Chiefs: Dave Toub make a big prediction on special teams for 2023 season
The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to improve in one huge area right out of the gates according to one of their coaches.The start of the 2023 season saw the Chiefs struggling mightily in one area that they almost never struggle in – special teams. There is a reason Dave Toub has been the special […]
The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to improve in one huge area right out of the gates according to one of their coaches.
The start of the 2023 season saw the Chiefs struggling mightily in one area that they almost never struggle in – special teams. There is a reason Dave Toub has been the special teams' coordinator since 2013. He gets the job done and he doesn't ever have problems with his unit.
Last year was a bit different, and while some of it stemmed from injuries happening in Week 1 with Harrison Butker injuring his ankle, some of it was also just sloppy play. The Chiefs don't beat themselves often, but there was one game we can all look back on in 2022 and wish some things happened differently.
That game was Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts, who ended up beating the Chiefs 20-17. Sure, you would like that call on Chris Jones to end up not getting called, where he sacked Matt Ryan and gave him some choice words. That sack would have ended the game for the Chiefs. Instead, unsportsmanlike conduct gets called and the Colts are rewarded a new set of downs after getting sacked on fourth down.
Like I said, sure, you wish those things didn't happen. But, they should have never even been in that position, and the only reason they were was because of special teams. Matt Ammendola, the Chiefs' backup kicker at the time, missed his only extra point attempt, and he went 1/2 on field goal attempts.
Skyy Moore went two for 12 yards on punt returns, and he had a muffed punt that gave the ball away. Things like that kept the Chiefs from getting a win in Week 3, which would have ended up making them 15-2, a franchise record for wins in a season.
But 2023 should be different, I mean, after all, special teams coordinator Dave Toub did predict it will be better right out of the gates this time around.
"Everything goes in cycles," Toub said to the media. "Like last year, we had the cycle of young players, you know, and they did a great job. And they got better and better as the year went on. And obviously, in the playoffs, we were reaching our peak. It took a while to get there, but we were playing good football, then when we needed to. They're all back. All those guys are back. So they're going to be that much better. Now we got a new group of young players coming in. So as a group, I predict it will be better, you know, right from the start."
The Chiefs don't ever have problems like that, so I think Toub knows and is confident in what he is predicting. They, as he said, ended up getting things turned around to in every area of special teams. They ended the season well, and he is hoping they carry that over to the next season.
Featured Image Via Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
