Based on recent rule changes for kickoff returns as voted by NFL owners, Tyreek Hill might be better suited to return kicks as well as punts in 2018.
Dave Toub says some serious changes are coming, at least in the sphere in which he works.
NFL owners recently voted to change kickoff returns for the 2018 season in hopes of lowering not only the total amount of injuries in the league but the impact of those injuries—specifically concussions. Kickoff returns can honestly be quite dangerous for players as defenders get a running start and both sides barrel toward the other at full speed.
Toub, the Kansas City Chiefs special teams coach, recently spoke to reporters on Thursday to detail the differences made by the new rules and stated that kick returns will look more like punt returns. His full response:
"“I think it is going to be a more like a punt returner style because there is going to be more single blocks. You aren’t going to have the point of attack where you are hitting it and you have a running back style, like an iso play. It is going to be more of a big field type, more like a punt return.”"
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Given the big field is exactly the sort of space in which Tyreek Hill can truly go to work and put his league-best top speed into action. The Chiefs wide receiver is probably the most electric returner in the entire NFL these days. There’s also one problem with that. He’s also the Chiefs best wide receiver.
Hill made the Pro Bowl during his rookie season in 2016 with 12 total touchdowns that included three of them on kick or punt returns. Last season, Hill again made the Pro Bowl, but the Chiefs converted him to wideout full-time and largely wanted him to avoid kick returns for the sake of potential injury. Akeem Hunt and De’Anthony Thomas largely handled such responsibilities as Hill went on to enjoy a tremendous year at wide receiver.
But what if kick returns begin to look like punt returns. Hill remains a punt returner for the Chiefs in 2017, so if both returns are really the same sort of play, would the Chiefs allow Hill to go back to return duties like it was ’16? That’s a tough question and one that Toub deflected a bit.
"“Tyreek is the punt returner right now. Kick return is up for grabs. We have a lot of guys in there that are working hard.”"
The important words to note in Toub’s quote are “right now.” That’s when an NFL coach doesn’t want to give anything away because nothing has been decided. The Chiefs made a move last year for Hill to avoid kick returns. “Right now” they are sticking with that arrangement. It makes sense for the Chiefs to test several players as they learn to adjust to new NFL rules in practice. It will take some time, but know that in the end, the Chiefs will do what they must to win games.
The guys that are “working hard” per Toub are likely names like Kerwynn Williams, a returner and running back for the Arizona Cardinals last season. Thomas has returned for another year as well, although he’s currently rehabbing a broken leg suffered late in the season. Yet even as they might position themselves to be the best of the non-Hill bunch, none of them can compare to the upside and potential game-breaking plays that Hill can provide on special teams.
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Will that be enough to convince Andy Reid and company to put Hill back there again? Will it actually ruin Hill’s offensive potential to wear him down by placing return duties on him as well? It will be interesting to watch how the Chiefs approach this new rule.