Plenty of things went wrong for the San Francisco 49ers last year as the team won six games only a season after making the Super Bowl. There were plenty of disappointments and underperformers, including the kicking struggles thanks to Jake Moody.
After his promising rookie campaign, which looked like he could be worth his selection in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Moody had a disastrous second season, going 24/34 on his field goal attempts. He was particularly poor in the second half of the season after he returned from his high-ankle sprain.
The 49ers brought in competition in the offseason, signing rookie Kenneth Almendares, who was the best kicker in college football last season.
Despite this, 49ers special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said on Thursday that he expects Moody to be the team's kicker when the regular season begins, per NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco.
Boyer added that he believes Moody's struggles were mostly due to his midseason injury and that he is as talented "as it gets".
"There isn’t a special teams coach in this league that didn’t have him rated No. 1 coming out, that I know of. He’s as talented of a kid as it gets."49ers ST Coach Brant Boyer
Boyer, who took over the role after nine seasons with the Jets, said that they are hoping the addition of veteran long snapper Jon Weeks will help Moody get back to his ways. According to the experienced coach, Moody is doing "a hell of a job".
That is certainly great to hear for Niners fans. While kicking hasn't been at the front of the mind for the 49ers, who have been dealing with a ton of offseason uncertainty, having a reliable specialist there goes a long way.
The training camp and preseason can obviously change things, but kicker looks like it is Moody's job to lose for now.