http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ing-will-change-a-little-bit-with-new-kicker/
Sean McVay’s decision making will change “a little bit” with new kicker
Posted by Mike Florio on December 21, 2017
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The Rams have lost kicker
Greg Zuerlein for the season with a herniated disc in his back. For now, Sam Ficken will be doing the kickin’ (I couldn’t resist), and coach Sean McVay was asked on Thursday whether the change will affect his decision making.
“Just a little bit, yes,” McVay told reporters. “I think just because of the range that Greg has – you’ve got confidence in our ability to be able to make kicks, but I think the range that Greg has when you just look at the distance that he can consistently hit it from. That will change a little bit.
But in terms of, ‘Are we going to be going for it on fourth downs and things like that?’ That won’t change. I think just the distance at which you would punt as opposed to maybe attempt a field goal because of the range that Greg has, that would really be the only thing that would be altered with our approach just right now.”
That makes sense, because the question of whether to go for it typically is a function of situational football, with the question in the normal course of driving the ball on the right side of the 50 is whether to try to pin the opponent deep with a punt or to go for three points.
Regardless of how it affects McVay’s decision-making process, not having Zuerlein definitely could affect the Rams’ ability to score points on a consistent basis — and it could potentially bring the team’s season to an end prematurely with a missed kick at the worst time.