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KC Chiefs: De’Anthony Thomas And The X-Factor

By Alec Tilson

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The Kansas City Chiefs open the 2015 regular season against the Houston Texans tomorrow, and the smallest man on the field looks to make a big difference this season.

KC Chiefs wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas has long drawn comparisons to Chiefs’ great Dante Hall. Naturally.

It seems like just a convenient comparison, but this one might have some legs.

Turns out Dante Hall, the human joystick, the X-Factor, one of the greatest return men in NFL history, thinks the comparison works, too.

Hall likes what he sees in Thomas, according to KCChiefs.com:

"“I absolutely see myself in him,” Hall recently said of Thomas. “I’ve been a fan of De’Anthony Thomas since he was at Oregon. Just the speed that he has, the effortlessness way he runs is what amazes me. I definitely see myself.“He’s a little guy like me and he may be faster than me. We may have to race to see if that’s true.”"

The comparison works but they’re two have completely different styles.

Thomas, on the other hand, is a true track star. Long, effortless, light-as-a-feather strides. Top-end speed. Usain Bolt minus 8 inches and 30 pounds.

On a straight line, I’ll give it to him: De’Anthony Thomas is faster than Dante Hall.

But in traffic? No chance.

Dante Hall’s center of gravity was too low and his feet too choppy. He was one-of-a-kind with bodies flying around him. He could make three guys miss in phone booth.

Thomas, on the other hand, is a true track star. Long, effortless, light-as-a-feather strides. Top-end speed. Usain Bolt minus 8 inches and 30 pounds. A Track & Field All-American at Oregon.

If he finds a seam, there’s no one in the NFL that will catch him from behind.

The Chiefs will need DAT to bring that same X-factor, home-run ability throughout the season.

It’s a long season too. Sixteen games is a marathon. If Thomas can break a punt return here, and four weeks later break another one there, he could really give the Chiefs a special teams edge that can break another team’s back.

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The NFL record for punt return touchdowns in a single season is four, most recently done by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson in 2011. (Via Pro-Football-Reference)

Now, punt returning is less about hitting the home run and more about fielding the punt, holding on to the ball and getting positive field-position yards.

That’s what Hall was so good at. And that’s all that Thomas needs to be focused on.

When you can add home-run talent on top of that, it’s never a bad thing.

It looks like Knile Davis will continue to handle kick return duties, and the Black Mamba will handle punts.

If Thomas can provide a Dante Hall-like special teams spark on top of catching passes in the offense, he will be a serious weapon for the Kansas City Chiefs this season.

How do you think De’Anthony Thomas compares to Dante Hall?

Next: NEXT: What To Expect From Jamaal Charles In 2015

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