Matt Gay has become ‘Mr. Automatic’ and solved Rams’ kicking woes – for the long term
After nearly a decade of stability at kicker thanks to Greg Zuerlein, the Rams faced major question marks this year. They opted not to re-sign Zuerlein in free agency, and he left to join John Fassel with the Cowboys.
That left the Rams with big shoes to fill and up until Week 11, they had yet to find a legitimate replacement for Zuerlein. Samuel Sloman didn’t work out, Austin MacGinnis didn’t show enough to warrant a chance in the regular season and Kai Forbath struggled before landing on IR.
Then came Matt Gay, the Rams’ savior at the all-important special teams spot. From Week 1-10, the Rams only had one game in which their kicker didn’t miss either a field goal attempt or PAT. Since Gay took over in Week 11, he’s missed just two field goal attempts: one from 37 yards and one from 44 yards.
He’s made all 16 of his extra point attempts, has been perfect in five straight games and 80% of his kickoffs have gone for touchbacks, too. Needless to say, Sean McVay is thrilled with how Gay has performed.
He’s not only confident in Gay moving forward this postseason, but he feels the Rams have found their long-term solution at kicker.
“Woo. I’ll tell you what, it’s been huge. Man, he’s Mr. Automatic as of late,” McVay told reporters Tuesday. “I’ve been really impressed with just the continuity between he, Johnny (Hekker) and Jake (McQuaide). I think that’s something that you don’t take for granted. He’s done a great job and it looks like we found our guy for a long time, really for the future.”
It’s not just the numbers that Gay is putting up, either. His kicks have all looked good, which couldn’t be said about Sloman and Forbath earlier this season. He hits the ball well, driving kicks with power and accuracy.
Now, he hasn’t been tested from distance much this year – just one attempt beyond 50 yards, which he made – but leg strength was never a question with Gay. It’s his struggles with accuracy that got him cut by the Bucs after just one NFL season.
It seems he’s found a solution to those troubles this year and the Rams couldn’t be happier to have uncovered this diamond in the rough.
