Why did Kansas City Chiefs attempt fake field goal? Special teams coach explains

Dave Toub took a few steps into the Chiefs media room Thursday, then jokingly retreated toward a backdrop once seeing reporters.

“Is this the firing squad?” Toub said with a half-smile.

The Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator knew the difficult questions were coming — and rightfully so.

During his 10 seasons with KC, Toub’s special teams unit has often been a strength. That wasn’t the case Sunday, when one could easily argue the Chiefs’ special teams lost them the game in a 20-17 road defeat against the Indianapolis Colts.

ESPN’s numbers provide evidence, as its version of “expected points added” ranked this as the Chiefs’ second-worst special teams effort in Toub’s 164 games with KC.

“It was a rare game,” Toub said. “It’s something that obviously we don’t want to have happen, but usually a bad play, you can follow it up with some good plays.”

Toub then referenced recent Chiefs playoff games. There have been times when special teams opened with two poor snaps before responding with three good ones to reverse momentum.

“That’s what we were expecting,” Toub said. “The thing about our guys, there’s a lot of pride in that room. And I know they’re gonna respond the right way.”

Toub, on Thursday, still faced many questions about decisions from Sunday.

Many centered around a costly fake field goal at the start of the fourth quarter with the Chiefs leading 17-13. On fourth-and-11, the Chiefs had holder Tommy Townsend try a pass to tight end Noah Gray instead of having kicker Matt Ammendola go for a 41-yard attempt.

Toub took responsibility for the call, saying he suggested it to coach Andy Reid. While Ammendola’s struggles were a minor factor, Toub said the most significant part of the fake was the Chiefs believing they’d seen something from film study.

“I don’t run fakes like every game. There’s a lot of thought that goes into it, a lot of tape watch,” Toub said. “We felt like we could get it, and if he (Gray) would have gotten the ball earlier, he might have had a shot. If the ball would have came right out of Tommy’s hand, we might have had it.”

The Chiefs also had an ineligible man downfield penalty, which meant the play could’ve been negated even if it gained 11 yards. Toub put that culpability on himself.

“That was something that — the detail — that was my fault. Calling it, it’s my fault. I’ll take full responsibility for both of those,” Toub said. “But when we call one, it’s because there’s a lot of study involved. It’s not just something that gets called for the situation in the game.”

Toub also credited Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke, who read the fake quickly and covered Gray, which caused Townsend to hesitate before he threw the incomplete pass. Toub reiterated that he suggested the fake field goal call before the snap.

“That’s on me. That’s the way I look at it,” Toub said. “Coach (Reid) will take responsibility for everything, but I’m telling you right now, I can take full blame on this one.”

Another costly miscue came on the Colts’ opening punt.

Following an Indianapolis three-and-out to start the game, Chiefs rookie Skyy Moore muffed a punt that the Colts recovered at the Chiefs 4-yard line. Three plays later, the Colts completed a one-yard touchdown pass to take an early 7-0 lead.

Toub said the sunlight, wind and Lucas Oil Stadium’s open roof did not play a part in Moore’s gaffe.

“It was just a left-footed punter in a live situation. We don’t have a left-footed punter that we practice all the time,” Toub said. “I’m not trying to make all the excuses for him, but it was a little bit of a bad ball read, and it kind of turned away from him a little bit late.”

Moore called for a fair catch on that play, and Toub said once that happens, Moore needs to block out distractions and have the mentality that it’s only him and the ball.

Toub said Mecole Hardman remains an option at punt returner for the Chiefs, but the team wants to continue to develop Moore at that spot.

“Skyy is a guy that I really believe will be a good punt returner. We’re sticking with Skyy. We like Skyy,” Toub said. “If you noticed, he finished with a 12-yard return. He wants to do it. He’s not hiding from it. He wants to be the guy. He made a mistake. Mistakes happen with young players.”

Moore has had to learn the skill quickly at the pro level, as he did not return punts in college. He’s averaged 7.4 yards on his eight punt returns this season.

Toub said that even after the fumble, Moore seemed to remain confident, readying himself on Colts’ third downs to go back in for the next punt return.

“Coach sticks with guys. I stick with guys. They make mistakes. We’re coaches. We’ve got to get them better. That’s our job,” Toub said. “And I really believe that he is going to be a really good punt returner in this league.”

Even following a mistake-filled Sunday, Toub made clear he was not planning to change his attacking mentality. That identity, he said, will continue to be a part of the Chiefs’ special teams.

“I’m not a conservative guy. I’m an aggressive play-caller. I’m aggressive with returns. We’re going to come out when it’s close to the goal line. We’re going to do that. We’re going to take shots on goal. And I think that works to our advantage,” Toub said. “Teams know that we’re going to be aggressive, and that’s the way we’re always going to be as long as I’m here.”