Specialists and Special Teams: Improved, Not Improved – By David Bell and Laddie Morse

This is the last in our series on the Chiefs position by position: Improved, Not Improved in 2020 which includes a summary of all positions at the end. Both David Bell and Laddie Morse will give you their takes on each.

Punter: David Bell

In the recent two pre-seasons I posited that soon it would be time for Colquitt to retire, or to possibly become a CAP Casualty. Indeed, 2020 proved to be the year this occurred. What can you say about Dustin Colquitt except to heap huge and endless compliments in his direction. He was great in the clubhouse and on the field of play. The thing about Dustin was his ability to place the ball inside the 15 yard line and keep the other team pinned deep in their own territory to start a drive. He was a master at it. At the point of his retirement, he should be hired by the Chiefs for a day so that he can do so as a Chief. OTOH? His distance had gradually decreased. A younger leg would bring that back, while that same young player would not have all the experience that Dustin brought to the measured approach if getting the ball inside the 15 yard line. It took time for that skill to develop and Colquitt had a decade and half with the Kingdom. I was sorry to see him depart. Fast forward to Tommy Townsend, our new Punter from the Volunteers. His collegiate numbers put him in the desired category of looking for a punter replacement. Laddie makes a point about Colquitt coming from a family that has a history of experience, a background to which Tommy has a similar circumstance as Ladner observed. Position rating? Weaker, Townsend has yet to prove himself in the NFL. Depth: No Change – Butker is the backup punter.

The Punter: Laddie Morse

Losing Dustin Colquitt should be a problem in most cases. However, new Punter, Tommy Townsend, who can really boom the ball, may actually end up having a higher upside than Dustin… in the long run. Townsend is out of Florida and stands, 6-foot-1 and goes 190 lbs., a couple of inches shorter, and twenty pounds lighter, than Colquitt. While Punting is the primary duty of a Punter (of course) he also serves as the placeholder for the placekicker on the Chiefs. Colquitt was superior at this task and Townsend has experience in this category so there shouldn’t be any fall off there. As a Punter, Townsend punted for 4,162 yards on 93 punts for a 44.8 yards per punt average. While At Tennessee, Colquitt had 10,1216 yards on 240 punts for a 42.6 average, however, he finished with a 44.8 average over a 15 year career, and played in more games as a Chiefs player than anyone in history. The trick is lacing the ball inside the 20 yard line… which Colquitt was one of the best ever at getting that done. Yet, we know Townsend can land the ball close to the goal line when called upon:

Another big advantage for Dustin may be that he comes from a more expansive Punter’s family as his father – Craig — was a very successful Punter for the Steelers from 1978 to 1984. Plus, he also has a brother and an uncle who are/were punters as well. Although Townsend’s brother, Johnny, is a punter for the Ravens, he was drafted by the Raiders. I’d have to say that for this year, the Punter position will be Not Improved… and hopefully, the same.

Place Kicker: David Bell

Veach poached Harrison Butker (nick name: Butt Kicker) from the Carolina Panthers Practice squad. They had actually drafted a kicker, but gave Butker a trial. Veach was watching on. As was announced at the time, Brett Veach and his coaching staff were familiar with the capability of the Georgia Kicker and snapped him up. Upon arrival in 2017, Butker brought success to the kicking game. He is capable of different styles of kickoff’s – deep and no run-back, or short to force a run-back. He also utilizes the full width of the field. As far as field goals, Butker improved his accuracy and dependability to score points – He was solid with extra points and his success percentage with field goals is admirable. Kicking field goals has been his forte. He is second twice in kicking percentage which his numbers posted in 2018(89.72%). Last season he was successful with a percentage of 89.2% made. Harrison is capable of attempts over 60 yards(in practice). I am curious as to when and if the Chiefs will ever use it. A game might occur where that is the only chance to come back and win a game. Since he began kicking in 2017(3rd game), his FGP has been either 89 or 90%. Last season, he was 13/13 from 40-49 yards. That is excellent. He was 34-of-38 with 3 of his 4 misses coming from beyond 50 yards. Butker ranks high in extra points as well. Butker is now in his 4^th season with the Chiefs. Position Status: Improved greatly from 2016, depth: weaker, Townsend is unproven in the NFL.

Place Kicker: Laddie Morse

Harrison Butker keep getting better and better and this offseason it looks like his legs is even stronger than ever. CBS Sports ranked all placekickers going into the 2020 season and Butker placed second behind only Justin Tucker of the Ravens. However, since the Chiefs snagged him off of the Panther’s PS squad in 2017, in just Butker’s first three years in the league, he’s second all time in the percentage of field goals made: 62-of-69 for 89.7%. I’d say the Chiefs Place kicking situation is Improved this year. No comment about depth.

Long Snapper: David Bell

James Winchester is again the long snapper for the Chiefs. He is dependable and accurate. I can recall a single game(week 10, 2019) where he muffed a snap. I can’t say Winchester is improved or weakened by his performance so the Status: no change. Backup: No Change: Kelce, Sherman.

