Harrison Butker's key to success is offseason preparation | KCSN Daily 10.13
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For a kicker, the key to having a successful season is getting into the correct mindset in the offseason.
It’s that type of mental and physical preparation in the spring and summer months that has led Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker to have one of his best seasons yet. Through six games, Butker is perfect: 14 for 14 on field goals and 15 for 15 on extra points. One of those field goals was a 60-yarder, which occurred during Kansas City’s Thursday night win over the Denver Broncos.
“It really does start in the offseason developing a good foundation,” Butker said after the game. “If I know where I want my steps to be and I know what I want my technique to look like in the offseason when I get to the season and big kicks, I can get outside my body a little bit and just rely on my mechanics and not have to think a ton and hopefully the balls are going straight through.”
It an opposite start from last year, which was a rough one for Butker. He finished the 2022 regular season with a 75 percent success rate on field goals, the lowest percentage of his career. Much of those struggles can be blamed on an ankle injury Butker sustained in Week 1 of 2022, which threw off his strength and timing for the rest of the year.
“Hurting that ankle last season, it messes up all your lifting, all your sprint work, so when you do come back, you’re struggling to hit the ball as far,” Butker said. “I’m feeling good and thankfully the ball is going through.”
Chiefs vs. Broncos LIVE Postgame Show | Chiefs News, Highlights and MORE
Travis Kelce’s Pitches Have Little Room for Error
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s lateral pitches have become a special part of his game throughout the years. He attempted one on Thursday night with success, pitching it to fellow TE Noah Gray to earn a first down.
But just because it’s a part of his game doesn’t necessarily mean it’s, well, allowed.
“I know he’s definitely not supposed to pitch the ball, that’s the one I know for sure,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said after the game. “We give him freedom, he’s kind of one of those guys you can give freedom because he knows this offense like the back of his hand.”
For those who remember last year, Kelce actually missed one of his teammates on an attempted pitch. But that clearly hasn’t stopped him from doing it again. Kelce just has to make sure that when he does do it, it’s done the right way. Or else.
“It’s just Travis,” Mahomes said. “He knows if he pitches it, it better work because if he doesn’t, coach (Andy) Reid is going to get on his tail.”
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Seth Keysor and Joshua Brisco break down the Kansas City Chiefs Week 6 win over the Denver Broncos and talk about what went right and what went wrong. Later they are joined by Nate Taylor to get his perspective on the Chiefs win from the locker room.
Postgame Injury Report:
“Justin Watson is really the one that got hurt,” coach Reid said after Thursday’s game. “No other guys. Hurt his elbow. We’ll see how he does here. It’s not broken so that’s a positive thing.”
Quick Hits:
Coach Reid explained his reasoning for the questionable fourth-down fake field goal vs. the Broncos.
The Chiefs-Broncos 19-8 final score wasn’t a “Scorigami,” but was something even more rare.
The Broncos released edge rusher Frank Clark: Could a Chiefs reunion be on the way?
“Swifties” were in full force on Twitter/X reacting to the Chiefs’ win over Denver.
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Important Dates Ahead:
Oct. 13: DE Charles Omenihu eligible to return from his six-game suspension
Oct. 22: Chargers at Chiefs - Week 7
Oct. 29: Chiefs at Broncos - Week 8
