Rams hopeful Brett Maher can settle in at kicker again

THOUSAND OAKS — Sunday in Santa Clara will feature a handful of Rams reserves given the opportunity to show what they’re capable of in a starting role.

But one new face, well technically a familiar player making his return to the team, will display his talents as the starting kicker, a position that was his to start the season.

Veteran kicker Brett Maher signed with the Rams this past week, his second stint in Los Angeles this season after playing in the team’s first seven games.

In those seven games, Maher made 17 of 23 field-goal attempts and 12 of 13 extra-point attempts. But of those six misses, one attempt was blocked and four came from more than 50 yards out.

Rams coach Sean McVay said this week that the team put Maher in tough positions early in the season with those long field-goal attempts. He put the onus on himself and the coaching staff to put Maher in more advantageous scenarios.

“When you go back and look at it, I thought there were a lot of situations, if I’m being honest with myself, that you’re saying those are tough spots to put anybody in with the amount of attempts from 50-plus,” McVay said. “He was fairly consistent when you’re talking about some of those field goals from under 50 and in, and so we’ve got to get him back in here and we’ll get him going.”

The Rams waived rookie kicker Lucas Havrisik to free up the roster spot for Maher.

Havrisik had standout moments after joining the team midseason, including the game-winner against Seattle which ignited the Rams’ turnaround. But he was shaky of late, missing two of his last seven field-goal attempts and missing two extra-point attempts last week against the New York Giants.

McVay stressed the importance of having experience at the position, which was a big factor in bringing back Maher, who has played in four postseason games as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

“I think getting into the playoffs definitely changes a little bit of the dialogue in regard to what we know coming down the pipe, so wanted to get somebody in here that had some experience,” McVay said. “He’s had some big-time game experience, so I was pleased with the way Brett came back in.”

Experience aside, Maher has struggled in the past in big games. Last season with the Cowboys, he made just one of six extra-point attempts in two postseason games, including four misses in one game.

He did make both of his field-goal attempts in last year’s playoffs however, one from 25 yards out and one from 43 yards.

Maher has been getting back up to speed this week in practice, rehearsing at the training facility in Thousand Oaks that deals with its fair share of high winds.

Fortunately for Maher, two out of the three Rams’ potential postseason opponents, Dallas and Detroit, play in stadiums with enclosed roofs.

But if the Rams end up playing in Philadelphia, at least he’ll be comfortable playing through the possible elements.

“I mean shoot, it was really windy yesterday,” McVay said. “Those are not ideal situations to be able to kick in and I thought he was really smooth with the operation.”

RAMS (9-7) at 49ERS (12-4)

When: 1:25 p.m. Sunday

Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara

TV/Radio: FOX  Ch. 11/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 231, 386