SANTA CLARA — Jake Moody has earned respect among reporters for being willing to answer tough questions after missing field goals, something he had to do more than he would have liked even in a rookie season in which he scored 123 points for the 49ers.
But when Moody tied a franchise record with six field goals Monday night — and became the first of that group to connect on two of more than 50 yards — he was long gone by the time coach Kyle Shanahan was done meeting with the press after a 32-19 win over the New York Jets at Levi’s Stadium.
Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, whose locker to the right of Moody’s, smiled and shrugged his shoulders when asked if the second-year kicker was still around.
“He was perfect, man,” Hargrave said. “He did a great job today. He’s very talented so we expect no less.”
Steve Young, the 49ers’ Hall of Fame quarterback, is fond of saying kicking a field goal means you’re just three points closer to losing. That’s not what happened against the Jets, as Moody salvaged an offense that was shaking off some rust with successful conversions of 46, 51, 31, 53, 23 and 42 yards.
Moody joined Robbie Gould (2017 against Tennessee), Jeff Wilkins (1996 against Atlanta) and Ray Wersching (1983 against New Orleans) as 49ers kickers to make six field goals in a game. He is the first to have two field goals of 50-plus yards included among the six.
Being able to dial long distance has made Shanahan bolder when attempting long kicks, simply because he’s got someone who can make them. Moody’s range exceeds that of Gould, and was one of the reasons the 49ers used a third-round draft pick for the Michigan product.
Shanahan conceded he’s more likely to dial long distance with Moody than any other time as a play-caller.
“That’s the difference with Jake,” Shanahan said. “He does have a big leg. I get a number we can attempt, and it’s not much different whether it’s 47 or 50.”
Moody’s checkered rookie season included missed attempts of 54 and 41 yards in Cleveland that could have given the 49ers a win. There was a 40-yard miss in a 22-17 loss to Minnesota and another in a 21-20 loss to the Rams to close out the regular season.
In the postseason, Moody had a 48-yard attempt blocked against Green Bay and was wide right from 48 in the NFC Championship Game against Detroit. Even when Moody connected from 55 and 53 yards in Super Bowl LVIII against Kansas City he couldn’t feel good about it because a blocked extra point helped put the game into overtime.
The learning experience was in his rear-view mirror after Moody scored 20 of the 49ers’ 32 points against the Jets.
“Having a consistent special teams, whether it’s your punter, your kicker, your long-snapper, whatever that is, it takes a lot of pressure off your offense and your defense,” tight end George Kittle said. “I think our special teams all played great.”
Kittle joked that Moody produced despite the disappointment of Michigan losing to Texas 31-12 Saturday.
“He was able not to have a college hangover after Michigan got their butts kicked by Texas,” Kittle said.
Moody opened the 49ers’ scoring with a 46-yard field goal after Fred Warner forced a Breece Hall fumble that was recovered by Maliek Collins.
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Later, when the 49ers took the ball away on an interception from Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles of a deflection from Deommodore Lenoir, the 49ers settled for another field goal attempt and Moody connected from 53 yards.
Still another field goal came after Brandon Aiyuk dropped a picture-perfect pass from Brock Purdy in the end zone on second down for a would-be 13-yard score. That conversion came from 31 yards.
“I’m happy for Moody,” Purdy said. “For us as an offense we want to score touchdowns, it’s an area we want to push each other and it starts with me. Moody got work in and did a great job tonight.”
