This unheralded player just parlayed a great performance into a Rams roster spot

He had one opportunity to make a play for the LA Rams. Despite smashing expectations throughout training camp and preseason, there always seemed to be one more test. One more evaluation. One more hurdle for him to leap over into the promised land. And yet, tests meant that this young former Florida A&M star still had the attention of the Rams coaching staff. Opportunity to impress the coaches was knocking on the door once again. And with every knock, he never failed to open that door wide and welcome that chance to perform.

And impress once again.

By our scorecard, young WR Xavier Smith deserved a spot on the team's initial 53-man roster. He was next to unstoppable on offense, catching practically everything thrown in his direction. And when it came to special teams? Yes, he was special.

He returned three preseason punts for 73 yards, a phenomenal average of 23.7 yards per return. That's absolutely crazy production. But the Rams did not value that quality in their initial 53-man roster. So Xavier Smith had to remind the team how special that punt return ability can be for this team. So with time running out in Week 3, Xavier Smith dropped every jaw in SoFi Stadium by achieving the impossible.

He returned a punt from his own 12 yard line to mid-field, a 38-yard punt return that set up the offense to win the game with a buzzer-beater field goal.

One play. Just one opportunity. And yet, PR/WR Xavier Smith did more than his job. He rose to the occasion once again.

Xavier Smith is fearless. In one play, he carried the Rams from playing for a tie and hoping for the best to seizing control of their own destiny against a formidable and familiar foe.

Head coach Sean McVay noticed:

Xavier Smith earned the right to make the roster. He is more than productive. He is thrilling. He is dangerous. He is determined.

The LA Rams special teams were significant contributors to the team's Week 3 win because, for the first time this season, and perhaps the past two seasons, the team placed the right guys into the right roles.

• Ethan Evans punter? Check
• Joshua Karty placekicker? Check
• Alex Ward Long Snapper? Check
• Xavier Smith punt returner? Check

That does seem to prove a theory that I've been kicking around in my head. The team's special teams are less about the ST Coordinator and more about the team finally getting the right players involved.

No more Kyren Williams returning punts please. Let's stick with Xavier Smith for the rest of 2024. And thanks in advance.

And as always, thanks for reading.