Chiefs Special teams coach thinks Dexter McCluster has unlocked potential as a returner - Page 3

**Tribal Warfare** · 06-01-2013, 12:09 AM

Chiefs’ new special teams coach thinks Dexter McCluster has unlocked potential as a returner
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Dexter McCluster brought back a punt 94 yards for a touchdown in his first NFL game for the Chiefs in 2010, sparking hope he could surpass Chicago’s Devin Hester as the NFL’s next great return specialist.

That hasn’t happened yet, but the Chiefs aren’t giving up on the idea. This offseason they hired away the Bears’ Dave Toub, the special teams coach who worked with Hester and helped him become one of the all-time greats with 17 career return touchdowns.

And Toub is a fan of McCluster’s.

“McCluster is somebody that’s very intriguing to me,’’ Toub said. “He can really make you miss and I just think he’s got a lot of untapped potential as a punt returner.’’

A McCluster revival is just part of what the Chiefs have planned for their return game. They’re also looking at rookie running back Knile Davis to return kickoffs, though Davis never brought back a kick in college at Arkansas.

That plan, too, is part of the effort to awaken a long dormant return game. The Chiefs haven’t returned a kickoff for a touchdown since 2009 or a punt for a score since McCluster did it in the season-opening game in 2010 against the Chargers.

The Chiefs traded one of their main return specialists from the past couple of seasons, Javier Arenas. They have others working in the mix, including wide receiver Devon Wylie. But for the time being, at least, they appear to have settled on McCluster and Davis.

McCluster hasn’t had many chances to return punts since his rookie season in part to keep the 5-foot-8, 170-pound McCluster fresh for offensive plays. But the new coaching staff led by Andy Reid doesn’t have that idea.

“We’re kind of dusting him off in that area,’’ Toub said. “He has all the skills that you like to see as a punt returner.’’

Davis is an interesting option as a kickoff returner. He hasn’t returned a kick in a live game since he was in high school and was a frequent fumbler at running back last season.

But the Chiefs see a fast runner with a big body who could be difficult for opponents to bring down in the open field.

“He’s a big guy and he can run (fast),’’ McCluster said. “He just needs a little more repetition and I think he’ll be really good.’’

Reid said Davis has good vision, which is key for a returner.

“That position, you want the guys that are willing to hit it up the field,” Reid said. “We’ll see how he does. I’m not saying he’s the guy necessarily right now. But he’s working at it and we’ll see how he does through training camp.’’

Judging from offseason practice, Davis will get plenty of work at running back in the regular season even though Jamaal Charles is the starter. But he said returning kickoffs would be another way for him to contribute.

“Any way I can touch the field,’’ he said. “It’s no fun sitting on the sideline.

“I like the idea. The biggest difference from college to the league is that here, they want you to catch it forward so you can have that momentum going up the field.

“The key is hitting it full speed. But it’s a lot harder to judge it and catch it that way. You’ve got to judge it just right or it will be a big mistake. In college, you can kind of stand there and judge it and catch it on your back leg. I’ve pretty much got it down, for the most part.’’

The Chiefs are withholding judgment on that last part.

“We’ve got a long way to go,’’ Toub said. “We’ve got to find out when the (games) start whether this guy will be able to hold on to the ball. That’s going to be the key for him on kickoff return.’’

“There’s a lot for him to learn. It’s a totally different feel (than at running back). He’s got the ball in his hand like at running back but still it’s totally different. It’s about closing the distance. It’s about (getting up the field) real quick. There are a lot of collisions out there. You’ve got guys running 10, 15 yards running full speed at you. There will be a learning curve for him.’’

Bambi · 06-01-2013, 09:17 AM

Nothing has changed with this organization. Nothing.

BlackHelicopters · 06-01-2013, 09:17 AM

Royals and Chiefs. Chiefs and Royals. Show me hope.

Pasta Little Brioni · 06-01-2013, 09:35 AM

So...everything has changed then

Mother****erJones · 06-01-2013, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I'm pretty sure Teicher has no untapped potential as a journalist.

FYP

Stanley Nickels · 06-01-2013, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

Chiefs | Knile Davis talks about fumble issues
Thu, 30 May 2013 08:48:57 -0700

Kansas City Chiefs RB Knile Davis said the fumble problems he displayed in his final season at Arkansas have been fixed. "I think I'll never fumble again," the 2013 third-round pick said. "I had two bad games last year where I fumbled a lot. It was just me not focusing on it."

Read more: http://www.kffl.com/team/21/nfl/kans...#ixzz2UyZwVjcV

"It was just me not focusing on it" is either a personal issue or problematic coaching (or both). Given Arky's coaching issues last year, I wouldn't rule out the latter, but the former is very likely too. Old habits, and all that.

Mr. Laz · 06-01-2013, 10:16 AM

i'm not sure why people are flipping about about this article being written by Teicher.

