It's no secret to Rams fans that the team has suffered from inconsistent kicking performance since hiring special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn.
After graduating three kickers in two years, the prevailing problems of missed field goals and extra points have somehow plagued every player who takes over the starting spot. When you look at Brett Maher, Lucas Haversik and Joshua Karty, you have three kickers with three different backgrounds and experience levels. However, like the Rams, all three kickers had a field goal percentage of 73.9-76.2%.
However, it is not the case that the Rams are signing kickers at this rate. Maher was successful the year before he joined the Rams. During his 2023 season in Los Angeles, Maher's FG accuracy was 73.9%, missing two extra points in 15 attempts. He was also 10 of 17 from 40 yards and beyond.
In 2022, Maher's FG accuracy was 90% with the Dallas Cowboys, missing three extra points in 50 attempts. He was 15 of 18 from beyond 40 yards. Maher was coached this season by former Rams STC John Fassel.
Lucas Havrisik has been an inconsistent kicker throughout his college career and has yet to play a game in the NFL outside of his time with the Rams, so Blackburn wasn't solely to blame in 2023. But Karty's performances in 2024 have changed that narrative.
Karty made just 76.2% of his field goal attempts, missed two extra points and was 5-for-8 from over 40 yards. Considering he's supposed to coach better in the NFL, Karty should have better numbers from his college days, but in reality, they're worse.
In 2023, as a member of the Stanford Cardinal, Karty made 85.2% of his field goals and was 11 of 14 from beyond 40 yards. The problem seems to be Blackburn.
Until the Rams fix the problems caused by Blackburn, everyone who kicks the ball will be subject to the same mistakes as before. It seems cruel to say this, but not being able to retain John Fassel in 2019 seems even more frustrating since the former Rams special teams coordinator made Brandon Aubrey an All-Pro.
