Jake Moody, 99th overall pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s gone through a radical change in his kicking approach since that time. This change comes on the heels of a tough 2051 season filled with struggles and injuries. Moody for sure wants to play better. He’s a big proponent of working with a sports performance coach that teaches the importance of process over product.
Over the course of Moody’s rookie season, he struggled with injuries – particularly the high right ankle sprain that zapped his explosiveness. He played just four games coming back from injury beginning in Week 10, and threw 20 passes total, completing just 11. This added his overall conversion rate up to 70.6%, which earned him 35th in the entire NFL. His pain was on display in warmups against the Los Angeles Chargers, as he was seen having trouble with several misses.
With a desire to better himself, Moody enlisted the help of his longtime kicking coach Brandon Kornblue. Collectively, they partnered in Naples, Florida, all March to repurpose his kicking mechanics. This partnership inspired Moody to switch to a two-step kicking approach, a drastic change from his previous three-step approach.
The two-step approach has been successfully employed by several notable kickers in the league, including Adam Vinatieri, Mason Crosby, and Matt Prater. When Moody switched to this approach, he stumbled onto an electrifying finding. While he gives up a little distance with this change, he can hit the ball with more precision and velocity. Whether for better concentration or form, this adjustment seems to reduce the margin for error in his kicks.
Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer was excited about Moody’s potential with this new approach. He added the impact of a good offseason is huge. With this revamped approach, Moody should be able to realize his true potential as a kicker for the first time.
More so than Moody’s transition, the 49ers have made a large overhaul with their special teams unit this offseason. The team has cut long snapper Taybor Pepper and punter Mitch Wishnowsky. In their stead, they’ve replaced them with Jon Weeks and Thomas Morstead. These moves are part of a larger strategy to improve the team’s special teams performance.
Then in the 49ers’ second preseason game, Moody really showed what he was made of, hitting five of six field goal attempts. He even drilled a game-winning 59-yarder, cementing his comeback. This performance raised his confidence level immensely. It illustrated something else, that he has the ability to capitalize on opportunity – a quality that former NFL kicker Stephen Gostkowski points out is vital for making it.
“The most frustrating part of being a kicker is you don’t get to create your own opportunities. You just have to pounce on ’em when you get ’em.” – Stephen Gostkowski
Moody’s determination to prove himself is evident. He stated, “I want to prove to myself that I deserve to be here and that I belong and it doesn’t have anything to do with last year or other people or anything.” His marble heart dedication to improve himself speaks to a great, underlying appreciation for all the struggles associated with being an NFL kicker.
Kyle Shanahan, head coach of the 49ers, praised Moody’s recent performances, noting, “I thought he had one of the best games I’ve ever seen a guy have.” Such affirmations from his coach can be pivotal in building Moody’s confidence as he continues to develop his kicking skills.
The path forward for Jake Moody is lined with tremendous expectations, promise and hope. He’s developing his craft and learning to meet the NFL’s expectations. His primary objective is to win and maintain the position of go-to kicker for the San Francisco 49ers. His newfound approach may ultimately help him overcome past struggles and achieve lasting success in his professional career.
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