Tag: Andy Reid

Chiefs’ abysmal red zone defense a big concern ahead of week 3

The #Chiefs set out to improve their red zone defense this offseason, but so far they haven’t made any headway. | from @TheJohnDillon

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When the Kansas City Chiefs resolved to reload their defense after a heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl LV, the primary focus of the overhaul was an improvement in red-zone situations. They added talent on the defensive line, switched Chris Jones from defensive tackle to the end position and drafted Nick Bolton in hopes of becoming more competitive in crucial situations.

To this point, it hasn’t worked.

Opponents are a perfect eight-for-eight against the Chiefs defense near the goal line, which is good for dead last in the league in red-zone defense. Whether it’s an inability to generate push upfront at the snap, or bad coverage in their secondary when plays break down, Kansas City still has a big problem keeping opponents from scoring in crucial situations.

“Spags [Steve Spagnuolo] spent a lot of time in the offseason with that,” Chiefs HC Andy Reid told reporters on Monday. “We worked it a ton in camp, and we haven’t had the results here. We’ll keep pounding that out until we get it right. It’s one of those things, everything gets magnified when you’re in the red zone, whether it’s good or bad. Even if you’re not tackling in the field, and it doesn’t happen in the red zone, you’re not giving up blocks up the field, then it’s going to get magnified in the red zone. Everything’s a little bit faster and all your strengths and weaknesses get magnified. So, you’ve got to make sure that you kind of get these fundamentals down and take care of it.”

It isn’t time to pull the fire alarm just yet, though. Spagnuolo’s defenses are known for their steady climbs over the course of a season, usually managing to gel best in time for the playoffs.

When Spagnuolo was hired to replace Bob Sutton, fans were ready for the return of the Chiefs’ signature bend-don’t-break defense that characterized the team’s identity in the aughts and early 2010s. That identity hasn’t come to fruition yet this year, but there is still plenty of time for Kansas City to regroup defensively and make major strides against the meat of their 17-game schedule.

Willie Gay Jr. remains on injured reserve, and third-year safety Juan Thornhill is still making his way back to 100-percent after a gruesome knee injury derailed progress made early in his career. Meanwhile, Chiefs’ fourth-year linebacker Ben Niemann has been thrust into a bigger role than might otherwise be necessary, and veteran safety Daniel Sorenson leads the league in missed tackles.

The team’s struggles are by no means a function of one or two players, but getting back to full strength should help them overcome the major obstacles they face on defense. With the return of Gay and hopefully a midseason emergence of Thornhill, the Chiefs’ defense could turn around and become a force to be reckoned with come January, just in time for playoff football.

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Chiefs HC Andy Reid can make NFL history with win vs. Ravens on Sunday

With a win against the #Ravens on Sunday, #Chiefs HC Andy Reid can do something that no other NFL coach has ever done.

Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid is approaching a unique piece of NFL history, something that no other coach has ever accomplished before.

With a win against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Reid can become the first coach in NFL history to reach 100 wins with two separate teams. During Reid’s 14 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, Reid won 140 games. In Year 9 with Kansas City, Reid is knocking on the door with 99 combined regular-season and postseason wins.

“I’ve been around a lot of good people. I’m very fortunate that way,” Reid said on Monday. “I’ve been with two great organizations but, most of all, good people, whether coaches or players. I’m very fortunate that way.”

Reid has certainly been fortunate during his career, but let’s give the coach a little credit here. Winning 100 games with two separate franchises is tough and there’s a reason that no other head coach has achieved that feat before. There’s also a reason why Reid will be the one to own this piece of NFL history.

Reid stuck to his roots as a teacher all these years, keeping his signature creativity as a play-caller. He’s always at the precipice of offensive innovation in the league, putting an unprecedented level of trust in his assistant coaches and his players. For the longest time, Reid was known as the winningest coach to never win a championship, but he managed to get that monkey off his back in Kansas City with Super Bowl LIV. With a little more hard work and some of that good fortune, Reid should have a shot at a few more championships too.

Reid also approaches a regular-season milestone, with 222 career wins. He needs five more wins in order to pass Curly Lambeau for the fifth-most regular-season wins by a head coach in NFL history. If his team continues to play at a high level, he should move up the leaderboard again later this year.

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Chiefs pleased with offensive line’s performance in debut vs. Browns

#Chiefs HC Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes were happy with what they saw from the offensive line in Week 1.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ new-look offensive line was unveiled to the world on Sunday.

They faced the daunting task of going up against one of the strongest defensive line groups in the league. Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney, Malik Jackson and Malik McDowell make up an extremely talented group against the run, but especially so when it comes to rushing the passer.

Speaking to reporters following the game, Andy Reid’s fire-from-the-hip reaction was to say that his group held their own for four quarters on Sunday.