It's talking about a legitimate issue with the Chiefs

You want to be pissed then be mad at the Chiefs for their evaluation of McCluster, not Teicher for reporting it.

Pasta Little Brioni · 06-01-2013, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

i'm not sure why people are flipping about about this article being written by Teicher.

It's talking about a legitimate issue with the Chiefs

You want to be pissed then be mad at the Chiefs for their evaluation of McCluster, not Teicher for reporting it.

Oh, you know that any positive news about a guy the board doesn't like is going to cause panties in a wad syndrome.

mcaj22 · 06-01-2013, 10:28 AM

the returners might be garbage (McCluster being slow and useless, Knile Davis fumbling kickoffs) but the actual special teams should be really good. They signed a lot of guys that have special teams experience like the back of their hand

you can roll out units with: Zombo, Akeem Jordan, Zac Diles, Anthony Sherman, Terrance Copper, Tony Moeaki (like that time on kickoff when that Donky went all hitman on him lol), Edgar Jones, Quinton Demps, Jalil Brown, etc

those are really good special teams players. good coverage units, punt teams, etc.

chiefzilla1501 · 06-01-2013, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

i'm not sure why people are flipping about about this article being written by Teicher.

It's talking about a legitimate issue with the Chiefs

You want to be pissed then be mad at the Chiefs for their evaluation of McCluster, not Teicher for reporting it.

More than anything, the worst part is that now we have a few strong offensive minds and the best special teams coach in the NFL, and they're both intrigued by McCluster, yet everyone on this board is convinced he doesn't belong in the NFL. Apparently he's good enough that they didn't mind giving away Javier Arenas. I don't think McCluster is great, but clearly the coaches see some opportunities to use him.

Pasta Little Brioni · 06-01-2013, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

More than anything, the worst part is that now we have a few strong offensive minds and the best special teams coach in the NFL, and they're both intrigued by McCluster, yet everyone on this board is convinced he doesn't belong in the NFL.

They had Arrelious Benn, Surgery Kindle, and Mush Cody higher on their homemade bigboard, so they'll bang that drum till their deaths. (Even though Dex has outperformed those POS)

**wazu** · 06-01-2013, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bevischief

So when does the ban hammer strike for anyone posting ADAM TEICHER articles?

Please. Please. Please...let this happen.

MTG#10 · 06-01-2013, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Yeah - I'm getting tired of all this damn Chiefs news. It's getting in the way of Hootie's countdown.

Yeah this really qualifies as "news".

mcaj22 · 06-01-2013, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

They had Arrelious Benn, Surgery Kindle, and Mush Cody higher on their homemade bigboard, so they'll bang that drum till their deaths. (Even though Dex has outperformed those POS)

even though, gadget midget was not a need at that pick

what was a need as like 80 percent of the next ten picks.

we could have had Benn, who is terrible but they also could have addressed the safety position in Nate Allen or TJ Ward, or the DE position in Lamarr Houston or Troup, or instead of trading up for a Brokedick 3rd string TE, got Rob Gronkowski, or Koa Misi, Zane Beadles, you pick it, we needed it over McCluster.

A lot of people also wanted Sergio Kindle who is god damn terrible.

Mr. Laz · 06-01-2013, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

More than anything, the worst part is that now we have a few strong offensive minds and the best special teams coach in the NFL, and they're both intrigued by McCluster, yet everyone on this board is convinced he doesn't belong in the NFL. Apparently he's good enough that they didn't mind giving away Javier Arenas. I don't think McCluster is great, but clearly the coaches see some opportunities to use him.

i didn't agree with the Arenas move either but my point is that this isn't about Teicher.

we have watched McCluster fail to make people miss for years now and that fact that this coaching staff doesn't see it is irritating.

good information from Teicher

Pasta Little Brioni · 06-01-2013, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcaj22

even though, gadget midget was not a need at that pick

what was a need as like 80 percent of the next ten picks.

we could have had Benn, who is terrible but they also could have addressed the safety position in Nate Allen or TJ Ward, or the DE position in Lamarr Houston or Troup, or instead of trading up for a Brokedick 3rd string TE, got Rob Gronkowski, or Koa Misi, Zane Beadles, you pick it, we needed it over McCluster.

A lot of people also wanted Sergio Kindle who is god damn terrible.

I'm going off of who the board wanted at the time. After taking Berry there may have been 1 guy that wanted to go safety with the top 2 picks.

The team did have a need for a guy that can make plays though...Dex just hasn't lived up to that standard yet.

