Rams had shifted to an all-touchback kickoff strategy before firing special teams coach

[GlendoraRam]

The Rams fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn after they gave up a punt return touchdown that changed the momentum in Thursday’s loss to the Seahawks. But punt coverage wasn’t the only issue facing the Rams’ special teams.

Another was kickoffs, where the Rams are the only team in the NFL that usually kicks the ball into the end zone for a touchback, allowing their opponents to start on the 35-yard line. In Thursday night’s loss to the Seahawks, Ethan Evans kicked off eight times, and all eight were touchbacks to the 35-yard line.

Since Evans took over kickoff duties, the Rams have kicked touchbacks on 83.7 percent of their kickoffs, by far the most of any team in the NFL. The team with the second-highest touchback percentage in the league, the Jaguars, have kicked touchbacks on just 33.3 percent of their kickoffs. League-wide, just 18.9 percent of kickoffs have gone for touchbacks this season.

That hadn’t been the case early in the season, when Josh Karty was the kicker and the Rams were employing a strategy of trying to kick the ball low and into the landing zone, sometimes bouncing the ball into the end zone where the receiving team would get the ball at the 20-yard line, and other times giving the opposing returners kicks that were difficult to run back.

But when Karty was cut for missing too many field goals and extra points, that strategy went out the window.

It’s unclear to what extent head coach Sean McVay factored in kickoffs in his decision to fire Blackburn, but McVay had said early in the season that he was pleased with the way Karty was kicking off. The Rams moving away from that strategy when Evans took over kickoffs gave their opponents a big field position advantage. And when the opposing team is getting a big field position advantage, that can cost the special teams coordinator his job.

[SoCalRam78]

Giving ball at 35 is asinine.

[GlendoraRam]

Yep, as I wrote in my article.
Utterly stupid and McVay should have stopped this the first time this idiot employed that strategy.

[RAMFAN71]

Totally agree and I been SMH as to why they continue to do this? 35 yard line is too much advantage. But why? Coverage was not too bad when Karty was kicking off. Are they that insecure on their coverage? 84% vs next highest 33%? That tells it all. Just stop doing it. Period. Not that hard to pooch one in the landing zone. ST has been our nemesis all season long. So irritated.

[Claremontram]

Got to invest in STs in order to see a payoff on Sundays.

[UtahRam]

This is fkg insane. They should have signed Karty to a roster spot and do his squib quicks. He was great at that. The Eagles couldn't field them and put them in poor field position several times. It's completely logical to keep two kickers in this instance.

[NorCal RF]

Giving ball at 35 is asinine.

This^ rather sums it up…………..

You want to know what may be the reason why we don’t get to SB…………..This……………

[NorCal RF]

Got to invest in STs in order to see a payoff on Sundays.

Just go back and watch first half against Philly. Fast forward to now most are same ST players except Karty. It is not the players it is the philosophy that is all McVay. And Mevis has shown he can replicate what Karty did on kick-offs. Hell I bet Evans can. But you can’t if instructed to kick it through EZ…………..

[RAMFAN71]

This is fkg insane. They should have signed Karty to a roster spot and do his squib quicks. He was great at that. The Eagles couldn't field them and put them in poor field position several times. It's completely logical to keep two kickers in this instance.

It's not even needed here. Karty was good at it, but c'mon. Any kicker can go short of the endzone. It's not some top skillset. These idiots were TELLING them to touch it back. Just change that stupid idea.

[malibu]

Giving ball at 35 is asinine.

I totally agree. I wrote a thread a week ago wondering why the constant kicking off into the enszone. To me starting at the 35 is a gift. I regularly see teams make a big play and they are in long FG range. The competition committee needs to review this because kicking off into endzobe should start on the 30 not 35. Hell I would be for starting at the 25. Starting at the 30 definitely forces teams to focus n putting the ball in play. It sacks to see the Rams continually between the 25 - 32 when the ball is in play vs us kicking off and teams stating routinely at the 35. That is a net 3- 10 yards per kickoff.

[Rampager66]

Prevent Kick-Offs... SMDH!

[brasilrams]

This is fkg insane. They should have signed Karty to a roster spot and do his squib quicks. He was great at that. The Eagles couldn't field them and put them in poor field position several times. It's completely logical to keep two kickers in this instance.

It's not even needed here. Karty was good at it, but c'mon. Any kicker can go short of the endzone. It's not some top skillset. These idiots were TELLING them to touch it back. Just change that stupid idea.

Exactly . How hard it is to kick the ball with LESS strength so the ball doesn 't go into the end zone ? I don't get it . The only reason I can think of is that they hold their kickoff team in such LOW regards that they think that any kick can be returned for a TD at any moment. If the personel in the ST's unit is that bad , than they should have done a better job in the off season assembling the unit.

[therealheadslap75]

hate to say it but it's on McVay, if we get annoyed after one kickoff in the EZ, why is he watching over a dozen?

[Ants]

I was all over this during the game day chat.
My one thought is that perhaps McVay wants the special teams players to focus on their offensive and defensive duties (as back ups) rather than "wasting time" focusing on ST duties...so he figured it's better to just kick the ball into the end zone and let the opponents start on the 35 and not worry about spending time in practice reviewing coverage lanes and all that and also risking injury during the kickoffs. Pretty stupid if you ask me, but it's a theory I suppose.

[Truth]

I honestly hate the 35 yard line touchback rule. They need to move it back to the 20 yard line for touchbacks and if they are so concerned with kickers kicking the ball out of the end zone then move the kick back. That solves the issue. Gives teams an advantage that have strong kickers.

Right now making kickers pooch the ball which also leads to no chance at a KO return for TD bc the defense is already lined up on the other side of the field takes away all entertainment value. It’s as dumb as extra inning ghost runners in baseball. It’s fn stupid

[RAMFAN71]

Yeah- agree the whole rule/setup needs a revamp. Wasn't the point to stop injuries? Full speed collisions? Then why punish the touchback? They should just revert to the old way, or move the kicker back and have endzone more difficult- results in 20 yard line- not the 35.

[DVA_ram33]

McVay must have less than zero confidence in his ST to do this!