Do the Kansas City Chiefs have a kicker problem or do they have a holder problem? A former member of the team who has some expertise in the subject thinks it’s the latter.
In the Week 15 win over the Houston Texans, Harrison Butker missed an extra point and a field goal during regulation. Butker has now missed three extra points on the season, but he’s also missed five field goals, which is a new single-season high. The missed kicks adding up are certainly a problem, but what exactly is to blame? There has been some concern that it could be lingering effects of Butker’s early-season ankle injury.
According to former Chiefs punter and holder Dustin Colquitt, Butker isn’t to blame for the misses. Responding to a tweet from 810 Sports Radio’s Soren Petro, Colquitt called out fellow punter Tommy Townsend, who is also the Chiefs’ holder.
“Watch the holds & try saying that again,” Colquitt wrote on Twitter. “On the extra points the laces (are) facing the sidelines. He’s screwed him all year.”
Watch the holds & try saying that again…on the extra point the laces on facing the sidelines…he’s screwed him all year
— Dustin Colquitt (@dustincolquitt2) December 19, 2022
Now if you’re not familiar with the NFL kicking game, the rule of thumb is that the laces of the football should always be pointing outward and away from the kicker’s foot. If the laces are pointing toward the sideline, they’re not as far outward as they could be. Ideally, you want the laces pointing toward your target so that you can get the most consistent flat surface area when your foot contacts the ball.
The laces on the missed extra point were, in fact, facing the sideline.
Not sure if it influenced Butker's PAT miss, but replay makes it look like Townsend didn't get laces turned fully forward. Kick sailed wide left. pic.twitter.com/07G85fGbRB
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) December 18, 2022
Colquitt again came to Butker’s defense in response to a tweet from former Chiefs WR Marc Boerigter.
“He’s an exceptional punter,” Colquitt wrote. “If you look back at the holds on the extra point, the laces are facing the sidelines, and on the missed 50+ yarder he pulled the ball to him at the last second and forced the ball to go to the right -he’s been missing the spot all year.”
He’s an exceptional punter….If you look back at the holds on the extra point, the #laces are facing the sidelines, and on the missed 50+ yarder he pulled the ball to him at the last second and forced the ball to go to the right -he’s been missing the spot all year.
— Dustin Colquitt (@dustincolquitt2) December 19, 2022
Perhaps Dave Toub needs to get Colquitt in the building to work with Townsend on his holding.
