The Kansas City Chiefs pay a lot of attention to detail when they make roster decisions.
The Chiefs have a great rookie punter in Tommy Townsend, but this week, he won’t be doing all of the punting drills during special teams periods in practice. Instead, the team will rely on former Chiefs starter of 15 years, Dustin Colquitt, who was recently re-signed on the Kansas City practice squad.
Why will Colquitt be taking the majority of the reps over Townsend if he’s not scheduled to play, though? This week the Chiefs will be facing Browns punter Jamie Gillan, who happens to be a left-footed punter. Do you know who else is a lefty punter? Dustin Colquitt.
“It’s really fortunate to be able to get Dustin back,” Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said. “He’s a Chief, he’s always been a Kansas City Chief and he always will be. It’s good to have him back in the locker room with the guys. He’s just a fun guy to be around and he’s going to help Tommy (Townsend) down the stretch here and he’s helping our football team because of the three teams that are left in the AFC, there are two left-footed punters that are left and he’s giving us those looks during practice, catch a left ball rotation for our returners, you know a live ball which is better than catching off a jugs and he’s been a real asset having him on the practice squad right now.”
Colquitt is giving Mecole Hardman, Tyreek Hill, Demarcus Robinson and other return specialists a specific rotation on the ball that they wouldn’t be getting from Townsend in practice. It’s those small details that can be the difference between a muffed punt, a fair catch and a punt return during the course of a game. Catching some balls with that type of rotation will be a vital piece of preparation for each of those players.
Including Gillan, there are two left-footed punters that remain in the playoffs. Bills punter Corey Bojorquez is also a lefty and if both Kansas City and Buffalo advance and meet in the AFC Championship Game, Colquitt’s leg will come into play again as the special teams unit prepares for that challenge.
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