49ers ST coordinator expresses confidence in ‘talented’ Moody

SANTA CLARA — Given his choice of available kickers, it appears as if 49ers first-year special teams coordinator Brant Boyer has a favorite in mind.Jake Moody, who experienced an up-and-down first two seasons with the 49ers, has reinforced the opinion Boyer had of him a couple of years ago when Moody was coming out in the 2023 NFL Draft."There isn't a special teams coach in this league that didn't have him rated No. 1 coming out, that I know of," Boyer said of Moody on Thursday. "He's as talented of a kid as it gets."Moody made just 24 of 34 field-goal attempts last season. His 70.6-percent success rate was 33rd among all NFL kickers with 10 or more made field goals.Moody was 13 of 14 to open last season. After returning from a high-ankle sprain, he connected on just 11 of 20 attempts."The injury issue, where he was fighting injuries going back and forth, I think that had a lot to do with it," Boyer said.Moody entered the NFL under a microscope. The 49ers did not re-sign veteran kicker Robbie Gould, and selected Moody at the end of the third round at No. 99 overall.He made 21 of 25 field goals as a rookie. He made two kicks beyond 50 yards in the Super Bowl, but also had an...