The Kansas City Chiefs have had their fair share of issues on special teams this season, much to the dismay of veteran coordinator Dave Toub.
The Week 17 victory over the Denver Broncos showed the unit struggle with place-kicking and ball security on punt returns, both issues keeping the game close. The Chiefs have tried multiple players at the punt returner position following Mecole Hardman’s injury and rookie Skyy Moore’s fumbling problems. The addition of second-year player Kadarius Toney at the trade deadline appears to have settled that question mark, but inconsistent playing time due to injury has presented doubts.
Toub continues to be a strong supporter of Toney’s ability following his fumble last Sunday, describing the play to reporters after Thursday’s practice.
“He’s great,” said Toub. “If you watch his talent on that one particular play, I mean, how he was able to create on his own because we had a rush called. If you looked at it, we had a rush call, so we’re not holding up everybody. So he gets the ball, but the ball wasn’t kicked great. So he gets the ball in his hand and starts it left. So he has the ball in his left arm and quickly cuts to the right, but he doesn’t have a lot of time to switch the ball back to the right. You know, because if you try to switch the ball back to your right early somebody hits you. So, he decided to take off to the right with the ball in his left hand, and the guy stripped it out on him. I think if he would have had one more step, two more steps, he would have had time to be able to get that ball in the right hand, (and he) would have been OK. But if you are going to have the ball in your left hand and you’re going to the right, you got to really secure; that’s the coaching point.”
The fumble gave Denver great field position, eventually ending the drive with points in the first half.
“It happened,” said Toub. “You know, (Kadarius Toney) was sorry about it; obviously, he’s sick about it because I think he would have had a touchdown. I really believe it. It was wide open out there. So I mean, he’s going to make some plays for us down the stretch here. In the playoffs, when the games matter most, they’re coming.”
Toney has been a spark whenever he’s had the ball in his hands, regardless if it’s on offense or special teams. Head coach Andy Reid isn’t hesitating to keep calling his number following a miscue, as evident in the rest of last Sunday’s game.
“Yes. (Head Coach) Andy (Reid) got right back to him,” said Toub “Yes. That was huge and I even said that on the sideline, (I) said, ‘I’m glad you guys went right back to him,’ because I went right back to him, I wasn’t going to take him out.”
