The former Florida Gators most likely to catch headlines in Super Bowl LV is Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, who has steadily been a good secondary option in the famed Kansas City passing attack. There was a chance that Robinson would be unable to play, but was ruled eligible on game day after a close-contact COVID scare. However, he’s not the only player to come out of the Swamp who could make an impact on this game.
Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend, once a Florida Gator, could stealthily make a real difference for the reigning world champions as they defend their title. That’s what Gatorsports’ David Whitley argued in a recent article after interviewing Townsend and a few of his relatives.
“Tommy Townsend might not be named MVP, but it’s a good bet this is one Super Bowl where the punter will not be overlooked,” wrote Whitley.
Sure, punters may not have the sexiest job in the world. However, although the piece was written in a half-joking tone, his point is a good one. The Chiefs and their challengers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are obviously both very good football teams. This is the championship, after all. Every advantage possible makes a difference, including field position.
The Bucs’ selling point is their oppressive defense, but with Tom Brady at the helm and a deep core of pass-catchers, they have a roster that excels in most areas of the game. The Chiefs’ defensive unit is nothing to sneeze at, but their gameday plan is clearly driven by the offense. That being the case, every yard of field position to make the defensive squad’s job easier will be a boon to Kansas City’s chances.
That’s where Townsend comes in. The rookie was one of football’s best punters in 2020 after signing as a free agent with KC. He has in his hands (his foot? leg?) the ability to put up another obstacle in front of Tom Brady and force Tampa Bay to earn every score.
If don’t buy that a punter can be that impactful, fine. There’s a reason many punters are fairly anonymous. Either way, it’ll be fun to root for our boys in the biggest game of the year. “We bleed orange and blue,” said Townsend’s older brother to Whitley. There’s something we can all agree on.
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