Help From The Kicking Game … Saturday Cup O’Chiefs

This week, the Chiefs offense is ranked 30th in the league. The Chiefs defense after five games is ranked No. 32, or dead last in the NFL.

Those numbers are the best explanation available for the 0-5 record.

But there is one facet of football that has consistently gotten things done for the 2009 Chiefs it has been the special teams. With few exceptions, the kicking game has been mediocre or better through five games. Punter Dustin Colquitt ranks among the best in the league. His net punting average is No. 1. The Chiefs coverage team is first in punt coverage. Ryan Succop (left) has been one of the most solid and consistent kickers in the league.

While the offense and defense have had major problems with production and consistency, Todd Haley’s special teams have been reliable. They’ve been so reliable that the Chiefs head coach has been willing to roll the dice and take some chances in the kicking game, a fake punt and an onside kick in a surprise situation.

“”We’ve done a good job of covering kicks (both) kickoffs and punts,” said Haley. “Our kickers have done a pretty good job for the most part. I would have liked to see the result of the field goal last week had we blocked them up front because I thought that Ryan hit it very good. It sounded like it. I think our punter has been a little inconsistent and we’ve been fortunate the ball has got on the ground in the right spots and rolled the right way. So, we’ve got to be better there.

“In general, I think our cover teams are at the top of the league or close to it. We have to be better on returns in both areas. I think there are a lot of positives to go on and some things we’ve got to get better at.”

Steve Hoffman (right) handles the special teams, and while he’s worked in the NFL for many years, this is his first year in charge of the complete kicking game package. Haley had worked with Hoffman in Dallas, and rolled the dice that he could handle more than just the kicker and punter as he did with the Cowboys.

“I’m very happy with what Steve has done,” said Haley. “That was a big decision for me because you had a guy that had not done it for whatever reason; had never been given the opportunity and I felt good about giving him the chance. I thought early on it was a big job which it always is when you’ve got 80 guys (at training camp).

“But I would say he works hard; he sleeps in here a couple of nights a week. But he has the players prepared and they know what to do and he puts them in a position to succeed. That’s what you want from your coaches.”

Here’s how the individual units break down after five games:

FIELD-GOAL PERCENTAGE (T-15th) – Succop’s only missed opportunity on FGs was the blocked 53-yarder by Dallas last Sunday. He’s made his other kicks from 23, 34, 38, 47 and 53 yards, for a success average of 83.3 percent. That long FG is tied for the longest three-pointer in the league this season.

GROSS PUNTING AVERAGE (14th) – Colquitt has been the second busiest punter in the league with his 34 kicks, and he’s averaging 45.1 yards per punt. He’s tied for second with 13 punts inside the 20-yard line and he’s had just one touchback. The last time the Chiefs have had a punt blocked was December 23, 2007 in Detroit; that was 21 games ago.

NET PUNTING AVERAGE (2nd) – The Chiefs 43.7-yard net average trails only Oakland’s 44.5-yard average with punter Shane Lechler.

PUNT RETURNS (17th) – The Chiefs have gotten nothing from their 12 punt returns, with the longest return being 18 yards. WR Bobby Wade is averaging 7.3 yards on his dozen returns and that has him ranked 15th in the NFL. There have been two punt returns for touchdowns this season in the league, but the Chiefs have not gotten close to breaking one. The last time they scored on a punt return was October 1, 2006 when Dante Hall went 60 yards against San Francisco. That was 51 games ago.

KICK RETURNS (17th) – RBs Jamaal Charles and Dantrell Savage have split the returning duties, averaging 22.4 yards on 21 returns. Charles has the best numbers, averaging 23.6 yards on 14 returns, with a long return of 53 yards. He currently ranks 16th in the league. There have been three kickoff return touchdowns in the ‘09 NFL season. The last time the Chiefs scored on a kickoff return was October 2, 2005 w hen Hall went 96 yards against Philadelphia. That was 61 games ago.

PUNT COVERAGE (1st) – So far this season, the Chiefs have faced 12 punt returns and have allowed just 25 yards. That 2.1-yard average easily leads the NFL; Jacksonville is second at three yards a return. The longest punt return allowed has been 11 yards. The last time the Chiefs allowed a punt return TD was on September 17, 2007 when Chicago’s Devin Hester took one back 73 yards. That was 34 games ago.

KICK COVERAGE (15th) – Opponents have returned 13 kickoffs for an average of 22.7 yards. The longest return they’ve allowed was 32 yards. The last kickoff return TD given up by the Chiefs was last year, when Tampa Bay’s Clifton Smith ran one back 97 yards for a score.

KICKOFFS – Succop is tied for 14th in the league with three touchbacks and the team is 14th in opponent starting field position, at the 25.1-yard line. His 16 kickoffs have averaged 67.6 yards, meaning the kickoffs land between the two and three-yard line on average.

Haley has already shown he’s willing to take a chance on special teams given the fact his team right now needs to create every opportunity that it can. There was a fake punt against Philadelphia and a surprise onside kick against Oakland in the first quarter. The Chiefs also got a special teams touchdown when Jon McGraw blocked a punt in Baltimore and fell on the ball in the end zone for six points.

