Chiefs look to iron out kicking game after missed field goals against Raiders

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said rookie kicker Cairo Santos’ two missed field goals in the team’s 31-13 win over the Oakland Raiders weren’t just on Santos.

“We’ve got to get that snap, hold, kick, that whole thing working a little smoother than what it is right now,” Reid said. “We were off just a tad and we have to get that thing back on track. That was (Sunday). That’s not necessarily the way it’s been every kick.”

Reid said kicking field goals is a three-part process.

“You’ve got the snapper, who you’ve got to stay accurate with that and you’ve got to be consistent with it,” Reid said. “You’ve got the holding phase of it. That’s who you’re asking to place it and do that accurately. And then you’ve got the kicker that’s got to work through a certain rhythm.

“As the snapper and the holder, you want to make sure you keep the kicker in rhythm and not allow that to be altered at all, and then that kicker knows that not everyone is going to be perfect and he’s got to still strike the ball if it gets off rhythm a bit.”

Reid said he still trusts Santos, who is now 17 for 21 on field goals on the season.

“He’s done well this year, and he had a couple good kickoffs, too (Sunday),” Reid said.

This story was originally published December 16, 2014 at 1:33 PM with the headline "Chiefs look to iron out kicking game after missed field goals against Raiders."