Warning: These are REALLY outside the box. Lol.
Release Ficken. Let Hekker handle kickoff and PAT duties, or just go for 2 points every time. I’m serious. And I bet the anaytics, for THIS offense, would back me up. Once GZ returns, go back to status quo.
Just down kickoffs and put the ball into play. Yeah, have a player back there to handle short kicks, but otherwise just down the ball in the end zone. If Cooper returns, or some other stud falls into their laps, then return to status quo.
Strongly consider going for it on 4th and 3, or less, from the 50 yard line on. Yeah, Hekker is amazing, but so is this O. They are just getting better and better and now are at the point of looking almost unstoppable. If worst comes to worst and they fail to convert, we have a stout D that is difficult to score upon. And the extra gained possessions would doubtless yield more Ram points. Weighing the pros and cons might just show a net positive to this controversial strategy. And tinkering with the yard line and/or 4th down distance might make the analytics more decisive. I know that this last suggestion is the most controversial, and that to some Johnny Hekker is a sacred cow. I love him, myself. I ask only that you think about these before having a knee-jerk reaction. Lol.
