Here are a couple of articles from ROD-BOT’s feed specific to Kick Returns.
No matter how you sort the data, the Rams returners don’t appear on leader boards until page 2-3.
This is opportunity to improve the 2021 offense. Get a dynamic returner!
www.latimes.com
But after the 2019 season, Fassel joined the Dallas Cowboys’ staff, and kicker Greg Zuerlein followed. In March, the Cowboys signed longtime Rams long-snapper Jake McQuaide.
Punter Johnny Hekker, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, is the remaining link to the past.
New special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis has replaced John Bonamego, now a senior coaching assistant. DeCamillis has worked for seven other NFL teams and has been a coordinator since 2009, most recently with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Hekker, who carries a $4.9-million salary-cap number, last season averaged a career-low 45.6 yards per punt. The Rams signed punter Brandon Wright to the practice squad, and Tuesday signed former Buffalo Bills punter Corey Bojorquez.
Matt Gay solved the Rams’ 2020 kicking woes after signing in mid-November and making 14 of 16 field-goal attempts in the final seven games. Kicker Austin MacGinnis is on the practice squad.
Colin Holba and Steve Wirtel will compete to replace McQuaide.
Receiver Nsimba Webster returned punts and kickoffs in 2020. After signing a one-year contract, veteran receiver DeSean Jackson hinted he also might return kicks. Raymond Calais returned kicks in four gameas last season.
“We’ve got to get a guy that can ring the bell and drop the ball over the goal line,” DeCamillis said.
Under contract for 2021: Hekker ($4.9 million), Gay ($850,000), Holba ($920,000), Webster ($850,000), Calais ($780,000), MacGinnis ($660,00), Wright ($660,000), Wirtel ($660,000), Bojorquez (TBD).
Free agents: McQuaide, the Rams’ long-snapper for 10 seasons, signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys that could be worth as much as $1.2 million. The Rams signed Bojorquez this week after he was released by the Bills.
Draft: Last year, the Rams drafted kicker Samuel Sloman in the seventh round, and then released him after seven games. The Rams could be looking for receivers and running backs who also can serve as return specialists.
Roster decisions: Hekker has been one of the league’s top punters, but after a down year by his standards he could use a bounce-back performance to justify his salary. Gay and Webster are in the final year of their contracts.
No matter how you sort the data, the Rams returners don’t appear on leader boards until page 2-3.
This is opportunity to improve the 2021 offense. Get a dynamic returner!
2021 NFL Draft: Investing in a returner
Replacing Andre Roberts through the draft could be a boon for the team
www.buffalorumblings.com
2021 NFL Draft: Investing in a returner
Replacing Andre Roberts through the draft could be a boon for the team
www.buffalorumblings.com
2021 NFL Draft: Investing in a returner
Tier I
Jaylen Waddle WR (Alabama)
DeVonta Smith WR (Alabama)
Rondale Moore WR (Purdue)
Travis Etienne RB (Clemson)
Watch any highlight of Waddle’s best kickoff returns, specifically his 2019 ones against LSU and Auburn, and you’ll know that he is the most talented returner coming out. He’s shifty, has true elite speed but also an ability to ratchet down and follow his blocks. What Waddle was for Alabama on kick returns, Smith was on punt returns. Ranking third in the country in punt return yardage, Smith excels in that area because of his stop-start acceleration. The player who resembles Andre Roberts the most is probably Moore, who’s not only a speed demon (possible 4.2 speed) but he also oozes core strength. Etienne maybe doesn’t have the shiftiness you want in a true punt returner, but he’s got good straight-line speed and is much tougher to bring down than almost any of the players ranked above him.Tier II
Kadarius Toney WR (Florida)
Elijah Moore WR (Ole Miss)
D’Wayne Eskridge WR (Western Michigan)
Toney doesn’t really have the most ideal deep speed, but his ability to make cuts at full speed and follow his blocks and his general physicality all allow him to be effective. A returner earlier in his career, Moore similarly isn’t a true burner, but gets by on toughness and smarts in the open field. Eskridge tore up the MAC thanks to his speed, finishing 11th in the country in kickoff return yards.Tier III
Marquez Stevenson WR (Houston)
Amari Rodgers WR (Clemson)
Stevenson is a smaller, slimmer players and likely won’t contribute much at their typical positions but has the speed to be an elite returner. Kind of a jack of all trades, Rodgers is just fast enough, just big enough and just experienced enough to provide value in the return game but shouldn’t be expected to really excel there.
Rams have created kicking competitions; might DeSean Jackson return punts?
The Rams enter the NFL draft having some kicking competitions, a long snapper competition and punt return questions.
www.latimes.com
Rams have created kicking competitions; might DeSean Jackson return punts?
In their first four seasons after returning to Los Angeles from St. Louis, the Rams enjoyed consistent production from specialists that had been together for years under special teams coordinator John Fassel.But after the 2019 season, Fassel joined the Dallas Cowboys’ staff, and kicker Greg Zuerlein followed. In March, the Cowboys signed longtime Rams long-snapper Jake McQuaide.
Punter Johnny Hekker, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, is the remaining link to the past.
New special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis has replaced John Bonamego, now a senior coaching assistant. DeCamillis has worked for seven other NFL teams and has been a coordinator since 2009, most recently with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Hekker, who carries a $4.9-million salary-cap number, last season averaged a career-low 45.6 yards per punt. The Rams signed punter Brandon Wright to the practice squad, and Tuesday signed former Buffalo Bills punter Corey Bojorquez.
Matt Gay solved the Rams’ 2020 kicking woes after signing in mid-November and making 14 of 16 field-goal attempts in the final seven games. Kicker Austin MacGinnis is on the practice squad.
Colin Holba and Steve Wirtel will compete to replace McQuaide.
Receiver Nsimba Webster returned punts and kickoffs in 2020. After signing a one-year contract, veteran receiver DeSean Jackson hinted he also might return kicks. Raymond Calais returned kicks in four gameas last season.
“We’ve got to get a guy that can ring the bell and drop the ball over the goal line,” DeCamillis said.
Under contract for 2021: Hekker ($4.9 million), Gay ($850,000), Holba ($920,000), Webster ($850,000), Calais ($780,000), MacGinnis ($660,00), Wright ($660,000), Wirtel ($660,000), Bojorquez (TBD).
Free agents: McQuaide, the Rams’ long-snapper for 10 seasons, signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys that could be worth as much as $1.2 million. The Rams signed Bojorquez this week after he was released by the Bills.
Draft: Last year, the Rams drafted kicker Samuel Sloman in the seventh round, and then released him after seven games. The Rams could be looking for receivers and running backs who also can serve as return specialists.
Roster decisions: Hekker has been one of the league’s top punters, but after a down year by his standards he could use a bounce-back performance to justify his salary. Gay and Webster are in the final year of their contracts.
