Roster Move: Bears add former 49ers kicker Jake Moody |
Dustin Riese
· · 2 hours ago
There was a lot of good that came from the Bears' loss to the Vikings on Monday, but also plenty of bad that will need to get fixed ahead of Tomorrow's game with the Lions. Some of the bad stemmed from countless penalties that seemed to kill drives, while also failing to duplicate their opening drive at any point in the game.
The other primary concern hasn't been an issue in recent seasons, as the Bears' special teams have not performed well against the Vikings. From the kick return coverage to a missed field goal, that was an area that many people pointed out as an issue, which has to be a concern going forward, when it comes to Cairo Santos, say what you will about him as a kicker, but he has been one of the more accurate kickers in the NFL since 2022. There is a reason why the Bears gave him a four-year extension ahead of the 2024 season, and for the most part, it has worked out in the Bears' favor. However, Santos has had some issues with accuracy since the second half of last season. After watching him miss a field goal on Monday, the Bears are leaving no stones unturned as they signed former 49ers kicker Jake Moody to give Santos some competition. Make no mistake about it, Moody hasn't been a great kicker since entering the league, consistently ranking near the bottom of the NFL in accuracy. That alone is a massive reason why the 49ers let him walk earlier in the week, as he missed far too many kicks for them since 2023. That doesn't bother the Bears at all, as they hope a change in scenery can get him back on track. He has agreed to a contract with the Bears and will be brought in to give Santos some competition. Unlike Santos, who is nearly automatic from inside 45 yards, Moody has struggled to put the ball between the pipes as he missed a pair of field goals during the 49ers' week one win versus the Seahawks. That included a chip shot 27-yarder, which can't happen at the professional level and is a massive reason why he was looking for work earlier in the week. What Moody lacks in accuracy, he can make up for in distance, as he has a much better leg than Santos, which could come in handy when the weather gets colder in Chicago. A 2023 third-round pick out of the University of Michigan, Moody had an excellent rookie season where he made 84% of his field goal attempts. That included a Super Bowl record 55-yarder later in that season, which wound up being broken later in the game by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker. Since the Super Bowl, Moody has gotten into his head as he has become one of the least reliable kickers in the game. You started to see that early in 2024 as he finished the season with a putrid 74% success rate on field goal attempts. Those struggles continued into this season, where he missed two more attempts, including a 27-yarder, which is unacceptable at the professional level. Knowing his struggles over the past few seasons, some may be wondering why the Bears would even bring him in to challenge Santos when the results could be worse. Well, Richard Hightower is the Special Teams coach and, from all accounts, is one of the more respected and successful special teams coaches out there. Spending some time with him could allow Moody to clear his head and return to being the person he knows he can be. Secondly, accuracy issues aside, Moody has a leg, and the Bears need a kicker that can make long-distance attempts. Santos doesn't offer that at this point in his career, and after failing to kick the ball out of the end zone late in the fourth quarter, his lack of a leg came back to bite the Bears at the worst time. If anything, Moody would be able to put the ball through the end zone, and that alone could've made a difference on Monday. The primary reason the Bears brought him in is his proven track record, which dates back to his time at the University of Michigan. Sure, the 74% accuracy last season was ugly, but anytime you make 84% of your kicks as a rookie, there is a ton of confidence from the coaching staff that you can go out and make the kicks you need to make. He is also the all-time leading scorer in Michigan University history, which demonstrates that he can be counted on more often than not. While Moody won't be the kicker against the Lions this Sunday, the battle between Moody and Santos is something to watch in the coming weeks, as it will be interesting to see the Bears' thoughts on the situation. Chicago Bears K Jake Moody (@jmoods13) is wearing number 16. Last assigned to Austin Reed. #DaBears pic.twitter.com/NN1rpCdN8w
