A serious 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 careworn that kicker Harrison Butker would have some enter on which choice would function his new holder.
“We’re training the whole lot, the holds, the throws… who can throw higher. We’re attempting to take a look at the whole lot to judge it,” Toub stated of the search. “Holds are essential. [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 once we’re going to make that call.”
It seems that call was made on the finish of the group’s obligatory minicamp this week as Rehkow was waived to free a roster spot for former Montana defensive deal with Alex Gubner after a profitable tryout.
Primarily based on latest developments, there are two main causes to not be shocked the punter resolution was made lengthy earlier than the group 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 provide coach-speak about competitors of their public feedback, Toub and Reid significantly worth having the playbook put in effectively earlier than coaching camp.
This may have made a real camp competitors between Araiza and Rehkow problematic due to their main variations.
Splitting treasured follow reps between the 2 in St. Joseph would have made it troublesome to judge protection gunner choices — a serious method for uncooked expertise to make a case for the energetic roster. The left-footed Araiza — with booming distance on punts primarily based on school movie and the 2022 preseason whereas with the Buffalo Payments — would probably 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 resolution 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 fast resolution the final time they’d a punter opening in 2020. After the group 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 group inked Townsend out of Florida.
Photograph by Mark Brown/Getty Pictures
Toub’s ideas concerning the 2020 punter battle equally promised fierce competitors.
“They each have actually sturdy legs, actually highly effective legs,” Toub remarked. “They constantly hit over 5.0 [second] hangtimes, which is basically spectacular. Tommy’s a little bit bit extra clear in his method, so far as consistency. Whereas Tyler is a little bit bit extra erratic together with his method, however the outcomes are the identical. They each bomb the ball. We simply want to wash Tyler up a little bit extra, however I let you know what, the competitors goes to be actual enjoyable.”
In the end, 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 performed nearly as a result of pandemic.
The Chiefs clearly made the correct resolution. 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 recreation.
If Toub could make a punter analysis primarily based 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 worthwhile, and it’s troublesome to justify taking two punters to camp. The Chiefs clearly valued a reserve defensive lineman for follow 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 damage issues forward of camp, and a reunion with free agent deal with Donovan Smith can’t be dominated out till considered one of Kingsley Suamataia or Wanya Morris outright wins the left deal with competitors.
With a three-peat on the road, Kansas Metropolis made a key resolution early that may immediately have an effect on the roster’s fringe gamers. Additionally they did proper by Rehkow, who could have a possibility to hunt a brand new group earlier than coaching camp.
