Meet the Rams: It isn’t easy to be a kicker in today’s NFL
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The NFL just keeps messing with its kickers.
Last season, the NFL moved the point-after-touchdown mark from the two-yard line to the 15.
At first glance, an extra 13 yards (33 in total distance) seems like it should still be automatic for a professional kicker. It wasn’t.
In 2014, before the rule change, only seven of 37 total kickers missed one or more point-after attempts.
In 2015, only nine of 38 were perfect. It only takes one miss to enrage the trolls.
Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein was an imperfect human being. He was one of seven who missed two. But it could have been worse for Zuerlein. He could have missed at least three, like 10 unfortunate souls.
The league is messing with kickers again this season. This time it’s on the kickoff.
In March, team owners voted to move touchbacks up from the 20- to the 25-yard line in an effort to reduce injuries.
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Defaulting to the 25 seems like a pretty good option for a receiving team.
If you’re a kicker, that might mean more pressure as coaches could place an even greater emphasis on precision, high and short kicks in order to induce returns to pin opponents inside their own 20-yard line.
Zuerlein had 38 of his 64 kicks result in touchbacks last season. This year that would mean 190 more free yards. It’s isn’t easy being a kicker.
No. 4 Greg Zuerlein, 6-foot, 196 pounds
Zuerlein, 28, also called “Greg the Leg,” or “Legatron,” lived up to his nickname his first year when he made seven field goals greater than 50 yards, including a 60-yard split against the Seattle Seahawks — the longest ever by a rookie.
The Missouri Western State product made three of nine kicks from beyond 50 yards last season and has made 16 of 31 for his career. He’s missed five of 27 between 40 and 49 yards.
In four seasons, Zuerlein has made 78.2% of his field goals and 97.6% of his extra-point attempts.
In St. Louis, Zuerlein had the benefit of playing indoors in a controlled environment.
This season, he’ll play outside at the Coliseum. Next year, who knows? Zuerlein is playing this season under a one-year deal signed in April.
As for the outdoors, the longest kick of his career, a 61-yarder, came outside. In Minnesota. In November.
No. 6 P Johnny Hekker, 6-foot-5, 236 pounds
Hekker, 26, has been one of the best punters in the NFL since he came into the league in 2012 out of Oregon State.
He’s been named a first-team All Pro twice (2013, 2015) and been to two Pro Bowls. Hekker led the league last season with an average punt distance of 47.9 yards and only saw six of his 96 punts go for touchbacks. Of the total, 41 were downed inside the 20-yard line.
Meet the Rams: Defensive line »
Hekker has also completed six of his career 10 passing attempts for 99 yards and one touchdown. Last season, Hekker infamously knocked Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril to the ground. It took a hit to his back when he wasn’t looking to do it and cost the Rams a 15-yard personal foul penalty. Avril got him back though.
Hekker signed a six-year contract extension with the Rams in 2014, putting him under contract through the 2020 season.
No. 11 WR/PR Tavon Austin, 5-foot-8, 176 pounds
Austin, 25, has a lot of tools at his disposal. The receiver, who also had 52 rushing attempts last season, is the Rams’ primary punt returner.
Last season, he returned 34 kicks for 298 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown against the Seahawks in Week 1. His longest return of 98 yards came his rookie year.
Austin’s four returns of more than 20 yards were tied for the fourth-most in the NFL.
No. 23 RB/KR Benny Cunningham, 5-foot-10, 217 pounds
Cunningham, 26, is the Rams’ primary kick returner. His 28.6 yards per return average in 2015 was the 10th best among all returners. He had 20 returns go for more than 20 yards, and three for more than 40.
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On “Thursday Night Football” against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cunningham returned a kick 102 yards … and didn’t get a touchdown.
Other special teams players: No. 1 K Taylor Bertolet, No. 44 LS Jake McQuaide, No. 42 LS Jeff Overbaugh
Follow Matt Wilhalme on Twitter @mattwilhalme
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