“That’s a good front seven,” Reid said. “I thought they held their own and really did a nice job. To get the run game going like that against that crew I thought was big. We had the one sack at the end, but that shouldn’t ruin the rest of what they did. I was pretty impressed. (Lucas) Niang had probably the toughest job of all of them and he beared down and pushed through. These are young, young guys in there and a veteran group of defensive linemen.”

The Chiefs’ rebuilt offensive line unit allowed 12 pressures as a whole, including two sacks according to PFF. The lone offensive lineman who didn’t allow a single pressure was Chiefs rookie C Creed Humphrey. Tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Lucas Niang both allowed sacks, but even Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes came away impressed with what they accomplished in Week 1.

“Yeah, I thought they did a great job,” Mahomes said. “There were times where I drifted to the back just a bit too far and they were kind of getting those guys around the 10-yard area so I had to step up pretty quickly, but we’ll continue to work on that. They’re doing a great job of being firm in the front and kind of edging those guys so I can still be in the pocket. They did a great job today against like you said a really good defensive line.”

There are still some things that the group can work on in the passing game to help make Mahomes more comfortable in the pocket. There was a decisive effort to work Baltimore’s edge rushers around the arc and provide Mahomes with space to step up in the pocket. Sometimes that was executed flawlessly, other times it looked uncomfortable for the star quarterback. It’s all about finding the right balance there.

One area where it was clear they needed a lot of work was in the running game. Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire managed just 43 yards on 14 attempts. Reid told reporters on Monday that it felt the offensive line needs to have a better idea of what Edwards-Helaire was trying to accomplish on each called running play.

“I thought we came off and had bodies on bodies,” Reid said. “I thought we did a pretty good job with that and then I think we just have to coordinate a little bit more with the line and with the running back and how they’re going about their business together. I think that becomes important. The runners can set things up better or the O-Line needs to have a better idea of what the running back’s trying to get done with his part. I’ve got to make sure I get that straightened out as we go. Between Andy Heck and EB (Eric Bieniemy) and Greg (Lewis), I mean that group right there has a pretty good understanding.”

After the team gets a few kinks worked out, it sounds like this rebuilt unit should be firing on all cylinders in both the running and passing game. Given the difficulty of their early schedule, it’s vital that this unit get off to a solid start.

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Chiefs HC Andy Reid had good reason to sit Tyrann Mathieu, Frank Clark vs. Browns

#Chiefs HC Andy Reid made the decision to sit Tyrann Mathieu and Frank Clark out of an abundance of caution.

There was some optimism that the Kansas City Chiefs would have a full supporting cast heading into the Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns.

Frank Clark had participated in a limited capacity at practice throughout the week. Tyrann Mathieu was activated from the Reserve/COVD-19 list with comments from his coaches about his ability to play without having practiced.

It was a surprise when both star defenders were made inactive for Sunday’s game. There was always a chance that both wouldn’t play, but things seemed to at least be heading in the right direction. Andy Reid explained his decision to hold both players out following the game, saying that he didn’t want either player taking a step backward as they both look to return to the field.

“The guys that missed were Frank Clark—that hamstring just never got all the way back,” Reid explained. “He practiced and he tried—we took him out and tried warming him up and all that, but he just wasn’t quite right, so I held him out.”

Clark has been dealing with a hamstring injury throughout training camp and the fact that it still isn’t 100% right is certainly concerning. Monitor his status ahead of the upcoming game Week 2 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

As for Mathieu, Reid seemed to be interested in protecting him. He was placed on the COVID list on the first of September, so he hadn’t practiced in any capacity for just about two weeks.

“Then, the Badger (Tyrann Mathieu), I held him out,” Reid said. “That was completely me doing that. He wanted to play. Both these guys wanted to play, but I just thought it was the right thing to do. I don’t want to take any steps back and the Badger’s been out for two weeks and it was just best that we went this route.”

Sometimes it’s better to play it cautious with your very best players. The team will undoubtedly need the contributions of both Mathieu and Clark down the line. To the head coach, ensuring that they’ll be available to play in the future was worth sitting them in this game.

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Chiefs HC Andy Reid, QB Patrick Mahomes excited for return of fans in 2021

College football this past weekend has #Chiefs HC Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes excited to see #ChiefsKingdom at Arrowhead Stadium. | from @TheJohnDillon

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Arrowhead Stadium has been known for its raucous atmosphere for decades. The Kansas City Chiefs are ready for the return of fans after the 2020 season saw mostly empty seats due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The artificial crowd noise on the broadcast feed was a poor substitution for the electric sounds of gameday at One Arrowhead Drive last year, stripping the team of their unique competitive advantage when playing at home.

The return of crowds at baseball games this summer has been a welcome sign ahead of football season. With collegiate stadiums filling up as the NCAA re-takes Saturday’s television schedule, the NFL seems especially anticipatory of their chance to play in front of real fans.

In comments to the media on Monday, Andy Reid told reporters that he expects an extra edge from the Chiefs’ faithful this season, saying he and the players are excited to get back to normal.

