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Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
49ers Insider Predicts Outcome of Controversial Kicker Decision
49ers Insider Predicts Outcome of Controversial Kicker Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The San Francisco 49ers brought in a haul of new pieces, on both the roster and coaching staff, to wipe last season's 6-11 disappointment from memory. Advertisement Injuries forced the Niners to struggle in multiple areas, including special teams. Young kicker Jake Moody, who many were content with being San Fran's place kicker for years to come, had a letdown of a season as he was nursing an ankle injury. The former third-round pick in 2023 was an 84% (21-25) marksman on field goals as a rookie, but his sophomore season featured a slump he is not proud of. Last season, Moody finished ranked 33rd among all NFL kickers (minimum 10 attempts) making just 70.6% (24-34) of his field goal attempts. 'It's unacceptable to be kicking the way I was the second half of the year,' Moody told The Athletic. Advertisement In his defense, he started 13-of-14 before his injury, which led to a shaky return. The Michigan product was a worrisome 11-of-20 on field goals in the last nine games of the year. Throughout Moody's struggles, many 49ers fans had seen enough and were calling for a replacement. NFL journeyman Greg Joseph was signed this free agency as a potential alternative, but Moody's time may not be over just yet. Even with a new special teams coordinator, a new long snapper, and a new holder/punter, NBC Sports' Matt Maiocco believes Moody will remain as the Week 1 starter. "I think Jake Moody would have to, I don't know necessarily implode, but he would just have to give off the bad vibes that they would feel like it's necessary to move on," Maiocco said on Bay Area radio station KNBR. Advertisement Moody already has all the motivation he needs heading into next season. With a slight tweak to his kicking motion, he's expecting more consistent makes this season. He has been working out with kicking coach Brandon Kornblue and the pair has made a meticulous change to Moody's approach: he will now take just two steps to the ball rather than three. 'It's been going great,' Moody said about the adjustment. 'Obviously, when you have been doing something since the sixth grade, it was definitely challenging at the start. I had to keep telling myself to stick with it. 'The goal is more consistency because at the end of the day, that's what keeps you in the NFL." Advertisement This adjustment, and the changes to personnel around him, should fuel Moody's fire and lead to a bounce-back season. "I think that, in a lot of ways, [these moves have] given Jake Moody a new lease on life with the 49ers," Maiocco added. "And I do think that he is—maybe not the overwhelming favorite—but certainly the clear favorite to win that job." With Joseph now waiting in the wings, 49ers fans can be a bit more at ease with the kicking situation if things go down hill. But expect Moody to trot out for at least the first game or two as the starting kicker in 2025. Related: 49ers' Jake Moody Makes Move to Fix 'Unacceptable' Performance Related: Analyst Anticipates 49ers Return to Postseason This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
49ers K Jake Moody looking to make massive change to his approach in 2025
49ers K Jake Moody looking to make massive change to his approach in 2025 Ahead of the 2023 NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers selected Michigan kicker Jake Moody in the third round (No. 99 overall) of the draft after two All-Big Ten and All-American campaigns that saw him earn the Big Ten Kicker of the Year Award twice. As a rookie, Moody beat out veteran kicker Zane Gonzalez, whom the 49ers traded for earlier that offseason, for the starting job. Moody went on to make 21 of his 25 field goals (84%) and a league-high 60 of his 61 extra point attempts (98.4%). Unfortunately, in 2024, Moody wasn't as strong, making just 24 of his 34 field goals (70.6%) and 32 of his 33 extra point attempts (97.0%) while dealing with an ankle injury that actually cost him time during the season. Now, as Moody prepares for his third year in the NFL, he's switching up his kicking approach, telling The Athletic's Vic Tafur this offseason that he's going from three steps before the kick down to two. 'It's been going great,' Moody said. 'Obviously, when you have been doing something since the sixth grade, it was definitely challenging at the start. I had to keep telling myself to stick with it.' Tafur also spoke with Moody's longtime kicking coach, Brandon Kornblue, who gave some insight into the changes that the two started implementing back in March. 'You have to be careful when you change something like that, because he had been so successful for so long with the three steps,' Kornblue said. 'Jake and I had talked about doing this in the past, but because he was kicking so well, I didn't feel like it was smart. But then with the injury and all that, he felt comfortable with the change.' Moody was rather plain with his description of the switch. 