Rams punter Ethan Evans focuses on his steps, aiming to improve hang time and coverage in 2026

Ethan Evans is approaching the Rams’ 2026 season with a singular focus: his steps. In an offseason feature from the team, the punter described how emphasizing his footwork and the sequence leading into each punt is central to the way he wants to play, both for his personal execution and for the punt coverage unit that depends on hang time.

For the Rams, the mechanics conversation is part of a broader special teams rebuild. Los Angeles has made changes across its punt operation, including the hiring of Bubba Ventrone as special teams coordinator and Kyle Hoke as an assistant on that side of the ball. The club’s intent, as reflected in these moves, is to tighten the execution details that sit between the snap and the moment the ball is in the air, and then carry that improvement through to coverage downfield.

Evans tied the improvement he is seeking to a tangible on-field outcome. He said the biggest thing for him was just getting his steps right, with the goal of producing better hang time on punts. When the ball stays in the air longer, coverage units gain more time to close lanes and arrive to the ball with better angles, which can affect both field position and the opponent’s return options.

That connection matters more than it might sound, because punt outcomes are often decided by micro-timing. In the Rams’ case, the offseason work is not limited to punter technique. The team also added veteran long snapper Joe Cardona, a role that anchors the first link in the punt chain and is essential for clean operation under pressure. In addition, Los Angeles brought in inside linebacker Grant Stuard, another personnel move that shapes the roster options for coverage assignments and tackling roles once the ball is released.

With these pieces in place, Evans’ approach frames the season’s special teams goal as a combination of coaching, personnel, and execution. Ventrone and Hoke provide the framework, Cardona and Stuard help define who is on the field and what skill sets the unit can deploy, and Evans’ footwork is one element he can control directly at his position.

Even so, the mechanics emphasis does not automatically translate into measurable gains without follow-through in live reps. The punting game is sensitive to conditions like ball rotation, timing from the protection window, and snap-and-kick consistency. The Rams will still need to see how Evans’ step-by-step approach looks during training camp and preseason situations where timing is tested and return teams prepare specifically for punts.

What to watch next is whether Evans’ step adjustment results in consistently longer hang time and sharper placement, and whether that produces cleaner coverage trends for Los Angeles. If his adjustment holds up, it would give the Rams a stable foundation for a special teams group that has been redesigned from the coaching staff through to key roles involved in the punt operation.