A significant coaching camp query for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs was anticipated to be a contest at punter.
After 4 seasons with the Chiefs, Tommy Townsend signed with the Houston Texans as an unrestricted free agent. The writing for Townsend’s departure had seemingly been on the wall since Kansas Metropolis signed former San Diego State punter Matt Araiza a month earlier.
Following the draft, the Chiefs introduced in BYU’s Ryan Rehkow as an undrafted free agent to compete with Araiza to exchange Townsend. The stage was seemingly set for fierce competitors on the place.
Earlier within the offseason, Chiefs particular groups coordinator Dave Toub declined to place a timeline on the choice between Araiza and Rehkow. He additionally harassed that kicker Harrison Butker would have some enter on which choice would function his new holder.
“We’re training all the pieces, the holds, the throws… who can throw higher. We’re attempting to take a look at all the pieces to guage it,” Toub stated of the search. “Holds are vital. [Harrison] Butker’s going to be concerned. I’m going to speak to him [to see] who he likes when it comes time. We don’t know after we’re going to make that call.”
It seems that call was made on the finish of the staff’s necessary minicamp this week as Rehkow was waived to free a roster spot for former Montana defensive sort out Alex Gubner after a profitable tryout.
Based mostly on current tendencies, there are two main causes to not be shocked the punter determination was made lengthy earlier than the staff heads to Missouri Western State College for coaching camp in late July.
Set up vs. competitors
Toub and head coach Andy Reid are meticulous with particulars on particular groups. Whereas they each endlessly supply coach-speak about competitors of their public feedback, Toub and Reid drastically worth having the playbook put in nicely earlier than coaching camp.
This is able to have made a real camp competitors between Araiza and Rehkow problematic due to their main variations.
Splitting treasured apply reps between the 2 in St. Joseph would have made it troublesome to guage protection gunner choices — a serious means for uncooked expertise to make a case for the lively roster. The left-footed Araiza — with booming distance on punts based mostly on faculty movie and the 2022 preseason whereas with the Buffalo Payments — would seemingly require alternating formations from the opposite 10 gamers than the extra conventional energy of the right-footed Rehkow.
Nobody ought to be shocked that the always-thorough Toub made an early determination about which foot his punter would kick with, permitting him to higher plan for the expertise round Araiza.
The 2020 punter competitors
The Chiefs additionally made a rapid determination the final time that they had a punter opening in 2020. After the staff moved on from Dustin Colquitt after 15 years on the job, they signed former Notre Dame punter Tyler Newsome as a road free agent. Following the 2020 draft, the staff inked Townsend out of Florida.
Toub’s ideas concerning the 2020 punter battle equally promised fierce competitors.
“They each have actually robust legs, actually highly effective legs,” Toub remarked. “They persistently hit over 5.0 [second] hangtimes, which is actually spectacular. Tommy’s slightly bit extra clear in his approach, so far as consistency. Whereas Tyler is slightly bit extra erratic along with his approach, however the outcomes are the identical. They each bomb the ball. We simply want to scrub Tyler up slightly extra, however I let you know what, the competitors goes to be actual enjoyable.”
Finally, the 2020 punting battle additionally ended early as Newsome was launched on July 28. Whereas he technically made it to coaching camp, all offseason work was accomplished nearly as a result of pandemic.
The Chiefs clearly made the suitable determination. Townsend went on to be named First Group All-Professional for the place in 2022, whereas Newsome bounced across the league for a interval whereas by no means showing in a sport.
If Toub could make a punter analysis based mostly closely on what Townsend did by way of Zoom exercises, there may be little purpose to doubt the choice after a month of seeing Araiza and Rehkow within the precise constructing.
The underside line
Even 90-man roster spots are helpful, and it’s troublesome to justify taking two punters to camp. The Chiefs clearly valued a reserve defensive lineman for apply functions, provided that returning gamers Derrick Nnadi and Charles Omenihu are coming off of season-ending surgical procedures.
Extra minor strikes could also be wanted. Now that he’s (fortunately) seemingly on the highway to restoration, the Chiefs will quickly face the uncomfortable job of figuring out cross rusher BJ Thompson’s standing. Different Chiefs face harm issues forward of camp, and a reunion with free agent sort out Donovan Smith can’t be dominated out till one among Kingsley Suamataia or Wanya Morris outright wins the left sort out competitors.
With a three-peat on the road, Kansas Metropolis made a key determination early that may straight have an effect on the roster’s fringe gamers. Additionally they did proper by Rehkow, who may have a possibility to hunt a brand new staff earlier than coaching camp.