It’s time for Rams to make coaching change

Following the Los Angeles Rams beating the New Orleans Saints in Week 9, head coach Sean McVay said about the current field goal issues, “It’s cost us already and it’s been a momentum killer. The truth of it is this is not sustainable to continuously go where we want to go.” McVay continued on Monday saying, “I’ve been pleased,” when asked about special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn about how he’s handled the field goal issues and special teams unit.

However, both of those statements cannot simultaneously exist simultaneously. McVay cannot say that the current level is not sustainable while also being pleased with the coaching and having confidence in the kicker.

At some point a change has to be made. The easy thing to do is to point the finger at Joshua Karty. When the ball doesn’t go through the goal posts, the natural thing is to blame the player kicking the ball. However, similar to when a quarterback throws an interception, the interception is not always on the quarterback. It’s not always as simple as, “The ball didn’t go through the uprights, so it must be the kicker’s fault.” While Karty certainly needs to be better, there are other aspects of the field goal unit that affect the kicker’s responsibility.

Karty has had four kicks blocked this season and the longest of which was a 43-yard field goal that would have won the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. That’s a protection issue and independent of the kicker. During Karty’s missed extra point against the Saints, holder Ethan Evans placed the ball with the laces facing the kicker. That caused the ball to shank left as Karty kicked it. It’s yet another miss that is independent of the actual kicker.

The Rams could go out and sign a Greg Joseph, Younghoe Koo, or Rodrigo Blankenship, but would that solve the core issue? For much of the last three years, the Rams have had an issue with the field goal unit. Back in 2023, the Rams signed Tanner Brown and Christopher Dunn as undrafted free agents to compete in training camp. Neither player made the final 53-man roster.

As a band-aid, the Rams signed an experienced player in Brett Maher who was released after missing three kicks against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Following the Rams cutting Maher, former Rams kicker Matt Gay endorsed Lucas Havrisik as the two played together with the Indianapolis Colts. Havrisik was cut before the playoffs and the Rams brought back Maher. Two weeks ago, Havrisik made a 61-yard field goal for the Green Bay Packers.

In 2023, the Rams had one of the worst special teams units in NFL history, led mostly by their field goal unit. The Rams missed 11 field goals and 15 total kicks, both led the NFL. Their 11 missed field goals were more than any team since 2015. The Rams had a field goal/extra point DVOA of -17.7 which was over three points worse than the next lowest. Field goal DVOA compares...