'I felt like I've had some inconsistencies with my first jab step,' Moody said. 'So I figured if I just get rid of that step altogether and I just take two steps instead of the three, it's less room for error.' The coach and player are aiming to make sure the kicks stay consistent while they worry about accuracy over distance, at this point. Moody has plenty of leg, and this change could see him return to the kicker he was in 2023. After the struggles last year, the 49ers have brought in competition for Moody this offseason. He'll have to beat out veteran kicker Greg Joseph, who has made 116 of his 141 field goals (82.3%) and 112 of his 124 extra points (90.3%) in his six seasons in the NFL split between the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets and Washington Commanders. Last season, Joseph made just 16 of his 20 field goals (80%), so there's a considerable difference between the two. If Moody doesn't outshine Joseph, he could end up losing his job. More 49ers: 49ers EDGE predicted to take home hardware after first NFL season
New York Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
49ers' Jake Moody aims to trade distance for accuracy with new kicking approach
Jake Moody can't just pretend that last year didn't happen. In what was a frustrating season for the San Francisco 49ers, whose Super Bowl hangover consisted of 11 losses and even more injuries, Moody was the exclamation mark, as the kicker missed kick after kick down the stretch following his return from a high ankle sprain. Advertisement But Moody can erase a key step as he looks to regain his footing for the team that drafted him in the third round two years ago. He wasn't comfortable just blaming the ankle injury for his struggle, so he changed his approach from taking three steps before a kick to two steps. 'It's been going great,' Moody said in a phone interview. 'Obviously, when you have been doing something since the sixth grade, it was definitely challenging at the start. I had to keep telling myself to stick with it.' That was back in March, but Moody got the hang of it after a couple of weeks and is ready for the 49ers' offseason workouts. After watching Moody miss nine of 20 field-goal attempts the last nine games, the 49ers have brought in veteran kicker Greg Joseph to compete against Moody. New 49ers special teams coordinator Brant Boyer, though, is expecting Moody to bounce back. 'There isn't a special teams coach in this league that didn't have him rated number one coming out (of college),' Boyer said two weeks ago. 'He's as talented of a kid as it gets. The injury issue had a lot to do with it. If the kid gets his mind right, which I think he's doing, I think he'll do a heck of a job for us. I really do.' Moody connected on 13 of his first 14 field-goal attempts before he tried to make a tackle on a kickoff in a Week 5 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He instead sprained his ankle, missed the next three games and was never the same. 'I felt like I was kicking the ball the best I have in my entire life,' Moody said. 'And then … it sucks, but that's how the NFL goes — you try to make a tackle and get a high ankle sprain. After that injury, I lost that rhythm I was in. And once you lose the rhythm, it's tough to get back into it.' Much like Shakira's hips, Moody's feet didn't lie. He missed three kicks in his first game back, two out of three attempts in Week 13 and then hit rock bottom in a 40-34 Week 17 loss to the Detroit Lions — when Moody missed two field goals and an extra point. Yeah, do the math… 'It's unacceptable to be kicking the way I was the second half of the year,' Moody said. 'I don't know if I lost any confidence, but stuff always creeps into your head, especially after missing a bunch of kicks. Advertisement 'But those kicks are irrelevant now. It's in the past, and I like to have a one-kick mentality, as in the next kick. Right now, I've been kicking the ball really well, so I feel like I'm in a good head space.' That started back in March, when Moody hit a practice field in Naples, Fla., with longtime kicking coach Brandon Kornblue. They have been together since Moody was in middle school and the usual ball-contact drills soon turned to something else. They started tweaking his stance and how far back he was from the ball and then got rid of the third jab step. 'You have to be careful when you change something like that, because he had been so successful for so long with the three steps,' Kornblue said in a phone interview. Kornblue thinks that while most young kickers use three steps, about half of the NFL's kickers use two because they have strong legs and can afford to trade in a little power for better accuracy. 'Jake and I had talked about doing this in the past, but because he was kicking so well, I didn't feel like it was smart,' Kornblue said. 'But then with the injury and all that, he felt comfortable with the change.' Moody also turned to former 49ers kicker Robbie Gould, who agreed that the change made sense. 'I felt like I've had some inconsistencies with my first jab step,' Moody said. 