The biggest early season surprises for the Kansas City Chiefs
By Scott Loring
Tommy Townsend’s moxie
The decision to release a 15-year All Pro and future Ring of Honor member was not an easy one for Brett Veach. Dustin Colquitt was drafted by Dick Vermeil. He was here when Herman Edwards was hired. He was here through the Todd Haley years, and the Romeo Crennel days. Colquitt earned a Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs, and was unceremoniously released in 2020 after the team decided his $2.65 million salary was too much to carry at the position.
“It won’t matter,” some fans muttered. “The Chiefs hardly punt anyway.”
True fans know the value of Colquitt. Not just a pinpoint punter who also held consistently for several kickers throughout the course of his career in Kansas City, the release of Colquitt left Kansas City with a pair of big question marks.
Once again, Veach had a vision.
With the assistance of special teams coordinator Dave Toub, Veach had already pinpointed undrafted rookie Tommy Townsend out of Florida to fill Colquitt’s role as punter and holder for for the Super Bowl champions.
Townsend had no competition in August after the team had already cut Tyler Newsome in late July, but the former Florida Gator has shown zero resemblance to a rookie, averaging over 50 yards per punt in the first quarter of the season. His longest was a booming 65-yarder in the second quarter against New England. Perhaps the most important thing is that he hasn’t made a single mistake. Not one flubbed kick or botched hold. Townsend’s floor has been just as high as his ceiling thus far.
Kicker Harrison Butker has had his ups and downs in 2020, but it’s by no doing of his holder. Butker has missed a couple of PATs on the year, but his string of successful FG attempts in Los Angeles (culminating with the actual game-winning 58-yarder) was very impressive. Townsend’s contribution to that should not go unnoticed. It appears that the Chiefs have found their punter for the long-term in the soon-to-be 24-year-old Townsend.