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Coach Dave Toub Positions Chiefs’ ST Unit for Success

Coach Dave Toub Positions Chiefs’ ST Unit for Success

Coach Dave Toub Positions Chiefs’ ST Unit for Success

In the ever-evolving landscape of the NFL, teams are adapting to the new kickoff protocols introduced in late March. Coaches, particularly Kansas City Chiefs’ special teams coordinator Dave Toub, are leading the charge in innovating strategies that align with these regulations. The objective is to maximize the effectiveness of kickoff plays while ensuring player safety and compliance with league rules.

“There’s still some mystery,” stated Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson, by means of the group’s main website. “We’re still working out some things. I think it’s going to take preseason games to really fully understand what it’s about.”

Many anticipate that throughout the regular season, teams will continue to experiment with their tactics regarding new kickoff plays. Adjusting to these changes will be crucial, as coaches strive to find the best approach to optimize their kickoff strategies and adapt to the league’s evolving game dynamics.

“There’s going to be a lot of chaos in the first four or five weeks of the season before everyone kind of gets a handle of what it is,” provided New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh through the Associated Press. “I think you’re adding a game-changing element back to the game. So, it’s exciting to have it back in football.”

The excitement surrounding the new kickoff rules is palpable, and several special teams coaches are relishing the opportunity to innovate. They are embracing the challenge of redefining kickoff strategies, which not only keeps the game fresh but also engages players as they explore new techniques and ideas.

“We’re having a blast,” revealed the Seattle Seahawks’ special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh, by means of the group’s website. “We’re really excited about it. It’s totally new for everybody, and it’s just cool to see the different ideas people have and being able to take what we know from the old world of kickoff and kick return, and see what’s still true and what’s not true. It’s just a fun process as you go, just trying different things and realizing, ‘Hey, this might not be what we thought.’ It’s organized trial and error.”

Interestingly, Jay Harbaugh is the son of Jim Harbaugh, the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, where he previously served as an assistant for nine seasons. Harbaugh acknowledged that the Seahawks are considering unconventional strategies, such as having players other than their placekickers handle kickoffs. This could potentially add another player into the mix who might contribute defensively as a tackler, although he recognizes the risks involved in this approach.

“If a guy could do it, it’s going to have a chance to be really good,” he kept in mind, “but you’ve got to be pretty good to be able to kick off a bunch of times and keep the ball in the landing zone every time, because it’s a pretty steep price if you miss it.”

The Los Angeles Rams’ special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn shares Harbaugh’s cautionary perspective. Special teams play a critical role in the game, and there is a genuine concern about the potential for injuries if kickers are overly involved in tackling during kickoffs.

“You don’t want your kicker making a ton of tackles,” he warned, per Pro Football Talk. “You don’t want a guy to get hurt, so there’s a little thought that goes into it. But if it’s short of the 20 or out of bounds the ball’s going 25 yards from the spot of the kick, so it’s going to the 40-yard line, you don’t want that. I’d say there’s not too many position players you can bank on.”

However, the Kansas City Chiefs have a unique player in safety Justin Reid, who adeptly transitioned from soccer to football and temporarily filled in for placekicker Harrison Butker during the early weeks of the 2022 season due to injury. Toub is currently exploring the possibility of having Reid take charge of kickoff duties, which could add depth to their special teams strategy.

“I’d like to have somebody who can go back and is able to make a tackle,” the coach validated. “Butker is able to make a tackle, but I really don’t want him making tackles all year long. If you watch the XFL — we watched every play — I’ll bet kickers were involved in at least 25 to 40 percent of the tackles: either trying to make a guy bounce back or making the tackle itself or just missing the tackle.”

Notably, Reid is not the sole candidate for kickoffs in Kansas City. Toub is also considering Louis Rees-Zammit, a former rugby star who joined the NFL through the International Player Pathway program and subsequently signed a regular undrafted free agent contract worth $250,000. His versatility could prove invaluable for the team.

“Louis has done above and beyond what I expected,” stated Toub of Rees-Zammit, who is making significant strides in his role. “He can kick field goals. He can be a kickoff guy for us. He’s every bit as good as Justin is moving the football on kickoffs. [And] he’s really working hard at the returner job. I’ve got him in there as a starter now, so he gets as many reps as he can.”

With Toub now embarking on his 24th season as an NFL special teams coach, he is not alone in recognizing the potential transformations in player roles due to the new kickoff regulations.

“I think the blocking schemes that you see on kick return will be different,” forecasted the Cleveland Browns’ general manager Andrew Berry in April, per The Athletic, “and I believe the physique for kickoff protection players is going to possibly alter quite substantially — since you’re taking a great deal of speed and area out of the conventional play.

“I think you’re going to probably see bigger body types, guys that are really good with their hands — and that can, I would say, traditionally get off blocks as opposed to maybe use their speed and quickness to avoid a block just because of the setup rules.”

This perspective aligns with the insights of running back Nyheim Hines, who recently joined the Browns. He emphasizes the shift in approach required under the new rules, which will require players to be more strategic and less reliant on pure speed.

“It’s not going to be like you can just run across the field — how people used to do back in the day — or [just be] super-fast guys,” he observed. “So, I think personally, for me, it’ll be great. You’ve got to see a hole and hit it.”

Despite the uncertainties that lie ahead, all these coaches share a common belief: the exact implications of the new kickoff rules remain to be seen. However, Toub is confident that the Chiefs have the potential to be trailblazers in adapting to these changes.

“The team that figures it out — kickoff-wise and kickoff return-wise — is going to really excel early,” he stated. “We want to be that team.”

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