“We work hard at that point of it, the fakes and the onsides,” said Haley. “That’s something that’s got to be a part of our game. We need to be able to make plays in all areas and make up for maybe some limitations. The punt fake worked out but the onsides haven’t (Chiefs have four onside attempts and have not been successful.) I think our kicker’s getting better at it and we continue to work it. It’s not something he had ever done before and I think Ryan is athletic and likes to try some of those things. The sky’s the limit as we go forward.”

SIGNINGS, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE

• BEARS – acquired DE Gaines Adams in a trade with the Buccaneers for a second-round 2010 draft choice.
• BENGALS – Out for Sunday’s game is OT Andre Smith.
• BILLS – Out for Sunday’s game are LB Marcus Buggs, LB Kawika Mitchell S Bryan Scott and OT Jonathan Scott.
• BUCCANEERS – Out for Sunday’s game is FB B.J. Askew; traded DE Gaines Adams to the Bears for a second-round 2010 draft choice.
• CARDINALS – Out for Sunday’s game is TE Stephen Spach.
• CHARGERS – Out for Monday night’s game is C Nick Hardwick.
• EAGLES – Out for Sunday’s game are G Todd Herremans and CB Dimitri Patterson.
• FALCONS – Out for Sunday’s game is S Antoine Harris.
• GIANTS – Out for Sunday’s game are LB Michael Boley, DT Chris Canty and CB Aaron Ross.
• JAGUARS – Out for Sunday’s game are DT Greg Peterson and LB Adam Seward.
• JETS – Out for Sunday’s game is WR Jerricho Cotchery.
• PACKERS – Out for Sunday’s game is RB Korey Hall, OT Mark Tauscher, DB DeShawn Wynn.
• PATRIOTS – Out for Sunday’s game is RB Fred Taylor.
• RAIDERS – Out for Sunday’s game are LB Ricky Brown, G Robert Gallery, OT Cornell Green, RB Darren McFadden and WR Nick Miller.
• RAVENS – Out for Sunday’s game is OT Jared Gaither.
• REDSKINS – Out for Sunday’s game is OT Chris Samuels.
• SAINTS – placed WR Rod Harper on the injured-reserve list (foot); re-signed QB Chase Daniel.
• SEAHAWKS – Out for Sunday’s game are LB LeRoy Hill, OT Walter Jones, OT Sean Locklear, G Rob Sims and S C.J. Wallace.
• STEELERS – RB Rashard Mendenhall (flu) and S Troy Polamalu (knee) will start Sunday against the Browns.
• TEXANS – Out for Sunday’s game is S Nick Ferguson.
• TITANS – Out for Sunday’s game is CB Nick Harper.
• VIKINGS – WR Percy Harvin practiced on Friday but remains a game-time decision because of a shoulder injury.

FROM THE PAGES OF CHIEFS HISTORY

On October 17, 1965, the Chiefs lost to the Buffalo Bills 23-7 in front of 26,941 fans at Municipal Stadium. The Chiefs scored first, but after that it was all Buffalo as they captured another victory in what would be a championship season for the Bills. TE Fred Arbanas caught an 18-yard TD pass from QB Len Dawson to put up the first points of the game. From that point, it was all Buffalo. K Pete Gogolak kicked three field goals, while WR Charley Ferguson caught a 30-yard TD pass from QB Daryle Lamonica and S George Saimes returned a fumble 18 yards for a score. Chiefs S Johnny Robinson had two interceptions of Buffalo QBs Lamonica and Jack Kemp.

On October 17, 1976, the Chiefs beat the Dolphins 20-17 in overtime at the Orange Bowl in Miami. It was K Jan Stenerud’s 34-yard FG in the extra period that gave the Chiefs the victory. Miami K Garo Yepremian’s 27-yard FG tied the score in regulation. The Chiefs scored a pair of touchdowns as RB Tommy Reamon scored from the one-yard line and WR Henry Marshall took an end-around play 59 yards for a TD. Stenerud also had a 29-yard FG. Chiefs QB Mike Livingston hit 20 of 35 passes for 306 yards. Hall of Fame QB Bob Griese was 25 of 35 for 306 yards, but threw a pair of interceptions.

An October 17, 1982 game between the Chiefs and Chargers in San Diego was cancelled because of the players strike.

On October 17, 1993, the Chiefs beat the Chargers 17-14 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. Trailing 14-10 late in the fourth quarter, RB Marcus Allen scored on a 1-yard run that capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive led by QB Joe Montana. Earlier in the game, Allen caught a 15-yard TD pass from Montana to give the Chiefs an early lead. They also got a 37-yard FG from Nick Lowery. Allen had 76 yards in total offense and a pair of TDs. WR Willie Davis had four catches for 77 yards. On defense, S Martin Bayless had an INT and DT Dan Saleaumua, LB Derrick Thomas and DE Neil Smith all had sacks.

SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …

Born on October 17, 1959 in Donnasonville, Georgia was TE Marvin Harvey. He was selected in the third-round of the 1981 NFL Draft out of Southern Mississippi. Harvey played only that rookie season for the Chiefs, appearing in seven games. His career was cut short by a neck injury.

Born on October 17, 1969 in Tonga was TE Alfred Pupunu (left). He joined the Chiefs as a rookie free agent out of Weber State in 1992 but did not make the roster. Pupunu then played five seasons in San Diego with the Chargers, before returning to the Chiefs in 1997 where he played one game. He finished his career with a season in New York with the Giants and Detroit.