Meet The Gang, Part 1: David Toub

 Clarke Hunt knows this league well. He knows the fast-paced and ruthless nature of the NFL, and he's reacting to it with impressive panache and decisiveness. With Reid and Dorsey's input, the Chiefs have hired new coordinators for the offense, defense and special teams, as well as two new offensive line coaches. Talk about clearing house, wow. These are a lot of changes to analyze. Let's get started today with a hire that may go under the radar, but may also be the upgrade that takes KC to the playoffs.

On the 15th, the Chiefs took another step in the rebuilding process by hiring Dave Toub as their new special teams coordinator. Toub had an impressive run with the same job in Chicago, where his group led the league in kick return TDs and total return yardage. This move reunites Dave with Andy Reid, who spent two years with Toub in Missouri and three more with him in Philadelphia.

Toub began his coaching career as a graduate assisant at the University of Texas El-Paso and immediately earned a job there as the strength and conditioning coach. Dave then spent nine years at a similar position with the University of Missouri, where he and Andy Reid first met. Reid then hired Dave on to his staff in Philly in 2001, reuniting Toub not only with Andy, but also with the team that selected him in the 9th round of the '85 draft as an offensive lineman. In 2004, Lovie Smith hired Toub to take control of the special teams in Chicago. Dave's contract was meant to retain him through the 2013 season, but Bears GM Phil Emery allowed him to interview with other teams. Sources from the Chicago Tribune explain that Toub didn't wish to work under a new coach while competing with him for the head coaching position.

At a glance, the statistics might make this look like a lateral move. After all, the Chiefs ranked in the top ten for kickoff and punt returns for the past five years, and two of those years they ranked higher than Toub's Bears. But, if you look closer, it becomes clear that this hire marks a significant improvement. During Toub's 9 year tenure in Chicago, the Bears totaled 19 return TDs, averaging 2.1 per season. During the same time, the Chiefs averaged only 0.67 returns per year, managing to score only 6 return touchdowns under 4 different special teams coaches. The Bears ran back 11 TDs in two years, from '06 to '07. The Chiefs haven't returned a punt or a kickoff for a score since September 13, 2010.

Maybe Toub can turn McCluster or Wylie or somebody into the next Devin Hester, maybe he can't. Either way, he brings consistency to a job where the talent is already established. All the tools are there, with all these young, athletic special teams guys, to bring back the X-Factor this team hasn't had since the times of Dante Hall. That's something for which we can all be truly excited.