The Rams had arguably the best special teams unit in the NFL two years ago. Johnny Hekker, Greg Zuerlein and Pharoh Cooper were all first-team All-Pros in 2017, while long snapper Jake McQuaide was a Pro Bowler that year, as well.
The unit took a small step back in 2018, though. The only Pro Bowler to come from the Rams’ special teams was Cory Littleton, who was a menace when it came to blocking kicks. Hekker and Zuerlein were both passed over as Pro Bowlers and All-Pros, as were return specialists JoJo Natson and Blake Countess, who replaced Pharoh Cooper late in the year.
As mediocre as the special teams unit was last season, it’s been even worse this year. The Rams are seventeenth in net average punting and are tied for last in punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Hekker has booted four touchbacks, which is tied for the fifth-most in the NFL. Punt coverage has been decent, allowing 167 yards (13th-most), but the punts themselves have been underwhelming.
It’s part of the reason the Rams are 20th in opponent average starting position this season after ranking 10th in 2018 and ninth in 2017.
Hekker isn’t the only one who’s struggling, either. Zuerlein has had his issues in 2019, going just 4-for-9 on field goal tries between 40 and 49 yards. Overall, he’s 22-for-28 on field goals and 29-for-29 on PATs, but his missed FGs have come at inopportune times; remember his miss late against the Seahawks?
The Rams are just 16th in the NFL in FG percentage (79%) and 26th on attempts between 40 and 49 yards (44%).
In the return game, the Rams are 13th in both kick return average and punt return average. Their longest kick return is just 30 yards, however, which is tied for the fifth-shortest in the league. It doesn’t help that they’ve only had 13 kick returns, second-fewest in the NFL.
Natson is out for the year, so Darrell Henderson will take over kick returns and Nsimba Webster punt return duties, so perhaps those spots will see an improvement.
Penalties have also been costly on special teams. The Rams have 15 special teams penalties this year, which is more than all but three teams. They had 26 a season ago, second-most in the league, so they haven’t done much to improve in that regard, either.
John Fassel is a great ST coordinator, but his group has not played up to its standards this year. They must improve in that phase of the game in these final four weeks.
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