'So I figured if I just get rid of that step altogether and I just take two steps instead of the three, it's less room for error.' There are fewer worries about planting his foot in a different spot, which will help his consistency. 'There are some things that, technically, you have to adjust,' Kornblue said. 'You do lose a little bit of power — how much varies from guy to guy — but you're trying to improve your consistency and accuracy. That being said, he is still hitting the ball 65 to 70 yards.' Moody has more time to see the ball after it's snapped because there is less running to do, and he thinks he is only losing a yard or two in distance. 'The goal is more consistency because at the end of the day, that's what keeps you in the NFL,' Moody said. 'Plus, it was nice to have a bit of a change, something to set my mind to. Not to distract me, but to have a new focus, I guess. Something to put all my energy and focus into.' Advertisement While Kornblue doesn't think Moody has ever struggled before last year's injury — 'he has been so mentally strong for so long' — Moody points to the 2020 COVID-shortened season where he missed three of four attempts for Michigan. 'Last season is just something to build off of,' Moody said. 'In college, I had my worst season the year prior to me winning the Lou Groza Award, so I'm hoping it'll be similar to that. That year, Moody made 22 of 24 field goals, including some in bad weather, and didn't miss one of his 56 extra-point attempts to win the nation's top kicker honors. Bring on Joseph, who has played for six teams in six NFL seasons and made 116 of 141 field-goal attempts. 'He's been in the league for a little bit — obviously for a reason,' Moody said. 'I got to meet him (last) week. He's a good dude and I think the competition is going to bring out the best in both of us, and hopefully we'll both be on a roster this season.' Kornblue knows Joseph well and said he is 'talented.' 'That will be a battle, but Jake is one of the best kickers I have ever been around and I have been around a lot of guys,' he said. 'Both strength-wise and consistency-wise, he is as good and as even-keeled as they come. I feel that when Jake is on, he can't be beat. He has all the tools.' One more thing that will come in handy is new long snapper Jon Weeks, who is coming off a 15-year run with the Houston Texans. 'Adding Weeks is a big deal for (Moody) — that total operation being smooth and everything like that will certainly help the kid for sure,' Boyer said. Signing Weeks was an under-the-radar move in an offseason that saw the 49ers lose eight starters in free agency, use their first five draft picks on defense and then sign tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and quarterback Brock Purdy to long-term deals. Advertisement 'Those guys are like the main glue that holds the team together and they're all the best at their respective positions in the entire league,' Moody said. 'It's been a little hectic offseason, but at the same time, it's been pretty cool.' Now, the 49ers would love to see what a healthy Moody — only the second kicker drafted in the first three rounds in the last 19 years — can do. 'I'm excited to see what the new two-step approach can bring me this year,' Moody said. 'Hopefully, I won't miss a single kick.'
USA Today
07-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFC West news: 5 49ers stories for Cardinals fans to know from this week
NFC West news: 5 49ers stories for Cardinals fans to know from this week A few stories that Cardinals fans should know from the last week about the NFC West rival 49ers. We have reached the end of another week in the NFL offseason, which means it is time to check in with the rest of the NFC West and see what has been going on with the Arizona Cardinals' division rivals. What is there to know about the San Francisco 49ers? Below are a few stories from the last week about the Niners that Cardinals fans should know. Purdy contract extension coming soon? The 49ers have made it a habit of making contract extension talks last until the summer and nearly training camp. However, it appears that they could have a deal done as early as before the start of the offseason program this month. Kicker competition coming Kicker Jake Moody struggled last season. The 49ers plan to add competition for home this offseason. Starting center job not up for grabs While the 49ers are looking to add competition for several positions, it appears one job is secure. Starting center Jake Brendel is not in danger of losing his starting job, especially when the Niners have other positions to address on the offensive line this offseason. No Super Bowl talk for Shanahan The Niners had big expectations last season but ended up in last place in the NFC West. While still considered a likely competitor for the postseason and perhaps a championship, head coach Kyle Shanahan is staying present in each phase. He isn't getting ahead of himself. Niners among cap space leaders With the moves the 49ers have done this offseason, they are now ranked sixth in the league in cap space at more than $33 million. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
