Tag: kick returner

Dave Toub says WR Mecole Hardman is the fastest Chief

Kansas City #Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub says wide receiver Mecole Hardman is the fastest player on the team.

The Kansas City Chiefs completed a trade for wide receiver Mecole Hardman, reuniting him with the franchise after a brief departure. The speedy receiver was a favorite in head coach Andy Reid’s system and a reliable star on special teams.

Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub was delighted to discuss Hardman’s return and possible utilization moving forward during his pre-practice press conference on Thursday.

“He could; I mean, if Andy (Reid) has him up, and if he’s up, he’s going to be a guy that I’ll play on some special teams for sure,” said Toub. “But obviously, he just got here and he’s got to get established again. And Andy will make that decision, probably pretty soon.”

Hardman was named to the 2019 Pro Bowl for his exceptional work as a returner on special teams, so the role is something Toub is very comfortable potentially handing over to him.

“He’s a dynamic player,” Toub explained. “He’s the fastest player. He’ll be the fastest player on our team now, as soon as he got here. So it’s that breakaway speed ability. We’ve seen the last time we had a touchdown was Mecole in the return game. So we welcome him back, and he’s got the right attitude right now. And he’s ready for a fresh start.”

Hardman’s speed is undeniable, but only time will tell if he will be used in the offense more than special teams in the immediate future.

Here’s what Sean Payton is looking for in a Broncos kick returner

Broncos coach Sean Payton wants to see reliability and ball security from the team’s kickoff and punt return candidates during preseason.

The Denver Broncos averaged 8.3 yards per punt return last season, marking the 12th-worst average in the NFL. On kickoffs, the team averaged 17.5 yards per return, which ranked dead last in the league.

When new head coach Sean Payton arrived this offseason, he made it a priority to improve special teams. The Broncos changed punters and kickers this offseason, and the kick return job will be up for grabs this summer.

So what is Payton looking for in the team’s next returner?

“The first thing is reliability and ball security,” Payton said on July 29. “There is nothing worse than when the ball is in the air and you have that, ‘I hope he catches it’ [feeling]. That is something where the preseason will help show its hand a little bit. I kind of get back to [Mike] Westhoff, [Ben] Kotwica and even [Chris] Banjo, but the investment we’ve made in our special teams, both on the field and upstairs, is significant.

“We’re going to have the opportunity to return in the kickoff and hopefully — I know it’s tough here because of the altitude — when we get those return opportunities in the punt game, we’re going to have great schemes and designs to give these guys a chance. The key is then — we have a great producer, let’s find someone that can take advantage of that. That will be important.”

Candidates to handle return duties for Denver this season include Montrell Washington, Marvin Mims and Jaleel McLaughlin. The players vying for the return job will get their first in-game chance to impress when the Broncos face the Arizona Cardinals in their preseason opener on Friday.

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Dave Toub announces RB Deneric Prince to serve as starting kick returner for preseason opener

#Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub announced that running back Deneric Prince will serve as Kansas City’s top kick returner in the preseason. | from: @EdEastonJr

The improvement of Kansas City Chiefs running back Deneric Prince has made waves since offseason workouts started back in June. The undrafted rookie signed with the Chiefs after the draft and has been on a mission to make the final roster ever since.

Prince has been involved in many facets of Kansas City’s training camp, with clips circulating of him working with Patrick Mahomes and the first-team offense as well as on Dave Toub’s special teams unit.

After Toub spoke highly of Prince’s performance last week, the veteran special teams coordinator announced on Saturday that the undrafted rookie will serve as the Chiefs’ kick returner for their preseason opener, according to Nate Taylor of the Athletic.

The proclamation occurred during Toub’s conversation with reporters after practice where he made his desire to see what the rookie can do in a live game clear. Toub has also declared there will be “no fair catches” during Kansas City’s first preseason exhibition against the Saints in New Orleans next Sunday.

Prince had just four kickoff returns for 68 yards as a collegian in 2020 but has shown exceptional skill as a returner during training camp. He will follow a trend that has seen past Chiefs rookies start on special teams before eventually being integrated into the offense.

Is Chiefs WR Richie James emerging as top kick returner at training camp practices?

Richie James has continued getting looks in the return game at #Chiefs practices, and could be considered a top option for the crucial role.

