How does Jeremy Maclin’s release affect Chiefs special teams success?
By Britt Zank
Jeremy Maclin being released by the Kansas City Chiefs hurts the team in many ways, one of which is the success on special teams.
With his clear promotion to the number one receiver spot after the release of Jeremy Maclin, it is a safe bet that Tyreek Hill will not be the Kansas City Chiefs primary kick returner going forward. If not Hill, who will be returning kicks for the Chiefs in 2017?
De’Anthony Thomas is the most logical option, at least at first glance. He was the punt returner before selecting Hill, and he was a good one. In his career, DAT has 63 punt returns with an average return of 10 yards per. We all remember the awesome 80-yard TD he had against the Cincinnati Bengals during his rookie season. He bounced off the initial defender, reversed field and outran everyone else to the end zone to tie the game. I think it’s a no-brainer to have DAT as the starting punt returner based off his history, but his kick returning ability doesn’t scare anybody.
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DAT has a bad habit of running side to side on kickoffs which doesn’t work. His career average for kick returns is only 25 yards a return which is the same as it would be to kneel down in the end zone. The side-to-side stuff can work on punt returns when you are avoiding gunners and out running offensive lineman. Kick returns are full of defensive players and specialists. They don’t fall for the same tricks and are all solid tacklers with speed. On kickoffs, you have to be able to find the open lane, stick your foot in the ground and go straight up field. Until DAT learns how to do that, he’s can’t be the teams kick returner.
In terms of kick returner, there are a few options beyond DAT for the Chiefs to consider.Many have pointed to veteran running back C.J. Spiller, but this is a horrible idea on many fronts. For one, Spiller has no hope of making the team as a running back. The team has three solid backs in Kareem Hunt, Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware so they don’t need him in the backfield. For his career, Spiller only averages 23.7 yards per kick return, which is nothing special. I don’t see any way Spiller makes the final 53 man roster.
My personal favorite option would be to give the rookie Jehu Chesson a chance. It will be a struggle for Jehu to get much playing time with the offense so special teams will be his spot. He returned six kicks in college and had one touchdown. Not a great sample size but he proved he could handle it and even excel at it. He’ll be hungry and ready to prove himself, and the league won’t have any tape on him, so he’ll be an unknown. It’s this combination that I believe could make him a solid kick returner who has the ability to take it to the house.
Nobody on the Chiefs has the ability to be a special teams weapon the way Hill is. Fortunately, he will be a weapon on offense and will continue to put up the numbers there. He can take the hits, run the routes and be a solid number one, so he is where he needs to be. But the special teams will take a hit and the Chiefs can’t throw darts and hope it works out. DAT can be a solid punt returner who you can trust to make the right play and if given a seam he could bust it. For kick return I think you give the rookie a chance to prove himself and not over think it. If I’m the Chiefs though, I make sure to tell Hill to always be ready though, because if they need a big play late in a half or game, he’s a great closer to have in the bullpen ready to go.