To sum up some of the stuff I've read in this thread (reading down at the time of this post, and coming back up to here,) and other thoughts:
To prioritize Special Teams units again:
Kicking scores points. Highest ST priority accordingly.
When Evans muffed his first snap in camp a while back I jumped on it - we need a new holder, I said, and cited all the reasons. What I didn't know at that time is that we had a new long snapper - no doubt somebody who put more velocity on the ball, got it back to the holder quicker. I thought, back then, that for whatever reasons Evans asn't getting it done to championship level and was behind the lesarning curve, despite improvement shown last year.
Holding is a highly demanding skill with infinite variables. It's not something that just anybody can come in and do.
Think ahead to game time, playoffs, outdoors. Crosswind, wet weather, game on the line, 35 yards out. The seeming chip shot isn't. Ball has to be pulled down and spotted, on spot with laces forward, angled for distance of kick, all as usual. Automatically. Timed in synch with kicker's approach.
The variable that the game rides on is the angle that the ball must be tipped laterally to compensate for wind drift. Get it wrong and the kick curves with the wind, wide. Get it right and the same kick, practiced in Southern California sails left or right but with the crosswing in winter appears to fly straight.
The Rams are apparently confident that with continued drill and practive Evans can get there. We'll wait, and hope, and see.
One thing that I read that Ilike: The work with that trifecta, snapper-holder-kicker, is going on with a coaching aim to get kick up in shortened time. I cringe remembering Blackburn's telling the kicker to wait until the ball was spotted before moving. Thank goodness he is gone and we have a coach who appears to understand the kicking game.I have high hopes.
Coverage prevents opponent scores. Second priority. The Blackburn debacle at times had three guys in one lane, nobody in two. At first I questioned time allotted by HC for ST practice, giving the then-new Blackburn the benefit of the doubt. In time it got worse. The buck stays with Blackburn.
McVay now realizes the importance of ST practice and Snead has given him a new ST coach who by all early appearances is set on righting the ship. Add to that, we just acquired a linebacker who could work himself into regular rotation and who also happens to be a beast in coverage. His characfter and style of play are fits with a rebranding defense and in keeping with the Rams team culture. I look for many good things from Grant Stuard as his influence is felt both on and off the field. Welcome.
Return teams rank third in overall ST importance. First job of the return unit: protect the ball. Second job: Read and block. Third, get the return yardage to give the O good field position. House calls are great - but only happen if the returner has that initial blocking.
New kickoff return rules have emascuated the kickoff return game. You'll only see long kickoffs returned against abysmal coverage and ST coaches are still trying th o find a way.. Punt returns, returns beyond ten yards not too likely. Still the return game is important in its direct bearing on feld position and game momentum - and it's a potential thriller for us fans, and thus the emphasis we place on it.
We are hearing about two WR's practicing punt returns who have the hands and initial jukes to be good punt returners - and one who has shown burst and cuts to go with breakaway speed that has yet to be seen in the kick return game.
This year, I have more confidence in our ST play than I've had in years. It'll be fun to see what transpires.
