle Seahawks. The previous year, they lost a crucial game against the Philadelphia Eagles, partly due to poor field position in snowy conditions.

The persistent issues indicate a need for deeper investment in improving this aspect. The Rams took a considerable step on Sunday. The key question remains whether they will continue with this dynamic approach.