meanwhile, because the bills had so many injuries by this point, the coaches asked for volunteers to cover the kickoff. as a result, numerous regular defensive starters, including outside linebacker sam rogers, were in the game to cover the kickoff. this gave the bills' special teams unit players with more nfl experience than the average special teams unit, but because many of the bills covering the kick were not regular special teams players, it also gave the bills a particular disadvantage in terms of actual special teams experience. initially, the bills planned on kicking the ball deep, but then bruce dehaven suggested that the bills attempt a pooch, or bloop kick, where the ball goes higher and shorter than a regular kickoff to limit the opportunity for a runback. this added a unique twist to the play. when practicing the "home run throwback," the titans always practiced against a regular kickoff or a squib kick. thus, they would be forced to improvise with what they knew about the play's execution.