Chiefs Checking Out a Punter

by Joel Thorman on Apr 29, 2009 9:44 AM CDT in 2009 Offseason Comment 18 comments

The Kansas City Chiefs are deciding whether to sign a punter. Chris Miller, out of Ball State, is currently an undrafted free agent prospect. He's been offered an invite to the Chicago Bears rookie camp but might be waiting to hear if the Chiefs make an offer.

He has an offer to attend the Bears' rookie camp this weekend. Chicago's punter is 13-year veteran Brad Maynard, a former Ball State star.But the Chiefs are considering a plan to sign Miller, and he'll find out their decision by the end of the week.

Problem with Miller, however, is that he's just a punter and doesn't do kickoffs or field goals. Chiefs' Mr. Irrelevant Ryan Succup has experience both as a kicker and a punter.

This move perplexes me even if it is to simply bring in competition or a training camp body. By all accounts Ryan Succop is a better place kicker and has also done some punting (43.7 net yards in 2006, 41.6 in 2007 compared to Miller 46.3 in 2006, 45.4 in 2007 and 42.5 in 2008). Don't get me wrong, Miller is a great punter. In fact, he was a Ray Guy finalist and finished as high as third in the NCAA in net yards.

It's not like punter is a position where you just need bodies for training camp like linebacker and offensive linemen. Maybe I'm putting too much thought into this but I don't understand the value of having an extra punter around. It's not like it matters, though really, with the loss of NFL Europe teams now can't carry extra players that are exempt from the roster limit. And those roster cuts are coming at the expense of extra kickers and punters.

Ultimately I see Connor Barth and Succop competing for the kicking job and Dustin Colquitt having already secured the punting job.

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DQ

is out best player. He just had some inury issues last year. I think he makes the Pro Bowl this year. When healthy the guy can make some sick punts.

Paddy

by Patrick Allen on Apr 29, 2009 9:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My buddy

“The Other Patrick Allen” has a DQ jersey!

Paddy

by Patrick Allen on Apr 29, 2009 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dont fix something thats not broke

best thing you can do if anything this will hurt dustin then motivate him

by PSUkegreen on Apr 29, 2009 9:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

what?

Time is a great teacher... unfortunately it kills all it's pupils.

by 808NaNz808 on Apr 29, 2009 9:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

WHAT!?!

You cut this team’s MVP and someone is going to pay! This aggression will not stand!

I do not snort the coke I only smoke...sensimilla.

by HIV 2 Elway on Apr 29, 2009 9:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Are they worried DQ will get too expensive to keep?

Every chiefs fan knows he’s been the best player on the team excluding TG for the last 3 years. He should be a pro bowl punter. Pioli is starting to worry me. He’s a lefty as well.

by rustdog on Apr 29, 2009 9:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

MVP

DQ has practically been our MVP before he was banged up last year. This better be just a rumor. I’d lose faith in management if he came here. DQ has earned his spot on this team, the man was in the ProBowl 2 years ago, wasn’t he?!

by BoulderChief on Apr 29, 2009 9:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This makes less sense then Magee in the 3rd round.

If you go out and you’re looking for the girl to wink at you and she hasn’t winked at you before 12 she isn’t going to. You might as well go home.

by craig in calgary on Apr 29, 2009 9:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Funny

We drafted DQ in the 3rd.

by BoulderChief on Apr 29, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The value ..

…not working Colquitt to death in training camp special team drills

by FrankPitts on Apr 29, 2009 11:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Haley to Waters..."I know you got a good punter"

by FrankPitts on Apr 29, 2009 11:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

DQ injuries

Due to the sick amount of punting he did last year. DQ I think had the equivalent of running the ball 400+ times over the season and his leg wore out. I think if we have an O that can move the ball this year, then his leg will be plenty rested. I think this guy is here to relieve some of the camp punting duties.

by Ren on Apr 29, 2009 12:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

How awesome would it be to have the initials 'DQ'

but yea, if he’s not our punter next year there will be hell to pay

Attn Todd Haley: "DO U WANNA FIGHT ME!?"

by KansasCityShuffle on Apr 29, 2009 1:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

K I'm just gonna say this now

If for some reason we decide to get rid of the best player on our team, Dustin Colquitt, I’m gonna freaking go apeshit on someone and not trust Pioli with any kind of personnel decision again. Colquitt is a classy guy, hard worker, and an excellent punter. Absolutely no reason to get rid of him.

by Vince D on Apr 29, 2009 1:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Not a big deal

they are just looking at players everywhere…

DQ will be the punter…

I do like that Succop can punt and kick… dont’ rule out the possibility of keeping 3 kickers, Barth for FG, Succop for kickoffs and back up both punter and kicker, and Colquitt as punter.

by stagdsp on Apr 29, 2009 1:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

not a chance in hell

You only get 45 active guys on game day. There is no way in hell the Chiefs use 3 of those spots kickers that only get in the game for 4 or 5 plays the whole game. They would have to deactivate the 7th lineman or the 5th DB, or the 5th receiver, or the 5th DT etc…

You don’t deactivate a player that is one injury away from having to be used on 1/2 the snaps the entire game for the luxary of having a 3rd kicker sitting on the bench.

If Succop makes the team it will be because he can fill more than one role. ie kickoffs and field goals, punts and field goals, punts and kickoffs. Otherwise he’s inactive/practice squad material that can be brought up to the active roster in case another kicker is injured. If I were Connar Barth I’d be worried about keeping my job at the moment. He was the second choise last year, and we just spent a draft pick on another field goal kicker.

The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynacism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw

by Texas Chief on Apr 29, 2009 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

sky-is-falling

some of the comments here are really too much. Haley and Pioli have already stated “…..we have a good punter” as in thats the only position where we dont need help. Obviously management recognizes DQ’s good performance!!

However, even if we do have a good punter dont you think it makes good sense to bring in additional young talent. That was the problem with the last management regime….old players were allowed to rest on their laurels, their jobs were always safe and management did not bring in serious young competition until it was way too late.

Beyond that as several people have already said if we need to work out our special teams punt return units (which we clealy do) then who should do all the punting…… we can obviously afford to pay for someone who can do a professional job while not wearing out DQ. And besides we may actually come across another Ray Guy….wouldn’t that be something!!

by BigRedCadillac on Apr 29, 2009 10:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

adding a punter...

Could this simply be a matter of numbers during mini-camps and training camp? I mean, we’re going to look at a zillion returners this year in an attempt to find that missing piece… couldn’t this move simply be a matter of “one punter simply cannot kick that many balls” kind of thing?

by CurtMerzFan on Apr 30, 2009 11:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs