Chiefs Maintain Confidence in Harrison Butker Despite Recent Struggles
The Kansas City Chiefs are currently rallying around their placekicker, Harrison Butker, despite some early-season challenges. Butker’s performance has come under scrutiny after he missed three field goals, an extra point, and experienced a mishap during a kickoff that contributed to the team’s narrow 31-28 defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Chiefs’ Confidence in Butker
Head coach Andy Reid expressed his unwavering confidence in Butker during a press conference. Reid compared the kicker’s struggles to the ups and downs of golfers, emphasizing that “sometimes you’re hitting it good and other times you’re off.” He praised Butker’s resilience and talent, stating, “He’s a talented kid; he’s mentally tough. I’m not really worried about him.”
Butker’s Recent Performance
In the previous season, Butker was a reliable performer, converting 21 of 25 field goals with an 84% success rate. Historically, he has achieved an 88% accuracy rate throughout his career. However, this year, Butker’s success rate has decreased to 76.9%. Two of his three misses occurred on attempts from over 50 yards, with another 40-yarder missed against the New York Giants.
Despite these challenges, special teams coordinator Dave Toub noted some positive developments. Butker successfully converted all four of his extra-point attempts during the Jaguars game. “He was 100 percent last week — and he’s 100 percent so far this week,” Toub stated. He remains optimistic about Butker’s potential to improve. “I think he’s on an uptrend with his field goals,” he added.
Impact of Kickoff Missteps
Unfortunately, Butker’s performance was most impacted by a fourth-quarter kickoff that went out of bounds, allowing the Jaguars favorable field position for their game-winning drive. Toub explained that the decision was part of a strategy to pin the opponent down with a specific kickoff coverage. “He just went a little bit too far right,” Toub remarked, acknowledging that the misjudgment cost the team crucial yardage.
Navigating New League Rules
The NFL’s new kickoff rules have complicated special teams strategies. Toub elaborated that the intention was to direct the kick to the right side to give the coverage team the best chance to minimize advances. “If you kick it in the middle, then they have a two-way go,” he noted, making pinning the opponent inside the 30-yard line increasingly challenging.
Team Morale and Future Outlook
Despite the recent setbacks, both Toub and Reid affirmed their support for Butker and the entire special teams unit. They believe in their collective ability to rebound and improve. “We’re not going to let this game define us,” Toub asserted. “We’re going to bounce back and come back stronger — for sure — this week.”
