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The Los Angeles Rams have identified special teams as a key area for improvement this offseason after a 2025 campaign plagued by costly errors. The unit ranked 26th in DVOA, with the field goal group placing 30th and the punt unit ranking 28th.
Mistakes on special teams were a recurring theme for the Rams. In Week 3, they fell to the Philadelphia Eagles after two field goals were blocked. Later, in Week 16, a Rashid Shaheed punt return sparked a 16-point comeback by the Seattle Seahawks. Although it didn't cost them a win, the Rams also had a punt blocked during their Wild Card playoff victory over the Carolina Panthers.
The struggles were severe enough that head coach Sean McVay made an unprecedented in-season coordinator change, firing special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn. The low point came in the NFC Championship when Xavier Smith muffed a punt, leading directly to a Seahawks touchdown on the next play.
Coaching Staff Overhaul
The Rams made minimal personnel changes on special teams this offseason, retaining kicker Harrison Mevis—who missed a field goal in the Week 16 loss to Seattle—and punter Ethan Evans, who was below average for much of the season. Instead, the team focused on coaching changes, hiring Bubba Ventrone and Kyle Hoke to lead the unit. They also added long-snapper Joe Cardona and linebacker Grant Stuard to provide experience.
Ventrone, who had mixed results with the Cleveland Browns but was highly regarded during his tenure with the Indianapolis Colts, stressed the importance of fundamentals. "It's a new season and I'm coming in here with a clean slate," Ventrone said. "We've acquired a handful of really talented football players and guys like Grant Stuard and Joe Cardona, who I've both had experience with and I'm excited about working with those guys. But I think it comes down to really establishing your football philosophy and what you believe in."
Competition at Punt Returner
While the Rams did not bring in competition for Mevis or Evans, they are creating a battle at punt returner. Xavier Smith, who averaged 9.3 yards per return in 2025 (17th in the NFL), muffed a punt in the NFC Championship that proved costly. In response, the team has been giving running back Kyren Williams reps fielding punts during training camp. Williams took over punt return duties after Smith's muff in the playoff game.
This approach mirrors the Rams' previous strategy of using reliable players like Cooper Kupp as punt returners in 2020 and 2021. "We have a lot of options back there," Ventrone noted. "Xavier is going to keep developing. We're going to keep training him. I think Kyren is an option... Competition brings out the best in everybody, so we're going to get guys opportunities and we'll see what happens."
The punt return competition has flown under the radar compared to battles at quarterback, WR3, and cornerback, but it signals the Rams' commitment to avoiding special teams disasters. With the team in an 'all-in' season, they are determined to ensure special teams do not hinder their championship aspirations.