Following Tuesday\u2019s next-to-last training camp practice in St. Joseph, the Kansas City Chiefs\u2019 special teams coordinator Dave Toub spoke to media members, providing insight coming out of the team\u2019s first preseason game \u2014 Saturday night\u2019s 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.<\/p>\n
A good night for special teams<\/p>\n
The Chiefs may not have beaten the Cardinals, but Toub liked what he saw from the game\u2019s third phase.<\/p>\n
With touchbacks now sending the opposing offense to the 35-yard line, kickers around the league are training to create problems inside the landing zone. That includes Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker.<\/p>\n
\u201cKicking was exceptional,\u201d said Toub of his placekicker\u2019s opening performance. \u201cButker is really trying to work the edges with the kickoffs. A little bit too close, really. I mean, that could have easily bounced out, but you want to try to push the limits right now during this preseason. You want to see how far you can go with it. He\u2019s worked so hard at it, and it\u2019s good to see him have some success there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coming off his punter-battle victory over Eddie Czaplicki, Toub also thought Matt Araiza had an excellent performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had some really good punts,\u201d said Toub. \u201cHe had the one touchback where I thought we could have [done] a better job with the hang time on that instead of the distance, but he\u2019s moving the ball well. He\u2019s gotten better from last year, so I\u2019m excited about where we are right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nikko Remigio\u2019s path to the roster<\/p>\n
Kansas City\u2019s wide receiver room looks deeper than expected \u2014 especially given the Game 1 performances of Tyquan Thornton and Jason Brownlee. Wideout Nikko Remigio continued to show his value as a specialist with a 48-yard kickoff return early in the second quarter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know what Nikko can do,\u201d said Toub. \u201cHe needs to do a lot more on offense, which he has been doing, so we\u2019ll just keep working him in there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Remigio added two catches for 24 yards with the offense.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody knows how I feel about Nikko,\u201d said Toub. \u201cI love having a guy that you can depend on, solid. He\u2019s not going to cost you a game. That\u2019s important. It\u2019s so important.\u201d<\/p>\n
Running back Brashard Smith is also among the team\u2019s options at the returner positions. Toub alluded to the rookie continuing to be a work-in-progress on special teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had him back there a bunch,\u201d said Toub of Smith. \u201cHe had the fair catch that he obviously should have returned; it was blocked up. But we\u2019ve got to keep throwing him in there until he gets some more reps. Tyquan, he got one. There\u2019s only so many reps to go around. You\u2019ve got to try to get as many guys in as you can. Hopefully, we\u2019ll get Brashard some more this week [to] see if he can be a dynamic guy like we think he can.\u201d<\/p>\n
A continued testing ground for the new kickoff<\/p>\n
The \u201cdynamic\u201d kickoff has a rule that permits up to three return players to line up off the restraining line. Toub and his unit are trying to make the most of this wrinkle.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can have three guys off the line now, which is I think is an advantage for the kickoff-return team,\u201d he said. \u201cIt helped us a little bit, I thought, in the game. I think teams are going to use it to their advantage like we did.<\/p>\n
\u201cOther than that, obviously, teams are going to be kicking in the target zone. I mean that\u2019s going to happen. There\u2019s going to be a lot more returns \u2014 like I said before \u2014 [and] a lot more coverages. It\u2019s all good for special teams.\u201d<\/p>\n
As always, our John Dixon compiled all of Tuesday\u2019s posts here<\/a><\/strong>. Here is the post of the day<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n We\u2019re all feeling this, Chris.<\/p>\n Special teams coordinator Dave Toub on Andy Reid not needing sleep (as revealed in the ESPN documentary): <\/strong>\u201cIt\u2019s real. I have to have seven hours \u2014 if I don\u2019t have seven hours, I\u2019m toast. I got to get home. I don\u2019t know how he does it.\u201d<\/p>\n Tuesday\u2019s practice leads into the final practice in St. Joseph on Wednesday, beginning at 8:15 a.m. It is Military Appreciation Day.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the complete 2025 training camp schedule<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n