Rams’ special teams try to kick it into gear
THOUSAND OAKS — After coaching special teams for more than 30 years with seven NFL teams, Joe DeCamillis can joke about how it works.
“When something rough happens, that’s when I’m asked in,” DeCamillis said as he started his first press conference since he was introduced as the Rams’ special teams coordinator in January. “Same all over. Same all over.”
The Rams have little else to laugh about in the kicking, punting and return part of the game so far this season.
And things could get really serious if the Rams don’t see improvement in that area when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ strong special teams in the battle of 2-0 clubs Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium.
The Rams’ field goal and PAT kicking has been perfect, actually. But kickoff coverage has allowed returns of 50 yards to the Chicago Bears and 41 yards to the Indianapolis Colts, and punting has been mediocre in few chances. The punt return team blew a chance for a runback during the Rams’ victory over the Colts.
They probably didn’t see the comedy in the botched play that went for a Colts touchdown in the fourth quarter, when the ball from Rams long snapper Moe Howard hit teammate Chevy Chase in the arm and eluded punter Benny Hill in the end zone. Real names: Matt Orzech, Nick Scott and Johnny Hekker.
The mixup started when Scott shifted into a new blocking position one step to his left just as Orzech made the snap.
“I’ve never seen it (before), and I don’t want to ever see it again,” DeCamillis said Thursday before practice, calling it an “execution issue” that can be corrected. “Obviously (fans are) going to remember that play. I’m going to remember that play for a long time. My wife won’t let me forget it.”
DeCamillis, 56, who won a Super Bowl as special teams coordinator with the 2015 Denver Broncos, was in his second sting with the Jacksonville Jaguars before the Rams hired him to replace John Bonamego coaching a unit that ranked 30th in the 32-team NFL in 2020 in FootballOutsiders.com’s analytics.
After two games in 2021, the same analytics rank the Rams’ special teams 32nd. The Bucs are fourth.
“We need to be better,” Coach Sean McVay said this week while expressing confidence in DeCamillis.
Said DeCamillis: “I’m not pleased with where we’re at, in certain instances.”
Among the issues, punt team slapstick aside:
• While rookie Jake Funk has been solid on kickoff returns, rookie Tutu Atwell is still learning to return punts. Trusty Cooper Kupp has been sent out to fair catch or let punts go if they are likely to land inside the 10-yard line.
“I’m pleased with where he’s at,” DeCamillis said of Atwell.
• On Atwell’s one chance for a return, a missed block by rookie Robert Rochell let the Colts’ George Odum tackle him immediately. No other Colts were within 10 yards.
“That is really the play that I’m as irritated with as the punt (snap), to be honest with you, because that’s a house call if we get the one block the way we’re supposed to,” DeCamillis said.
• Those opening kickoff returns, perhaps a byproduct of the Rams’ youthful special teams.
“You just have to learn to play together,” DeCamillis said. “I think we’ll reap the benefits down the road.”
• Hekker, coming off a career-low 45.6 yards per punt in 2020, is averaging 39.8 on four tries after battling COVID-19 and barely beating out Corey Bojorquez in the preseason.
The bright side is that kicker Matt Gay is 4 for 4 on field goals and 7 for 7 on PATs and brings a good vibe into Sunday against Tampa Bay, having made his Rams debut with a game-winning field goal against the Bucs last November.
Gay said DeCamillis, with his 33 years of NFL experience and Super Bowl pedigree, is the right coach for the challenge.
“He brings so much energy and just passion for special teams that everyone buys into how important special teams can be,” Gay said Thursday. “They work so hard. It’s just a matter of a few mental things, and we’re going to get it right.”
DeCamillis said he’s “hardened” to special teams’ extreme highs and lows. What’s wrong will turn right, he said. Maybe in a big way.
“We played a horrible game against the Rams in ’17 when I was in Jacksonville,” DeCamillis said. “Next week after that, we scored a touchdown to help us win the game. Next week after that, we scored a touchdown to help us win the game.
“You’ve just got to keep chopping wood and keep working. If the process is right, and guys are preparing in the right way, you’ve got a chance.”
NOTES
McVay was back on the field Thursday after missing practice Wednesday with a stomach bug. “Feel good, much better today. Good to be back out here with the guys,” he said. … Running back Darrell Henderson, who injured rib cartilage against the Colts, was out of practice again. McVay said it was too soon to say if Sony Michel will start against the Bucs. “But you can expect to see Sony. Whether he’s taking the first snap, or how many snaps he plays, is kind of still to be determined,” McVay said. … McVay said outside linebacker Leonard Floyd’s ankle is responding well to treatment. But Floyd participated only in individual drills. “It’s kind of a nagging (injury),” the coach said. “We’re just trying to get a grasp and get a real hold on it so it doesn’t linger throughout the year.” … In Las Vegas, the Bucs continued to draw most of the bets Thursday. The line remained Bucs by 1 or 1½ for the third day in a row.