Ethan Evans came into the NFL with a cannon for a leg, and for a while that was the headline. Four seasons into his run with the Los Angeles Rams, though, the punter has learned that the best kick is not always the one that flies the farthest.
“It used to be crushing a ball, just absolutely nuking a punt,” Evans told LAFB Network. “But in the NFL, field position is everything.”
That change has been at the center of his work in training camp. Evans has spent the offseason pushing to add hang time, giving the Rams’ coverage team a better shot to get downfield and close in on the returner.
“I’ve constantly tried to work on that every year, and it’s gotten better each year,” Evans said. “Even if I don’t hit a 60-yard punt, it can stay high in the air so our gunners can get downfield, cover and limit the return yards.”
The power is still there. Evans arrived from Wingate University with the kind of leg strength that made him an NFL punter, and the Rams have not tried to strip that away. They have, however, adjusted the way he trains.
“We’re not squatting 800 pounds or anything, but they still let me lift heavy,” Evans said. “The strength staff is awesome. They monitor me and make sure I’m taking care of my body while lifting heavy weights.”
For Evans, the punting side of the job is just as direct. He doesn’t want to overcomplicate things with endless calculations or second-guessing. Instead, he leans on what he sees in warmups and lets feel take over once the game starts.
“I’m a super simple guy,” Evans said. “I go out during pregame and see how the ball is flying.
Once I figure that out, I know which balls to hit depending on the direction. I don’t try to think about it too much.”
That mindset has helped him handle the biggest stages, too. Evans still remembers his first NFL game in Seattle, especially the size of the crowd after coming from Wingate, where he said the stadium held approximately 2,000 people.
He recalled getting ready for a kickoff and looking out at about 70,000 fans.
“That was a pretty eye-opening experience,” Evans said. “It was really cool.”
Now, repetition is what keeps the moment from getting too big. Evans said the routine takes over once he steps onto the field.
“I kind of black out and let my muscle memory take over,” Evans said. “I’ve hit thousands upon thousands of punts, so my body knows what to do.”
That comfort has made this fourth camp feel much different from the first. He knows the rhythm now, understands what the coaches want, and has settled into the Rams’ special teams room.
He pointed to Joe Cardona and Harrison Mevis as easygoing teammates who help keep the group loose, even though specialists don’t get many chances each week.
“We only get to go onto the field five to eight times per game,” Evans said. “We don’t get 60 snaps, so we try to keep each other calm.”
The laid-back vibe doesn’t mean the room is soft. Evans said the specialists compete over almost anything, whether it’s getting a ball closest to the kicking bag or sinking a balled-up piece of paper into a trash can from the farthest distance.
That same spirit shows up in the weight room. Asked which teammate he would trust to spot him during a max squat, Evans went with Myles Garrett.
“If I fail the lift, he’s just going to curl it with one arm,” Evans joked.
Even with all the talk about power, Evans’ idea of a perfect punt has changed. The most rewarding result now is the one that changes the field for the Rams.
“Pinning a ball inside the 5-yard line or at the 1-yard line is probably the most satisfying feeling you can get in the NFL,” Evans said.
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