Long Snapper: Laddie Morse

I don’t have much to add about James Winchester except he’s now a year older: 31. The Long Snapper position is probably the position I pay the least amount of attention to… unless there are a series of bad snaps to punters and place kicker… which, there haven’t been. So, this position remains out of sight, out of mind, thank God. I’d say there’s no difference. Depth is the same as well.

Special Team Personnel: David Bell

Dave Toub is the Special teams coach. At this point in time, the actual players who play a role is not yet determined except for the RETURNERS OR GUNNERS–WHO WAS IT? It is my view that the Chiefs will move away from using Mecole Hardman as a return specialist as they did with Ty Hill. Both will be used periodically, especially when the staff believes that the Chiefs need a long return by a speedster. Well see how this unfolds opening day. Talent on the roster is deep but experience in games is lacking — no Pre-season in which to test players and usage. Players from 2019 return and can fulfill the need, we just won’t know how it is to be set up until game time, 2020. I cannot rate this as other positions but Dave Toub will surely put the right mix of players on the field for Kicks and Kickoffs. How successful the personnel will be remains unknown as of this date.

Special Team Personnel: Laddie Morse

Dave Toub remains one of the best Special Teams coaches in the league. There was a time when we thought we might lose him to another team because he might be offered a Head Coaching position but that never panned out. With both Tyreek Hill and last year’s Pro Bowler, Mecole Hardman returning kicks, it looks like no matter who Toub is grooming to receive kickoffs and punts, the Chiefs are going to be one of eh better teams in the league in this department. As far as a gunners are concerned, the Chiefs are primed in this area as well plus, they signed Antonio Hamilton this offseason, who was a standout on STs for the Giants, so they should have a good year which will make Toub one happy camper. Kick returners and coaches will be the same if not Improved. Someone will have to convince me otherwise before I change my mind about that.

Summary: Improved, Not Improved

Here’s a review of what David and Laddie have said this week about each position group.

Chiefs 2020 Offense

Quarterbacks: David Bell – Improved. Depth: Stronger.

Quarterbacks: Laddie Morse – QB room is not only stronger, but deeper.

Running Backs & Fullback: David Bell – RB & FB Room: Improved; Depth: Stronger.

Running Backs & Fullback: Laddie Morse – RB room will be stronger and deeper as well.

TIght Ends: David Bell – TE Group: Improved: Depth: Stronger.

Tight Ends: Laddie Morse – TEs are Improved and deeper.

Wide Receivers: David Bell – WR Group is Improved: and the Depth is Stronger.

Wide receivers: Laddie Morse – I say the WR group is improved and deeper than ever.

Tackles: David Bell – Offensive Tackle Group: Improved with the caveat related to Rankin’s Rehab, and Niangs future; Depth: Stronger.

Tackles: Laddie Morse – The Tackle position is better and deeper and more experienced than ever.

Guards: David Bell – Offensive Guard Group: Improved; Depth: Stronger (caveat: Rankin’s delayed return).

Guards: Laddie Morse – Chiefs look better at the starting Guard positions and deeper as well.

Center: David Bell – Offensive Center Group: Improved with the caveat related to Kilgore’s contract, Depth: Stronger (Same Caveat).

Center: Laddie Morse – the Center position will be better, or at least the same — at a minimum — as it was in 2019.

Chiefs 2020 Defense

Defensive Tackles: David Bell – Improved, Depth Improved.

Defensive Tackles: Laddie Morse – The Defensive tackles are Improved in 2020, if even by a little bit.

Defensive Ends: David Bell – Defensive Ends: Improved position group, Depth is also Improved.

Defensive Ends: Laddie Morse – Defensive Ends are Improved and the Depth is also Improved

Linebackers: David Bell – Stronger, Compared to 2019. Deeper.

Linebackers: Laddie Morse – LBs will be better in 2020, but I’m not so sure about the depth.

Cornerbacks: David Bell – Questionable until Breeland returns, Depth: Unproven.

Cornerbacks: Laddie Morse – With both Ward and Breeland back, the CB group could be Improved, but Depth is an issue.

Safety: David Bell – Safety position Group is Improved; Depth is totally solid.

Safety: Laddie Morse – Safety position is Improved in 2020 and Deeper than ever.

Chiefs 2020 Special Teams

Punter: David Bell – Weaker, Townsend has yet to prove himself in the NFL. Depth: No Change – Butker is the backup punter.

The Punter: Laddie Morse – the Punter position will be Not Improved… and hopefully, the same.

Place Kicker: David Bell – Improved greatly from 2016, depth: weaker, Townsend is unproven in the NFL.

Place Kicker: Laddie Morse – Chiefs Place kicking situation is Improved this year. No comment about depth.

Long Snapper: David Bell – Status: no change. Backup: No Change: Kelce, Sherman.

Long Snapper: Laddie Morse – I’d say there’s no difference. Depth is the same as well.

Special Team Personnel: David Bell – I cannot rate this as other positions but Dave Toub will surely put the right mix of players on the field

Special Team Personnel: Laddie Morse – Kick returners and coaches will be the same if not Improved. Someone will have ot convince me otherwise before I change my mind about that.

David Bell and Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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