Category: Film Studies

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 17: Nazeeh Johnson has emerged

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to find a positive note from the #Chiefs’ Week 17 special teams performance.

The Chiefs’ first matchup against the Broncos in Week 14 was one of the best games of the season for Kansas City’s special teams unit.

In Week 17 vs. Denver, it was one of the unit’s worst games. It was so bad that the unit dropped from 18th to 24th overall in Football Outsider’s special teams DVOA rankings.

It’s not even due to poor play across the board, either, but rather silly mental errors that seem to be easily fixable. Some of these frustrating issues have been a problem for the Chiefs all season long.

Thankfully, the unit wasn’t all bad. We’ll start with the biggest positive — that rookie safety Nazeeh Johnson has been impressive on special teams in the second half of the season. Then we’ll dive into the issues that plagued the team in Week 17.

Additionally, be sure to check out my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets for a closer look at player performances.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 16: Deon Bush, Justin Watson impress

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to break down the good and bad from the #Chiefs’ special teams performance in Week 16.

Special teams was a plus for the Chiefs in their 24-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks, with only a couple of small blunders from the unit in Week 16.

It’s a good sign that Kansas City has strung together multiple quality performances in a row this late in the season, especially up against such good competition. The Chiefs’ last two opponents — the Seahawks and Houston Texans — boast the No. 1 and 2 special teams units, respectively, in DVOA by Football Outsiders.

The Chiefs’ special teams performance against Seattle was particularly noteworthy because it featured a couple of game-saving plays from familiar faces which we’ll highlight in this review. There were also some new faces introduced to the unit which we’ll discuss (plus more) in the notes section.

Make sure to browse my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets as well for a closer look at player performances. I recently added a “totals” column in the stats section which tallies a bunch of stats that are difficult to find elsewhere.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 15: Kadarius Toney’s back on punt returns

Our @WesleyRoesch heads to the film to check out #Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney’s latest snaps at the punt returner position.

The Chiefs seem to be in a pattern where special teams will stand out one week — for better or worse — and then go quiet the next week. Week 15 was the latter.

In Kansas City’s 30-24 overtime win over the Houston Texans, the Chiefs’ special teams unit saw action but was quiet overall outside of the two missed field goals (one 51-yard field goal and one extra point) by kicker Harrison Butker.

Usually being quiet on special teams is a good thing because that means you didn’t make many mistakes. However, K.C.’s special teams unit didn’t do anything (ahem) special, either. Still, we’ll take a quick look at receiver Kadarius Toney’s reappearance on punt returns and see if anything is worth taking away from that.

Additionally, check out my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets for a deeper look into player performances. I added a “totals” column in the stats section this week as well.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 14: Justin Watson is team’s safest punt returner

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to check in on the #Chiefs’ improving punt returner situation.

Sometimes it takes a while for a unit to gel.

For the Chiefs’ special teams unit, it looks like it took until Week 14 to hit that point. In Kansas City’s 34-28 win over the Denver Broncos, both the Chiefs’ offense and defense showed clear issues that need to be addressed, but the special teams unit had a great, consistent day overall.

The special teams subunit that saw the most action for K.C. was the punt return squad. Normally that’d cause a Chiefs fan to squirm considering how badly that area has performed in 2022, but in Week 14 punt returns were not a hindrance whatsoever. We’ll go over that, plus some notes on the other squads as well.

Additionally, check out my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets for a deeper look into the Chiefs’ special teams performances this season.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 13: Isiah Pacheco’s big return

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to check out what went right and what went wrong for the #Chiefs on special teams in Week 13.

Some weeks are more eventful than others when it comes to special teams.

For the Chiefs’ Week 13 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals, it was the kick return squad that saw the most action. After having all three kick returns drop in the end zone for touchbacks in Week 12, the Chiefs’ kick return subunit fielded five of six kickoffs in Week 13.

The good news is that squad — which has had a rough season — ended up doing a pretty good job against the Bengals. We’ll go over that, plus touch on some other special teams notes afterward.

In addition to this review, be sure to check out my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets for a deeper dive into the Chiefs’ special teams performances.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 12: Punt return, coverage problems

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to dissect the #Chiefs’ punt return problems from Week 12’s tilt with the #Rams.

The Chiefs had a couple of blunders on special teams during their 26-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12.

Thankfully, those blunders didn’t affect the team in the grand scheme of the game, and they were both errors that can be fixed moving forward. The special teams unit also had some positives to take away, which will be highlighted in the notes section.

The main focus of this week’s review will be on the punt return game, which was the culprit of those aforementioned blunders. In addition to this review, be sure to check out my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets to see how and where Chiefs’ special teamers have performed this season.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 11: Explaining Isiah Pacheco’s kickoff oopsie

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to look at the good and the bad for the #Chiefs on special teams in Week 11.

Special teams were rather uneventful for the Chiefs in their Week 11 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, but maybe that’s a good thing.

After all, when something is eventful on special teams, it’s either bad (like a fumble) or great (like a return touchdown). Unfortunately, it’s been more of the former than the latter for the Chiefs, but luckily it was neither on Sunday night.

This will be a rather short review compared to my previous ones, but I do have a few things to note. Additionally, make sure to check out my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets to get a better idea of how and where Chiefs players have performed on special teams during the season.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 10: Kadarius Toney takes over punt returns

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to examine the good and bad on special teams for the #Chiefs during the Week 10 win over the #Jaguars.

While there were some positive takeaways, special teams was mostly a mess for the Chiefs in their Week 10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Chiefs fumbled on a kick return, allowed over 70 return yards in kickoff coverage, and missed yet another extra point. Plus, there was a weird punt return fumble that didn’t end up actually being a fumble at all.

The biggest storyline, however, was the Chiefs’ punt return subunit, which placed newly-acquired receiver Kadarius Toney at punt returner. This week’s focus will be on Toney’s punt returns plus that non-fumble mentioned earlier, and then we’ll finish up with a few notes about the rest of the special teams squad.

In addition to this film review, make sure to check out my special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players via Google Sheets.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 9: Deon Bush balls out

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to highlight #Chiefs S Deon Bush’s performance on special teams and more from the Week 9 win over the #Titans

During the bye week, we reviewed the Chiefs’ special teams unit and came to the conclusion that punt coverage has been great, punt returns have been awful, and the kickoff game on both sides has been somewhere in between.

The Chiefs seemed to have recognized that the punt return game has not been working because they made a big change on that subunit in their 20-17 overtime win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 9. We’ll review that, but first, we’ll take a look at safety Deon Bush’s dominating performance on kickoff coverage.

Also, don’t forget: My special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players are available as a Google Sheet. Check those out to see how each Chiefs’ special teamer has performed so far this year.

Chiefs special teams film review, Week 9: Deon Bush balls out

Our @WesleyRoesch goes to the film to highlight #Chiefs S Deon Bush’s performance on special teams and more from the Week 9 win over the #Titans

During the bye week, we reviewed the Chiefs’ special teams unit and came to the conclusion that punt coverage has been great, punt returns have been awful, and the kickoff game on both sides has been somewhere in between.

The Chiefs seemed to have recognized that the punt return game has not been working because they made a big change on that subunit in their 20-17 overtime win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 9. We’ll review that, but first, we’ll take a look at safety Deon Bush’s dominating performance on kickoff coverage.

Also, don’t forget: My special teams stats, snap counts and grades for individual players are available as a Google Sheet. Check those out to see how each Chiefs’ special teamer has performed so far this year.