06-01-2013, 12:09 AM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2837187	Special teams coach thinks Dexter McCluster has unlocked potential as a returner Chiefs’ new special teams coach thinks Dexter McCluster has unlocked potential as a returner By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star Dexter McCluster brought back a punt 94 yards for a touchdown in his first NFL game for the Chiefs in 2010, sparking hope he could surpass Chicago’s Devin Hester as the NFL’s next great return specialist. That hasn’t happened yet, but the Chiefs aren’t giving up on the idea. This offseason they hired away the Bears’ Dave Toub, the special teams coach who worked with Hester and helped him become one of the all-time greats with 17 career return touchdowns. And Toub is a fan of McCluster’s. “McCluster is somebody that’s very intriguing to me,’’ Toub said. “He can really make you miss and I just think he’s got a lot of untapped potential as a punt returner.’’ A McCluster revival is just part of what the Chiefs have planned for their return game. They’re also looking at rookie running back Knile Davis to return kickoffs, though Davis never brought back a kick in college at Arkansas. That plan, too, is part of the effort to awaken a long dormant return game. The Chiefs haven’t returned a kickoff for a touchdown since 2009 or a punt for a score since McCluster did it in the season-opening game in 2010 against the Chargers. The Chiefs traded one of their main return specialists from the past couple of seasons, Javier Arenas. They have others working in the mix, including wide receiver Devon Wylie. But for the time being, at least, they appear to have settled on McCluster and Davis. McCluster hasn’t had many chances to return punts since his rookie season in part to keep the 5-foot-8, 170-pound McCluster fresh for offensive plays. But the new coaching staff led by Andy Reid doesn’t have that idea. “We’re kind of dusting him off in that area,’’ Toub said. “He has all the skills that you like to see as a punt returner.’’ Davis is an interesting option as a kickoff returner. He hasn’t returned a kick in a live game since he was in high school and was a frequent fumbler at running back last season. But the Chiefs see a fast runner with a big body who could be difficult for opponents to bring down in the open field. “He’s a big guy and he can run (fast),’’ McCluster said. “He just needs a little more repetition and I think he’ll be really good.’’ Reid said Davis has good vision, which is key for a returner. “That position, you want the guys that are willing to hit it up the field,” Reid said. “We’ll see how he does. I’m not saying he’s the guy necessarily right now. But he’s working at it and we’ll see how he does through training camp.’’ Judging from offseason practice, Davis will get plenty of work at running back in the regular season even though Jamaal Charles is the starter. But he said returning kickoffs would be another way for him to contribute. “Any way I can touch the field,’’ he said. “It’s no fun sitting on the sideline. “I like the idea. The biggest difference from college to the league is that here, they want you to catch it forward so you can have that momentum going up the field. “The key is hitting it full speed. But it’s a lot harder to judge it and catch it that way. You’ve got to judge it just right or it will be a big mistake. In college, you can kind of stand there and judge it and catch it on your back leg. I’ve pretty much got it down, for the most part.’’ The Chiefs are withholding judgment on that last part. “We’ve got a long way to go,’’ Toub said. “We’ve got to find out when the (games) start whether this guy will be able to hold on to the ball. That’s going to be the key for him on kickoff return.’’ “There’s a lot for him to learn. It’s a totally different feel (than at running back). He’s got the ball in his hand like at running back but still it’s totally different. It’s about closing the distance. It’s about (getting up the field) real quick. There are a lot of collisions out there. You’ve got guys running 10, 15 yards running full speed at you. There will be a learning curve for him.’’
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06-01-2013, 09:17 AM	#31
Bambi Banned Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New York City Casino cash: $10036993	Nothing has changed with this organization. Nothing.
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06-01-2013, 09:17 AM	#32
BlackHelicopters Spiraling down the Drain Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dante's Ninth Circle Casino cash: $-749412	Royals and Chiefs. Chiefs and Royals. Show me hope. __________________ "We're both part of the same hypocrisy, Senator, but never think it applies to my family." "Fredo. You are my brother, and I love you. But never take sides against the Family again. Ever." 2019 Adopt a Chief - Travis Kelce #87
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06-01-2013, 09:35 AM	#33
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $328880	So...everything has changed then __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
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06-01-2013, 10:16 AM	#36
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	i'm not sure why people are flipping about about this article being written by Teicher. It's talking about a legitimate issue with the Chiefs You want to be pissed then be mad at the Chiefs for their evaluation of McCluster, not Teicher for reporting it. __________________
Posts: 95,626

06-01-2013, 10:28 AM	#38
mcaj22 MVP Join Date: Feb 2010 Casino cash: $10014454	the returners might be garbage (McCluster being slow and useless, Knile Davis fumbling kickoffs) but the actual special teams should be really good. They signed a lot of guys that have special teams experience like the back of their hand you can roll out units with: Zombo, Akeem Jordan, Zac Diles, Anthony Sherman, Terrance Copper, Tony Moeaki (like that time on kickoff when that Donky went all hitman on him lol), Edgar Jones, Quinton Demps, Jalil Brown, etc those are really good special teams players. good coverage units, punt teams, etc.
Posts: 11,886