The Los Angeles Rams finally waved goodbye to return man Xavier Smith this week, naming Alex Bachman as his replacement. It’s a move that felt inevitable, but let’s be real, this ain’t some sudden revelation: the Rams’ special teams unit has been a structural mess all along, and this change doesn’t magically fix it.
The Big Show Was Just a Distraction
Remember all that offseason talk about the Rams’ “newfound commitment” to special teams? Yeah, through three games, the curtain’s been pulled back, and it’s clear that unit is still the same old story. Kicker Harrison Mevis? He’s reliable, sure, but he lacks range, and that low-aimed shot just screams complacency across the entire third phase. Punter Ethan Evans has kept his job for four years without anyone really challenging him. He’s got a big leg, no doubt, but that doesn’t mean squat if he can’t consistently take advantage. His production should have screamed “upgrade” a long time ago, but his spot was just handed to him.
“Fixes” That Didn’t Fix a Thing
The Rams tried to distract us with some free agent additions, didn’t they? They told us last year that their field goal unit struggles were all the long snapper’s fault. So they brought in veteran Joe Cardona. And they signed Grant Stuard to be a “special teams ace.” But come on, Stuard is just one guy on a unit of ten coverage players or protectors. How much can one player really move the needle there? Turns out, very little. The wildest decision of all was sticking with Xavier Smith as their return man in the first place. It felt like a magic trick, a sleight of hand to get our attention while the whole special teams infrastructure was still falling apart from within. A fresh coat of paint never fixed a cracked foundation, and the structural issues are still glaring.
A Decade-Long Draft Problem
Here’s the real kicker: the Rams’ special teams will keep struggling until they make a true overhaul a priority. Free agent signings alone aren’t enough, man. Most teams smartly use their later draft rounds to pick up players who might not contribute on offense or defense right away but can dominate on special teams. The Rams haven’t taken that approach for the better part of the last decade, and it absolutely shows. We can’t keep falling for the misdirection. There were no real signs special teams would improve this season, beyond a couple of surface-level changes. The core problem is their entire approach, and they totally botched the most recent chance to fix it. They’re going to have to revisit this whole mess next offseason, but for now, it looks like more of the same.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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