I'm fine with it. The dude off the street last year missed his first one in Washington in a rain storm and then hit what the next 4 or 5? My bet is that is when they started thinking about it.
This is the 2nd TC/preseason Maher has spent with the club. Its possible that the staff looked at where he was in 2013 and looked at where he was this year and saw enough improvement to feel comfortable with giving him the job.
And if things aren't going well, or even if we just need a really big kick, y'know, to save our season or something, our back up kicker is the GOAT. Let him bank one in if you don't trust Maher to make it.