This is part nine of a nine part series previewing each position on the St. Louis Rams in 2015. They will go as follows:
1 – QB
2 – RB/FB
3 – WR/TE
4 – OL
5 – DL
6 – LB
7 – CB
8 – SS/FS
9 – Special Teams
Part Seven – Special Teams
Current Special Teamers on the St. Louis Rams roster:
Johnny Hekker
Jake McQuaide
Tyler Ott
Michael Palardy
Greg Zuerlein
Johnny Hekker – Hekker is headed into his fourth NFL season, all with the Rams. Although Rams fans would prefer he not be on the field often, Hekker is one of the league’s best punters and will be booting it deep again for the Rams in 2015. Be ready for more trickery this year too. Hekker is a career 5/6 passer with 79 yards and one touchdown.
Johnny Hekker completing a pass to Benny Cunningham to beat the Seahawks in 2014.
Jake McQuaide – McQuaide is heading into his fifth season being the Rams long snapper. He hasn’t botched any snaps too terribly and will be snapping for punts and PAT’s again in 2015.
Never underestimate the importance of a good long snapper. Photo by G. Newman Lowrance.
Tyler Ott – Ott was signed as an UDFA out of Harvard this spring to come in and compete with Jake McQuaide but his chances of beating out McQuaide as the Rams long snapper are slim to none.
Michael Palardy – Palardy spent 2014 on the practice squad of the Oakland Raiders. The Rams signed him this past winter and he will come in to compete with Johnny Hekker. But just as Ott is to McQuaide, Palardy’s chances of beating out Johnny Hekker are not good chances at all.
Greg Zuerlein – Zuerlein hasn’t had a FGM (field goals made) percentage of less than 80% since his rookie season in 2012. That’s pretty good. He is fantastic when kicking in the dome. He only had two misses in the dome in 2014. His outdoor kicking can be questionable at times but Legatron will be at the helm of field goal kicking for the Rams once again in 2015.
Greg Zuerlein is ready to give it another go in 2015. Photo via “Pro Football Schedules”.
