The Los Angeles Rams have announced the firing of special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn, a significant move as it marks the first time head coach Sean McVay has dismissed an assistant during the season in his nine years with the team. Blackburn was in his third season with the Rams.
As of now, an interim replacement has not been identified. However, Ben Kotwica, currently a special teams assistant, remains on staff. This decision comes after a series of troubling performances on special teams, which played a pivotal role in the Rams” recent losses.
In their latest game against the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams were leading by 16 points in the fourth quarter when a pivotal play occurred. Rashid Shaheed returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown, igniting a comeback for the Seahawks that ultimately led to overtime and shifted control of the NFC West away from the Rams.
“I saw a flat, low kick that was not at all intended for what we wanted,” McVay commented on the critical play. “You give a guy like that an opportunity, that”s where the momentum flipped.” This failure, along with two blocked field goals and a missed game-winning kick, contributed to Blackburn”s dismissal, as the Rams recognized the need to address their ongoing special teams issues.
Following several missed kicks in previous games, the Rams attempted to rectify their special teams operations. These adjustments initially resulted in an impressive streak of 39 consecutive successful field goals and extra points. However, the trend took a downturn when Mevis missed his first kick of the season, a potential game-winner against Seattle.
The Rams are now left to regroup as they seek to improve their performance in critical moments, with special teams being an area of intense scrutiny and necessary improvement.
