Over the past five years of the Sean McVay era, the Los Angeles Rams have had a special teams problem. In 2023, the Rams had one of the worst special teams units of all time according to DVOA. After moving
on from Matt Gay, the Rams’ kicking unit struggled. However, they also had issues on the punt return unit, costing them games.
However, that has seemingly turned a corner over the last year. Last season, the Rams got some stability at the kicker position with Joshua Karty. Additionally, Ethan Evans has been more than a solid punter and Xavier Smith has been good in the return game.
This season, the Rams have grown more accustomed to the new kickoff rules. This season, Rams opponents have had the lowest field position after kickoffs by a wide margin. A lot of this is because of Karty.
With the NFL adjusting the touchback to the 35-yard line, teams have been more willing to allow returns for the sake of field position. Still, there is a danger to allowing a return and the potential to take it back for a touchdown. It’s a reason why the NFL made the switch to the new kickoff rules.
After Evans took the Rams kickoffs last season, this year it has been Karty. The Rams had been using Evans for his leg and ability to kick the ball out of the back of the end zone. In 2024, Evans had the third-most touchbacks. However, with the adjusted touchback, Karty has taken the Rams kickoffs and thrived. His ability to squib kick a knuckleball of sorts into the landing zone has been unmatched. Essentially, Karty is taking a player used to playing center field and catching the ball out of the air into a shortstop. It’s like asking a center fielder to suddenly field a shortstop hop. Footballs are weirdly shaped and the bounce on a squib kick can be unpredictable. The Eagles struggled fielding these kicks throughout the game on Sunday.
Had it not been for the blocked field goals, Joshua Karty may have been in contention for the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Karty was 4-for-4 on field goals up to the two blocks. Had he made the game-winner, he probably still takes home the weekly award. On the block, Havenstein was knocked back and tripped, as was Beaux Limmer.
On the make from the same hash earlier in the game, Kevin Dotson is inside with Limmer outside. The Eagles still get penetration, but Karty is able to get the ball over the incoming rush. This is something that the Rams are going to have to fix. They’ve had three kicks blocked over the last two weeks. It didn’t cost them against the Tennessee Titans, but in close games, these plays are the difference.
Poona Ford Signing Pays Off
During the offseason, the Rams made the decision to move on from Bobby Brown III. However, in response to that, they brought in Poona Ford to add a run-stopping presence. To say that move has paid off would be an understatement. Ford has been fantastic since joining the Rams and that was exemplified by his performance against the Eagles.
Ford consistently got penetration and caused disruption in the backfield. After running through the Rams twice last season, Saquon Barkley averaged just 2.6 yards per carry which is his lowest output since joining the Eagles. It’s also his lowest since Week 15 of the 2023 season with the New York Giants. Ford was the second-highest graded defensive lineman against the run in Week 3. His 22.2 percent stop rate in the run game ranked fifth and he currently ranks second in run stop win rate via ESPN Analytics.
When it comes to stopping Barkley and the run game, Ford has given the Rams exactly what they paid for in the offseason. For comparison, Brown III has a 55.3 run stop grade via PFF to Ford’s 79.6. Ford also has a run stop percentage of 8.8 percent to Brown’s 2.4 percent. The Rams have to be pleased with the Ford signing.
Quentin Lake earning extension?
An argument can be made that Quentin Lake has been the most valuable player in the Rams secondary this season. In a contract year, Lake has been very good and proving why he might warrant a contract extension this offseason. Against the Eagles, Lake allowed just three receptions for 15 yards across a team-high seven targets. He recorded more passes defended (4) than he allowed receptions (3) while all other Rams defenders combined to record two passes defended.
Lake had the highest coverage grade among safeties via PFF in Week 3. The Rams safety is allowing 0.32 yards per snap from the slot which is the fourth-best in the NFL and his 49.3 passer rating allowed from the slot ranks sixth. His versatility and ability to thrive from the star role in the defense allows the Rams to do creative things around him. The Rams don’t usually pay safeties, but Lake is certainly making a case.
Good mix of Williams and Corum
The first half of Sunday’s game against the Eagles should be the expectation when it comes to the usage between Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. On Sunday, Williams and Corum combined for 157 yards and in the first half it was 96. Williams gives the Rams a strength inside on gap runs while Corum excels on outside zone because of his speed and ability to read blocks.
For much of the last year, the Rams run game has lacked a bit of a changeup. Right now, the offensive line isn’t built to run gap scheme. Kevin Dotson has been injured and the Rams lack size without Avila at left guard. The Rams lose 30 pounds on the interior with Justin Dedich and then Coleman Shelton is already a lighter center.
Having the ability right now to run zone and get the offensive line moving in space is a must. Blake Corum is averaging 7.6 yards per carry on runs outside the tackles which is fourth in the NFL. On outside zone runs, Corum is averaging 8.9 yards per carry while Williams averages 4.5 yards per carry on man/duo. These two players complement each other well and need to be used in a similar split moving forward.
Things worth mentioning
Matthew Stafford must be better
This isn’t to say that Matthew Stafford hasn’t played well in 2025. During the first two games, Stafford was on a heater. However, Stafford has a tendency to be streaky at times in his career. He had a small dip on Sunday against the Eagles, missing routine throws. Some of those misses are the difference between three points and seven points.
Braden Fiske has taken a step
It’s not far-fetched to say that Braden Fiske is a valuable member of the Rams defensive line. The Rams missed him when he left the playoff game last January and they missed him when he couldn’t play last week against the Titans. Fiske has taken leaps forward in the run game which was a weakness of his last season. This is a defensive line with a deep rotation, but if Fiske can show continued growth in the run game, he could get more of a run on early downs.
Time to Ban the Tush Push
Not to come off as “old man yells at clouds”, but the NFL should have banned the Tush Push last offseason and they need to next summer. This is a play that is very difficult to officiate. There was a clear false start on the first tush push. From a player safety element, it’s probably not good to have Quentin Lake taking a helmet to the back of the knee. On the third tush push, Jalen Hurts goes over the top and sticks the ball out. The Rams stopped the initial surge and Jared Verse takes the ball away. However, forward progress was called without Hurts’ knee touching the ground. At what point is the play over? Again, the Rams stopped the initial ‘push’. How is a defensive lineman getting laid on top of any different than what Coleman Shelton did to get called for holding?
The Eagles run the play successfully more than any other team. They deserve credit for that. Still, there are a lot of optics and things that become problematic.