Wide receiver Richie James is emerging as a top candidate to win the Kansas City Chiefs’ open kick returner role ahead of the 2023 season.

Video of his work with the special teams unit surfaced during the Chiefs’ Friday practice session at Missouri Western State University, where he made fielding and returning a Harrison Butker kickoff look easy. Kansas City Sports Network posted its view of the play in question to Twitter shortly after it transpired.

James has experience as a returner after his time spent with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants earlier in his career. Kansas City had trouble finding consistency in the return game last season, and James’ emergence as a top option for the role is a welcome sign for special teams fanatics across Chiefs Kingdom.

However, if James manages to secure himself a significant snap share in Andy Reid’s high-octane offense, his utility as a returner may take a back seat to his duties as a pass-catcher.

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Reviewing the Chiefs’ options at kick returner in 2023

Who’s competing at kick returner for the #Chiefs? @Wesley Roesch takes a look.

The kick return game could one day be eradicated, but in the meantime, the Kansas City Chiefs will need to find someone to fulfill the crucial special teams duty in 2023.

Last season proved to be a mixed bag for Kansas City in this phase. I covered this in detail in my 2022 Chiefs special teams review back in February, and found that the Chiefs fell in the middle of the pack at returning kicks with running back Isiah Pacheco last season.

Pacheco’s abilities were only partially to blame for his 16th place finish in the NFL’s in kick return average rankings among those with 17 or more kick returns. The Chiefs’ subpar blocking was largely to blame, but regardless, the job might not be Pacheco’s in 2023 anyway — less because of his ability, and more because of his increased role on offense.

During training camp and preseason, expect special teams coordinator Dave Toub to try out several players — rookies and veterans alike — for the kick returner role. His goal will be to find a player who can help the team earn over 25 yards per return over the course of the season, a feat that the team hasn’t accomplished since 2020. Below are the players expected to compete for the returner spot:

Broncos ST coach Ben Kotwica eager to track Montrell Washington’s progress this summer

“I love his work ethic,” Ben Kotwica said of returner Montrell Washington. “He’s always asking questions and wants to be out on the field.”

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After being picked by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of last year’s NFL draft out of Samford, return specialist Montrell Washington struggled to make an impact as a rookie.

Washington averaged 8.5 yards per punt return and 18.9 yards per kickoff return through 15 games last year before being benched by interim coach Jerry Rosburgh for the final two games of the season.

The Broncos now have a new head coach in Sean Payton and a new special teams coach in Ben Kotwica, giving Washington an opportunity to make a good impression with a fresh start.

“There are a couple things about Montrell. First off, I love his work ethic,” Kotwica said when asked about the returner on June 14. “He’s always asking questions and wants to be out on the field. Under the parameters that we have, we can’t be out there all day, but he is a player that would be out there all day [if allowed]. We’ve talked to him about that.

“He has that athletic ability. I think it’s continuing to [show] confidence in the player. I’m excited about where it will take him during training camp.”

Washington ran a 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds last spring, but his speed did not directly correlate to success in the NFL. He fumbled five times as a rookie, and following the arrival of second-round pick Marvin Mims, Washington won’t be a lock to make the 53-man roster this summer.

Washington will get an opportunity to redeem himself, though, and if he looks good during camp and preseason, he can earn a spot for 2023.

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Broncos position preview for 2023: Special teams

Broncos coach Sean Payton made sweeping changes on special teams this offseason. Here’s a look at where things stand.

As we continue our Denver Broncos position previews ahead of the 2023 NFL season, we’re taking a look at special teams today and the five main positions for those units — kicker, punter, long snapper, punt returner and kick returner.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton made sweeping changes to special teams this offseason. First, Payton brought in a new special teams coordinator in Ben Kotwica and a new assistant head coach with a special teams background in Mike Westhoff.

Payton then changed the team’s personnel, making a change a punter, a change at long snapper, a change at kick returner, a change at punt returner and a change at kicker. The special teams units underwent a complete overhaul this offseason.

Be sure to also check out our 2023 position previews for running back, tight end/fullback, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, cornerback and safety.

Broncos’ (Projected) Special Teams Depth Chart

Denver Broncos’ top-12 all-time leaders in return yards

Rick Upchurch ranks No. 1 on the Broncos’ all-time return list with 5,363 yards.

