We are just days away from the Kansas City Chiefs’ preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams. The two teams will face off at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, the first live action against another team for the Chiefs this preseason.
The Rams, like many teams, have held joint practices during training camp, but that has never been a consideration for head coach Andy Reid. He is one of the few NFL teams that don’t participate in joint training camp sessions every year.
Special teams coordinator Dave Toub has been with Reid since 2013, has gotten used to Reid’s process and recognizes how important it will be to get into the exhibition games.
“I can’t wait,” Toub told local media after Wednesday’s practice. “For me, this is really the time I get to evaluate whether a guy can block or tackle on special teams- live tackling to the ground- plus you’re hitting somebody else. These guys have been hitting each other for a few weeks now. It’s getting old; it really is getting old. Same thing, over and over again; this is going to be great to have a game.”
Here’s what to know from Wednesday’s practice:
During the practice session, three Chiefs players left practice due to injury: linebacker Nick Bolton, tight end Jared Wiley and rookie defensive tackle Peter Woods.
We will await more information on the new injuries. Aside from that, rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane continued to wear a yellow non-contact jersey, but upped his participation in practice.
Wide receiver Jimmy Holiday, right guard Trey Smith, cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and linebacker Drue Tranquill did not appear on the field at Wednesday’s practice.
Special teams snap breakdown
Toub shared the game plan for how special teams snaps will be broken down on Saturday, giving us a glimpse into how the starting offense and defense could be treated as well.
“You’ll have my front-line guys early in the game, but they’re going to be out,” Toub said. “If you watch early, you’ll see them. Then it’s going to be a lot of the twos and threes; I got four deep everywhere: kickoff, kickoff return, everywhere. You’re going to see a lot of different bodies, especially in the third and fourth quarter.”
Toub has four return men to focus on when given the opportunity against the Rams: wide receiver Nikko Remigio, running back Brashard Smith, rookie wideout Cyrus Allen and rookie receiver Jacob De Jesus.
“I want to see everybody, really. I don’t need to see a lot of Nikko,” Toub shared. “If he gets one touch on punt and one on kick return, I’m good. I really want to see the off returners blocking more than anything. I’d like to see Brashard get one punt return for sure, maybe even Allen; I still have to talk to coach to see if he’s up to speed with his leg and everything.”
Toub later elaborated on the incumbent returner, who would be entering his third year as the team’s primary return man. He wants to see more home runs than Remigio has given to the team in that time.
“More touchdowns, that would be great,” Toub responded when asked what he wants to see from Remigio. “His vision has really improved, I think. You see it in practice; he’ll see a crack and instead of trying to run all the way around it, he’ll plant a foot and get upfield and get 15 or 20 extra yards. Those are the ones that sometimes they’ll pop and get out on you in a hurry. He’s catching the ball great; I’m just really pleased with where he’s at.”
Allen is still working back to full speed after going down in practice multiple times in training camp so far. If he is limited in playing time, it could open up more opportunities for the electric undrafted wideout from California.
“De Jesus, I’m excited to see him,” Toub said. “He’s a great catcher, and he’s got a lot of hunger to him. It’s going to be exciting when he has the ball in his hands.”
Brashard Smith ‘has come along great’
Smith is the second return specialist Toub talks about behind the experienced Remigio. We have seen what Smith can do with the ball in his hands, and Toub sees it as a reason Smith will be featured more in the offense.
“He has come along great,” Toub said. “If you watch his blocking, that’s where you really need to improve. He’s sticking up in there as a pass blocker because you do that a lot in our offense. The running backs have to do that a lot, and he’s doing a great job. There’s no question how he catches the ball out of the backfield and all that stuff, but he is stepping it up as a blocker.”
The Chiefs will hold one more practice before Saturday’s game: Thursday morning at 9:15 a.m. The session is anticipated to be lighter with the exhibition nearing.