LA Rams unsung heroes: KR Nsimba Webster

The LA Rams have struggled to get solid play from the special teams’ play. But KR/PR Nsimba Webster is getting hot when the Rams need him most

The LA Rams have not been a good special teams play this season. At one point in the early part of the year, the LA Rams would consider a fair catch without a fumble a good performance. It was a bad start to a long treacherous season. So bad that it quickly squelched any hopes for the Rams turnaround on special teams this year. The special teams, to put it mildly, were anything but special.

But the season progressed, and with each week the Rams had fewer and fewer items on the weekly punch list to correct from the previous game. It was not easy, but the Rams stuck with it, made necessary adjustments, and lined up to play the following week. With each new week, the Rams drew closer to success with their coverage, punting, and kicking teams. Progress was slow, but the Rams had time.

Webster emerging at a critical time

The Rams flirted with several players tasked with kick and punt returns before finally settling upon 5-foot-10 180-pound receiver Nsimba Webster for the role. Webster is a familiar name for return duties, as he had a minor role in 2019 at returning both kickoffs and punts. While many expected Webster to claim the role vacated by outgoing Jojo Natson, the legacy of the return specialist for the Rams was subject to a number of tryouts throughout the early part of the season.

Webster finally secured the position but was relatively benign in the role until the last four games. Since facing the New York Jets, Webster has averaged 14 yards per punt return, and 23 yards per kick return, both are well above his season average.  In fact, after a Seahawks kick return of 58 yards set up Seattle to kick a field goal to open the second half, Webster answered back with a 36-yard kick return.

Getting hot and lost in the details

While the Rams would not take advantage of the field position in that series, it did give the team a better field position that, after several exchanges, did eventually in a Rams field goal to reclaim a ten-point lead. That started with an excellent kick return by Webster, a feat quickly lost in the drama of quarterback controversies and injury updates.

It’s those seldom recognized contributions that are fueling the Rams’ current playoff run. To continue advancing, the Rams will need many more similar efforts from Webster. In the overall outcome, plays like these add up to create a positive impact on the game’s final score and lead the Rams to another upset victory. KR/PR Nsimba Webster is one of the LA Rams’ unsung heroes.