From wide Rick Upchurch to Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little, the Denver Broncos have had some brilliant kick and punt returners in their history.

Upchurch ranks No. 1 on the team’s all-time return list with 5,363 yards, almost 2,000 yards more than the next-highest player (Little with 3,416 yards).

The team’s most recent game-changing returner was arguably Trindon Holliday, who ranks No. 11 on the team’s all-time return list despite playing just two seasons in Denver. Holliday might have had a longer tenure with the Broncos if not for his fumbles (he had 10 in 25 games).

Here’s a quick look at the top-12 players on the team’s all-time list for combined punt and kickoff return yards.

Marvin Mims likely to return punts for Broncos as a rookie

“I’m excited to bring that to the next level if that’s my role for the team,” Marvin Mims said of possibly returning punts for the Broncos.

No rookies are handed a starting position. Marvin Mims will have to compete for the punt return job this summer, but he’s clearly the early favorite to win that role.

Before the draft, Broncos coach Sean Payton hinted that Denver was looking for a new returner at the NFL owners’ meetings. Then the Broncos traded up into the second round of the draft to select Mims, who ran a 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds at the combine.

His speed stood out on film.

“The one thing that I think we found that was different was lot of these receivers you felt were in rush hour traffic — Monday through Friday,” Payton said. “This was one that looked like he was driving on Saturday and Sunday. He was open, and it was cleaner. That’s because of his speed.”

Payton replaced most of Denver’s coaching staff this offseason and brought in Ben Kotwica as the new special teams coordinator and Mike Westhoff as an assistant head coach with an emphasis on special teams. Payton believes those coaches will get the most out of Mims as a returner.

“When you have a guy like Kotwica and Mike Westhoff — we feel like he’s one of the best return coaches that’s ever coached in the NFL” Payton said. “To have a prospect come in and compete was exciting for us.”

Mims returned 33 punts for 391 yards in three years at Oklahoma, averaging 16 yards per return in 2022. He also returned three kickoffs for 108 yards.

“I’ve done punt return and kick returner,” Mims said. “Kick return — I’ve kind of been in and out as they let younger guys do it. Punt return — I’ve started ever since I was a true freshman in college with my first career game. I’m really comfortable with it. It’s something I’ve done for three years, and I’m excited to bring that to the next level if that’s my role for the team.”

This offseason, the Broncos signed cornerback Tremon Smith, who has returned 94 kickoffs for 2,323 yards in his career. Again, nobody will be handed a starting job, but Smith (kickoffs) and Mims (punts) appear to be the obvious favorites to handle return duties in Denver this fall.

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Chiefs announce Dante Hall will be inducted into team Hall of Fame in 2023

Hall is set to be inducted into the #Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2023, the team announced on Friday

The Kansas City Chiefs announced that prolific wide receiver and kick returner Dante Hall will be inducted into their hall of fame in a tweet on Friday.

Hall, one of Kansas City’s most recognizable figures of their 2000s rosters, was an explosive playmaker during his seven-year tenure with the team between 2000 and 2006. Known for his elite footspeed and short stature, Hall’s elusiveness on the gridiron earned him the nicknames “X-Factor” and “The Human Joystick”.

Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt released a statement on Hall’s selection to the team’s Hall of Fame in the official announcement, highlighting the receiver’s work as an electric kick returner as a key role for his induction.

“My family and I are delighted to announce Dante as this year’s inductee into the Chiefs Hall of Fame,” Hunt said. “It’s not every day you get to witness a generational talent at the returner position, but Chiefs Kingdom was blessed to witness Dante’s talent for seven seasons.

“His quickness, agility and pure athleticism as a returner and wide receiver cemented him as one of the franchise’s greats. Following his playing career, Dante joined the Kansas City Ambassador program and has been an active participant in the brand’s international expansion efforts. We are looking forward to celebrating Dante’s Hall of Fame induction at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium this fall.”

Hall earned an All-Pro selection in Kansas City as a returner in 2003 and was part of many notable teams during the Trent Green era of the early 2000s. He appeared in 97 games for the Chiefs over his seven seasons with the team, amassing over 8,500 return yards and 11 return touchdowns as a member of the team.