Chiefs contemplating using DB Justin Reid as kickoff specialist under new rules

The new kickoff format is prompting coaches in every NFL building to unleash their creativity.

Justin Fields as a returner? Justin Reid as a kickoff specialist? Sure, why not? It’s a new era; nothing is off limits!

The Chiefs are seriously considering the latter, according to special teams coordinator Dave Toub, who detailed his logic by first pointing to what he doesn’t want his usual kicker, Harrison Butker, doing on the kickoff.

“On Thursday, Toub conveyed his desire for a player capable of making a successful tackle and returning to the game. He admitted that Butker could execute such a tackle, but expressed his preference to avoid placing him in that position consistently throughout the year. Toub recalled observing every play of the XFL, predicting that kickers participated in roughly 25 to 40 percent of tackles. These tackles involved attempting to redirect a player, making the tackle personally, or missing the tackle entirely. Toub expressed his reluctance to put Butker in such a predicament, but confirmed that Butker would continue his role as a kicker.”

We plan to utilize him in specific scenarios due to his unique ability to move the ball, a skill some other players may not possess. He also has the capability to kick a touchback when necessary. However, this means surrendering the ball. If we decide to kick a touchback out of the back of the end zone, the opposing team will start at the 30-yard line instead of the 25. This additional 5 yards significantly increases the other team’s odds of scoring by about three percent.

Toub said, “Reid, on the other hand, can go down there and make tackles.”

“Justin is an extra player they likely aren’t considering,” stated Toub. “They are aware that this player can make effective tackles. However, they need to be wary of a player like Justin. They must ensure he is blocked, which in turn, means they’ll have to sacrifice blocking another player.”

On the surface, this seems like sound logic. Reid has proven he can kick well enough to at least be considered for the role, is obviously the best kicking tackler out there, and could be a key part of a stifling kick coverage unit in this new world. But Prime Video analytics expert Sam Schwartzstein — who was a driving force behind the implementation of a similar kickoff format in the XFL in 2020 — noted Toub might be wasting his time because under the NFL’s new rules, the kicker cannot cross the 50 until the ball is caught by the receiving team.

I don’t expect kickers to be as involved in tackles in the NFL because of this rule,” Schwartzstein wrote on social media. “Also the kicker was so involved because they have the best pursuit angle to the ball, being lined up further away AND in the middle of the field. There are no pre-established ‘levels’ of coverage, so the kicker is always at least the third level.”

Schwartzstein may be the go-to person for insight on how the NFL kickoff might unfold, but that won’t stop coaches throughout the league from exploring every possibility to ensure they are fully ready for a new era in special teams. Toub confessed that the alterations call for a completely different set of important elements, requiring a delicate balance between excessive aggression and excessive caution.

“Hang time is irrelevant now. It’s no longer a factor,” said Toub. “The focus has shifted to precision. It’s about observing the positioning of the returners and aiming your kicks away from them towards the corners. However, you can’t be overly risky because hitting the ball out of bounds or falling short of the target zone results in conceding the ball at the 40. It’s a delicate balancing act between pushing boundaries and taking a conservative approach to ensure coverage.”

Anticipate some bold experimentation with the kickoff this preseason. You might even witness Reid preparing to kick one far.