Why so little talk about Karty?

[RamUK]

Or maybe there's been a fair bit, and I've missed it.

But the guy really worries me. And clearly he worries McVay because he hasn't had a look in for the last two games.

I mentioned watching him warm up at Wembley, and he did not impress me at all.

Missing from 52 yards without any pressure, and kicking really low.

I think I've always been an outlier in how much value I put on kickers, because I'd happily give up a fourth or even a third to get a consistent kicker. Multiple games every season are won and lost based on field goals Yet people get more excited by a wide receiver third in the depth chart. I don't get it.

There are two weeks before the trade deadline, and if there's a team that looks out of the running with a decent kicker, I'd go after them with an offer they can't refuse.

 

[methomas50]

This bye week is the perfect time figure out what is wrong, what can be fixed, and what needs to happen going forward with Karty and the kicking team. Avoiding using him lately is concerning IMO.

 

[Faceplant]

I agree that the position needs more priority, especially these days with the new rules and such. There are guys kicking 65 yarders and making it look easy now that they can "massage their balls". Karty's PATs looked sharp on Sunday, which impressed considering that quagmire of a field, so maybe that is a start.

Shoulda kept that damn Dicker....

 

[duanevalle22]

I was disappointed with Karty and I wanted him gone after the Eagles game, but my feelings now are if you want to limit the exposure of a kicker that you have trust issues with, convert on third downs more often, become more efficient in the redzone and consider going for it on 4th downs if the situation is reasonable enough to do so.

 

[FrantikRam]

He was good last year, and its a difficult situation. We had Dicker at camp, let him go and he's one of the best in the league now. I'm proud of McVay for at least getting off the hampster wheel of doom and trying to stick with someone....

But I do wonder if we would entertain Justin Tucker once his suspension is over..

 

[duanevalle22]

But I do wonder if we would entertain Justin Tucker once his suspension is over..

No way... that dude is a lawsuit waiting to happen and a locker room distraction. I'm sure Baltimore is preparing for lawsuits heading their way.

 

[TexasRam]

I think context is important here.

Eagles game Limmer got destroyed and blocked kicks lead to a bit of panic and pressure.

Niners game a wide 53 yarder and XP blocked which is not exactly on him.

Ravens game was a major wind game and the wind pushed his kick into the goalpost. Not his fault. We were told before the game the wind was real bad and would affect the kicking game.

With Avila back, assuming he was blocking on all kicks, Karty is 5 of 5 on all PATs.

Last year
Joshua Karty’s 2024 season (85.3% FG, long of 58 yds) was solidly above league average for an NFL rookie kicker. Here’s how it compares:

Category​	League Avg​	Karty’s Stat​	Comparison​
Field Goal %	~83%	85.3%	✅ Above average
Extra Point %	~94%	88.9%	⌠Below average
FGs 50+ yds	~63–67%	66.7% (4/6)	✅ Right at average
Longest FG	~56 yds	58 yds	✅ Better than avg

• Strengths: Strong leg, dependable from 50+, confident rookie performance.
• Weakness: Slightly shaky on extra points (NFL average is around 94%).
• Overall grade: Roughly a B+ season for a first-year kicker — in the top half of the league in overall accuracy.

 

[duanevalle22]

The blocking I'll agree wasn't great, but all those kicks against the Eagles were barely 6-7ft high when it reached the line of gain and the lineman didn't have to jump and they were 6-8 yards away from the place holder. And the wind I'm not buying that one either. Ya it pushed the ball over about of foot but a kicker must adjust for that.... especially a kicker that makes the money he makes.

But the Eagles game wasn't all Karty's fault.......after the Defense forced the fumble and the Offense scored off that fumble both took the rest of the game off.

 

[dieterbrock]

No way... that dude is a lawsuit waiting to happen and a locker room distraction. I'm sure Baltimore is preparing for lawsuits heading their way.

Im thinking that was supposed to be a blue font comment
On top of all the legal issues, Tucker had been in a pretty big decline

 

[BigRamFan]

especially a kicker that makes the money he makes.

I think that questions/concerns with Karty are fair at this point. However, regarding the above statement, he is still on a rookie contract so the money, at this point, is somewhat irrelevant. Unless,of course, we are working under the assumption that all players are overpaid. In that case I agree.

 

[duanevalle22]

I don't think most players are over paid..... NFL Football players for the most part put their necks on the line everyday for 8 months. And the average career for an NFL player is 3 years, so you can't blame them for commanding big bucks.

 

[Allen2McVay]

... especially a kicker that makes the money he makes.

Aside from a couple of late-round draft picks and a few undrafted free agents, Karty is the lowest paid player on the roster.

 

[duanevalle22]

Aside from a couple of late-round draft picks and a few undrafted free agents, Karty is the lowest paid player on the roster.

Really... I didn't know that..... Well he's getting paid what he deserves then.

 

[André]

I think there has to be a level of concern, but I think that there are a couple of factors that are super relevant that may have been dealt with already:

• Blocking for the kicks was absolutely brutal for a couple of games in a row. With Limmer no longer out there for kicks, and Avila back, I trust that will be better
• Karty focusing on the funky kickoffs threw his repetitive motion off, and they have backed away from that recently

Kickers are - to a large degree - highly influenced by their confidence. More so than players who are much more active play over play. Part of the reason there is less conversation than there could be is McVay has seen the first two points here and doesn't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater (or bruise Karty's ego) until he knows exactly what the real problem is.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Really... I didn't know that..... Well he's getting paid what he deserves then.

Late round picks on rookie contracts are always among the lowest paid players.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

Karty focusing on the funky kickoffs threw his repetitive motion off, and they have backed away from that recently

Yeah! I was wondering what happened to the knuckle-ball thing that returners didn't seem to have any answer for. I guess we can't have both.

I wonder why there's so little talk about Chase Blackburn more than Karty.

 

[Ramstien]

I believe that Karty and the Rams will have these kicking issues worked out during this off week, if they have not already. I also believe that making those funky kickoffs may have had a negative effect on his kicking. I think Andre' made some excellent points.

 

[den-the-coach]

FWIW they have stopped utilizing the knuckle ball on kickoffs as some had posted and it has been reported that might have affected Karty on FG's. Against the Jags no kickoffs were of the knuckle variety and all of his XP's were dead solid perfect.

Hopefully, this corrects the problem although the knuckle kickoff was a nice weapon, but understood removing it because of the cause and effect.

 

[Psycho_X]

Special teams worry me but Karty himself I still believe is a great young kicker who's just working through a few things and will be fine.

McVay teams have always had some little annoying issues to start the season and seem to tighten everything up after the bye week or second half of season. The fact we are 5-2 during what has been historically our worst stretch of play is reassuring.

 

[jrry32]

People say Karty was kicking it low, but I have yet to see that on the FGs that weren't blocked. He gets a lot of height on his kicks. So that means one of two things are true: (1) every time he kicks it low, it gets blocked or (2) the kicks got blocked because the defenders were able to get to the ball too early in the arc. If it's #2, the issue here would seem to be either blocking or Karty taking too long on his approach (or both).