49ers special teams coordinator on having 2 kickers on the roster during camp
Aug 2, 2023, 10:30 AM
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 16: Special Teams Coordinator Brian Schneider of the San Francisco 49ers with the special teams unit on the sideline during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Falcons defeated the 49ers 28-14. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
As of Aug. 2, nearly a week into the 49ers training camp, the organization has two kickers on its roster: Rookie Jake Moody, who nailed at least one 60-yard field goal Tuesday, and veteran Zane Gonzalez, who the team traded for this past March.
Special Teams Coordinator Brian Schneider spoke about having two placekickers on the roster and how Moody and Gonzalez are working together through a potentially weird situation.
“I don’t think he [Gonzalez] is in a weird situation. I think he’s in an awesome situation and he’s been wonderful here,” Schneider said. “He’s really talented and him and Jake have worked great together. And really, to me, that’s just the competition. I view all 90 players that way. We’re getting stronger, we’re competing. Both of those guys are going to be kicking in the NFL. They’re approaching it that way, they’re playing that way, they’re helping each other. And it’s just been really cool to have that competition in camp.”
Brian Schneider has enjoyed watching kickers Moody and Gonzalez compete in 49ers camp pic.twitter.com/LOjlOLtcLC
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) August 1, 2023
Moody, who still learning the ins and outs of professional football, was picked in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. On Tuesday, he told the media Gonzalez has been a “great” mentor.
“As a vet who’s played for multiple years for multiple teams, he’s got lots of experience, lots of knowledge, and so being able to come in and learn from a guy like that has been pretty cool,” Moody said.
With the 49ers using a high draft pick on Moody pick, the common assumption is the team will keep him when roster cuts start happening. Golzalez told Eric Branch of the SF Chronicle that he’s aware of the situation he’s in.
“I’ve been around pro sports for seven years now, so I get it. And now I can go down one of two roads: I can be an A-hole and be grumpy. Or I can just take the situation for what it is. I can’t control the situation. So focusing on just controlling the things I can control.”
Teams have until Tuesday, Aug. 29 to trim rosters down from 90 to 53 players.
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