Chiefs roster: Dave Toub still looking for the right kickoff returners

In most NFL offseasons, the league’s owners vote to add, remove, or modify rules of the game. Most of these changes are relatively minor tweaks.

Few, however, have caused a bigger stir among coaches, players and fans than this season’s changes to kickoff rules. Special teams coaches are already required to use players from the bottom of the depth chart and receive minimal practice time. But come the 2024 season, they don’t even know exactly what kickoffs will look like.

After two weeks of practice games, that picture is becoming clearer. But it’s also likely that few teams have been willing to reveal exactly how they plan to take or return kickoffs — which in turn affects what kind of players are used in those formations.

In the Kansas City Chiefs’ final preseason game — Thursday night against the Chicago Bears at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium — special teams coordinator Dave Toub will still be searching for answers. But unlike a week ago, his unit won’t be coming off a mistake-ridden performance.

“You know, we haven’t had a lot of reps,” he told reporters after Tuesday’s practice at the team’s training facility. “That other game (against the Jacksonville Jaguars) had a lot of touchbacks, so I was looking forward to (the game against the Detroit Lions).

“I’m glad we got some returns this week to see what our stuff is going to look like. I was happy with the way they blocked and finished. (They) did a good job.”

Toub still wants to watch a number of kickoff returners in Thursday’s match.

“We still want to,” he said. “I mean, obviously, (in) the wide receiver group, there’s a lot of guys — (however) many guys we’re going to keep. Those guys are still fighting for their positions. Obviously, they’re all returners. So that’s where it comes in for me.”

If he had to choose a kickoff returner to start a regular-season game today, Toub would have a short list that included wideouts like Mecole Hardman and Nikko Remigio — and running backs like Carson Steele and Deneric Prince.

“It could be Mecole,” Toub said. “I mean, Nikko’s done a great job. I’d pound the table for that guy; I love him. Steele looks good back there. He hits the ball north-south; he could block. He’s a guy you could use. A backup running back? Maybe Prince? You need bigger guys who can block back there; you just can’t have two punt returners back there, I guess.”

And then there’s Skyy Moore, who had two kick returns against Detroit — one of them for 43 yards — and, according to Toub, “really wants to do it.”

“He did a good job on kick returns,” Toub said. “He drove the ball in — and he was very eager to make a big play. That’s what you’re looking for.”

Toub realizes that while it will take some time for fans to get used to the new format, they will ultimately like it better.

“I just think it’s going to be a lot more exciting for the fans,” he predicted, “rather than just sitting there all day and watching touchbacks.”