LA Rams newest addition, kicker Lucas Havrisik, was flawless in Week 8

The LA Rams had a lousy and forgettable performance on the road in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys, but the one player who I was openly concerned about before the game did everything asked of him to help the LA Rams win. I'm not so proud that I cannot say that I was wrong. So let me say here and now that I was wrong about the LA Rams' new kicker, Lucas Havrisik.

While Havrisik was not placed into a position to boot a buzzer-beating game-winner as time ran out, he performed as well as could be expected. Despite two Rams touchdowns, Havrisik did not attempt a single extra point. Rather, his day included kicking field goals of 33 yards and 47 yards. That accounted for six of the Rams' 20 points scored on the day, which was as much as could have been expected.

While there are some fans who have become quite expressively disappointed in this Rams team, the process of rebuilding an NFL Championship roster is not going to happen with the snap of the fingers, or even overnight.

The effort to replace Pro Bowl kicker Matt Gay has already taken nearly half of an NFL season, and the Rams have gone through four players (plus five more kickers on tryouts). That's just one position, and the LA Rams front office has an entire array of players and positions that demand equal attention and resolution.

It won't happen as quickly as you may think, or desire. Even if Havrisik plays up to or beyond expectations, the LA Rams can only check one box of the many on their checklist.

Still, progress is progress. If Havrisik does earn a contract extension to play for the Rams next year, then the Rams are that much closer to an NFL Playoff berth in 2024. The Rams tried out two rookies and one veteran kicker already. While that was not how the script was written, it may prove to be the path. After all, the Rams landed on Matt Gay after trialing three kickers in 2020, a veteran kicker, and finally settling on their fifth kicker, Matt Gay.

It's only one game. But if Lucas Havrisik continues to kick as he showed in Week 8, he will be the Rams permanent kicker.