Special teams has been a sore spot for the Rams all season, but the last two weeks have offered a real sign of life. The biggest reason is Joshua Karty and his unusual “dirty kickoff,” a tactic that has started to change the way opponents are starting drives.
For the first eight weeks, Los Angeles was sitting on a -12.9 special teams DVOA, easily the worst mark in the league. That number has moved to -9.5 over the last two weeks, which still leaves the Rams at the bottom, but it shows clear improvement.
Karty has been central to that shift. It’s been a strange setup for the Rams to carry two kickers, but the move has paid off on kickoffs.
Karty struggled at times on field goals last year, yet his kickoff ability gave the Rams a reason to keep him around. His “dirty kickoff” is the opposite of the usual booming, high-hangtime launch.
It comes in low and wobbly, almost like a ground ball in baseball, and it’s meant to make life miserable for returners.
That approach does come with risk. Against the Los Angeles Chargers, one of those kicks landed short of the landing zone, which can trigger a flag and give the offense the ball at the 40-yard line. But for the most part, the Rams have been getting the kind of results they wanted.
Through the first eight weeks, opponents were averaging 28.7 yards per kickoff return against Los Angeles and beginning drives at the 34.7-yard line. Over the last two weeks, those numbers have dropped sharply.
The Rams have allowed just 18.8 yards per return, and opposing offenses have started at the 29-yard line on average. That’s nearly a 10-yard swing per return and a 5.7-yard improvement in field position.
Even with two kicks landing short of the landing zone, Karty has helped the Rams get there. He also bailed things out with two touchbacks last week. Because the ball hits the ground before the end zone on the dirty kickoff, those touchbacks only bring the ball out to the 20 instead of the 35.
Karty's two "dirty kickoffs" that resulted in touchbacks. Returners may get more comfortable as they see it more, but there's also a reason these guys are playing football and not shortstop. pic.twitter.com/7lbXx8zJoK
There’s still plenty of work left for this unit, and the sample size is small enough that opponents could adjust. Even so, the Rams have at least found something that works, and it’s a clear example of the coaching staff trying to patch a problem in real time. With roster spots at a premium, the bigger question now is how long Los Angeles can keep carrying two kickers.
The improvement hasn’t been limited to kickoffs, either. Over the last two games, Ethan Evans has averaged 44.6 net yards per punt, which ranks ninth in the NFL, and he’s been PFF’s second-highest graded punter. Brandon McManus hasn’t been challenged much on field goals, but he is perfect on extra points and has made all three of his field goal attempts.
For most of the season, the Rams’ special teams were actively costing them. The addition of Karty and the dirty kickoff has at least given them a weapon that’s working, even if consistency is still the next hurdle. Given how much special teams has hurt them already, that alone counts as progress.
In Other News...
Rams Suddenly Need Help At Receiver Again
The Rams are back to shuffling their receiver room after a wave of injuries forced another roster move this week. With Puka Nacua headed to injured reserve and Brennan Presley elevated to the active roster, Los Angeles added Tyler Scott to the practice squad, giving the team another body at a position group that has suddenly become thin.
Scott was waived during August roster cutdowns, but he now returns with prior NFL experience and the kind of versatility that can matter when depth is being tested. He can help as both a receiver and a return specialist, which gives the Rams a little more flexibility while they sort through the latest round of injury-related uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Just Created Flexibility They May Need Very Soon
The Rams have opened up a little breathing room just as the season is starting to demand it. By restructuring the contracts of running back Kyren Williams and safety Kamren Curl, Los Angeles created $3 million in salary cap space, a useful bit of maneuvering for a team dealing with injuries and other roster challenges as it heads into its Week 10 game.
The move works by converting portions of both players base salaries into signing bonuses and spreading the cap hit with two void years attached, pushing those charges out through 2030. It is the kind of financial housekeeping teams often do when they want options later, and for the Rams, the timing suggests they may need those options sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Donalds Rams Return Is Raising One Big Early Question
Aaron Donalds return to the Rams for the 2026 season has already given the defense a familiar edge, even if the box score has not caught up yet. The veteran tackle is back in the mix after retirement, and while the sack total still sits at zero, his presence alone changes how opponents have to prepare for Los Angeles up front.
For the Rams, the bigger early question is how quickly Donald can turn that disruption into the kind of game-changing production fans are used to seeing. He remains focused on helping the team win, and with the season still taking shape, there is plenty of time for the numbers to start reflecting the impact he is already having. [Read more 🡒]