The Kansas City Chiefs’ success on special teams throughout the season has been credited to their special teams coordinator, Dave Toub. During Thursday’s press conference, Toub revealed the secret to their string of blocked field goals this season: veteran safety Justin Reid.
“He (Justin Reid) studies a lot of tape. He’s the main reason why we’re getting these blocks because he gets off – such a great get off on the edge and it makes everybody respond to that and it opens up gaps for Leo (Chenal) who is like a couple men down – a couple spots down from him,” said Toub. “He studies tape, he watches the snapper’s movements. Could be a squeezing of the hand, it could be a dip of the hips, whatever it is to indicate that the snap is imminent. He has a great get-off; I mean, he was tied to the football just about in that game – on two of them. It made a difference.”
Reid has not only led the secondary and occasionally kicked off during games, but his contributions to field goal block coverage have helped win games and were essential in the divisional round block against the Houston Texans. He will again be counted on for those big moments this Sunday in the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills.
