5 surprising Rams rookies who will make a difference in the playoffs

(4) - Rookie kicker Joshua Karty

Is patience really a virtue? If so, then some Rams fans may need to exercise that virtue. There has been no shortage of fan outrage at the team's rookie kicker in 2024. Whether it was a missed field goal or an errant extra point, every mistake triggered some fans to rush into social media to express their outrage, demand the rookie kicker be cut instantly, and search for the perfect, yet available, NFL veteran placekicker.

Thankfully, the Rams front office ignore the emotional outbursts.

The presumption that rookies begin their NFL careers at the level of seasoned veterans is one that no NFL fan truly believes. But in the heat of battle, some fans jettison that logic and embrace emotional outrage. That's a bit disappointing and unfair, because players who compete on other teams do not face the minutia management of obsessed fans. Rookie kickers who can develop into All-Pro players often struggle in their first NFL season.

We highlighted the track record of some familiar rookie kickers who did become familiar names to NFL fans. And we even considered the veteran season of Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker:

• K Matt Gay - FGM 27 of 35 (77.1%) | Xpt 43 of 48 (89.6%)
• K Greg Zuerlein - FGM 23 of 32 (74.2%) | Xpt 26 of 26 (100%)
• K Joshua Karty - FGM 29 of 34 (85.3%) | Xpt 32 of 36 (88.9%)
• 49ers K Jake Moody - FGM 21 of 25 (84%) | Xpt 60 of 61 (98.4%)
• 2024 Ravens K Justin Tucker - FGM 22 of 30 (73.3%) | Xpt 60 of 62 (96.8%)

As you can see by the tale above, Karty was well within the parameters of a successful NFL placekicker's rookie season. Perhaps the expectations held by some fans have been counterproductive. After all, if you expect a perfect season, how can even a very good season live up to that goal?

Karty finished the season strong, kicking 11 of 13 extra points and 13 of 13 field goals to put up 50 points in the final month of regulation play:

It was that strong finish that catapulted Joshua Karty to become the second-ranked rookie kicker, making 29 field goals this season. In the end, it's more about how many field goals are made, rather than the accuracy of making those field goals. It's only successful field goals that put three more points on the score board:

The LA Rams did not lose a single game due to a missed field goal or extra point from Karty. But the team did win multiple games because he came through in the clutch. Why make it a point to highlight that fact?

In a win-or-go-home playoff, a dependable field goal kicker is priceless. NFL offenses find it much easier to get close to opponents' end zones than crossing the plane to that end zone. With a field goal kicker like Joshua Karty, the coaching staff that Karty comes through.