LA Rams: 3 reasons to add another placekicker to practice squad

Competition

The pathway to success as an NFL placekicker is to kick as many as far and as accurately as you can until you can’t. As far as an NFL kicker, there is no true need for exceptional athleticism, height, weight, or even speed thresholds. It always comes down to that one simple rule, do it until you can’t.

Sounds simple enough, right?

Los Angeles Rams

Well, playing professional football for a career, even as a placekicker, is fraught with the risk of injuries. The NFL has been reshaping some of the more violent collision-related injuries by modifying rules for kickoffs, the fact remains that there are still impacts between fast-moving bodies on those plays. Placekickers remain the last line of defense for the cover unit, and as such are often the target for an overeager blocker for the return team.

Field goal kickers trying to score three points had been so vulnerable to injury that the NFL created specific ‘running into the kicker’ penalties to shunt that behavior. Still, it happens. Due to the kickers follow through on kicking motion, they are rather vulnerable to injuries each week. But in the NFL, it is typically take-two-aspirin-and-call-me-in-the-morning. For more severe or nagging injuries, the player can undergo pain relief injections before the game is played.

Whatever it takes.

To keep the volume turned up, it never hurts to toss the slightest dash of competition into the mix. In the presence of another kicker, there is a bit more focus on getting it right, focus, and following through. NFL players respond to a competitive situation. Their entire career is built upon the foundation of winning the competition. So infusing a bit of competition into a placekicker role will bring out the best of everyone.