“I’m probably speaking for all of us that after watching this weekend with the college games, it was pretty amazing,” Reid explained. “I mean it was goosebump-ish so you watch that and the people were into it. I almost felt like they were kind of let out of camps and we have freedom again here that they can go to these games. It was very exciting. I look forward to GEHA Field at Arrowhead being as exciting as it’s been and maybe a little bit more. And I know the players feed off of that too.”

MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes seems to agree with his coach, tweeting on Friday that he too was ready to perform in front of a crowd.

They’ll get their chance soon enough, as Kansas City plays Cleveland this weekend in the Chiefs’ 2021 home opener. The roar of Arrowhead Stadium is sure to have an extra punch behind it against the Browns. After a perfect start in the preseason, the Chiefs should be able to get off to a hot start as they pursue another Super Bowl title.

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4 takeaways from Chiefs HC Andy Reid’s Monday media availability

#Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke to the media on Monday, giving an update on Tyrann Mathieu’s status and more ahead of Week 1.

The Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up for Week 1 of the regular season against the Cleveland Browns. While the players had the day off of practice on Monday after a clutch kick by Harrison Butker, Andy Reid was still in the office working hard. Reid kicked off his weekly media availability on Monday, providing updates on Tyrann Mathieu, rookie LB Nick Bolton and more.

Here are some quick takeaways from what Big Red had to say:

WATCH: Eric Stonestreet returns as Randy Reid, little brother of Chiefs HC Andy Reid

Andy Reid’s long lost brother Randy made an appearance at #Chiefs training camp in August, ruffling feathers in hopes of securing himself a Super Bowl ring. | from @TheJohnDillon

Making his second appearance in a cameo role at Kansas City Chiefs training camp in St. Joseph, Randy Reid took some time away from his jet ski and drone sales business to help the team prepare for their season.

Presumably head coach Andy Reid’s younger brother, Randy is a Chiefs superfan, traveling to camp all the way from Oxnard, California with chile relleno burritos in tow for his big brother. While Andy seemed pleased to reunite with Randy after missing their connection last year due to COVID-19 protocols, the rest of the team wasn’t as enthused.

Randy’s main point of contention in his visit was an effort to get a Super Bowl ring from the 2019 campaign in which he constantly reiterated this year that he was part of the team’s success. General manager Brett Veach made his feelings on the subject known, rebuffing him in no uncertain terms.

“Give Randy a ring?” Veach said, fuming after the younger Reid’s antics in practice, “I’d like to wring his neck.”

Perhaps Randy Reid is the Chiefs’ lucky charm, but coaches and players were clearly taken aback by his presence at camp. Between constant drone flights, towel snaps, and unwarranted pointers given by Randy during practice, it seems Andy might’ve needed to reign him in a bit before his distraction caused a scene.

As Kansas City’s regular season opener approaches, Randy Reid could make appearances later in the team’s schedule. Actor Eric Stonestreet, the man behind the (fake) mustache, is a Chiefs fanatic and a Kansas City native, so his attendance to the new GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is sure to provide ample opportunity for more hijinks and buffoonery, especially with a more lax COVID-19 protocol in place this year.

The video above is his first appearance with the team since 2019, and signals that his saga is still just beginning. Could Randy Reid be the Chiefs’ breakout star in 2021?

Jody Fortson expresses gratitude after making Chiefs’ initial 53-man roster

On Tuesday, #Chiefs TE Jody Fortson was excited to learn he’d made the 53-man roster, but he knows the work isn’t finished. | from @EdEastonJr

The final day of roster decisions before teams around the league is stressful and emotional. It’s a day that hasn’t been too kind to Kansas City Chiefs TE Jody Fortson in the past.

With a smile, Fortson had a reason to walk away from today happy as he finally earned a roster spot with the Chiefs this season. Only a season ago, Fortson played well during training camp but failed to make the final cut as a wide receiver. The position switch to tight end hasn’t been easy, but it readjusted his mindset and helped him make the 53-man roster, as he explained during Tuesday’s press conference.

“God is good, man. I know,” said Fortson trying to hide a proud smile. “I put a lot of time into this and it was a lot of days that I thought that this wouldn’t come, but I just stayed true to it and I just kept working. And here we are. I just know, I know, there’s so much more work to do. But I was told to take my small victories as well and cherish them. So it’s just it’s been a long road, though. A long road.”

At 6-foot-6 and over 230 pounds, Fortson has excelled at the tight end position faster than most players that have played the position years longer. The problem’s that he’s already presented for opposing defenses in the preseason gave Kansas City another weapon in their arsenal. Fortson, however, is open to wearing many different hats while on the field to help the team.

“Um, I think I could play both positions, several of them,” said Fortson. “I don’t think I’m better suited at either one. But I do know that me being in a box closer to those linebackers and the safeties creates a bigger mismatch. That’s what I do know. I feel like, if they need me to play long snapper, I can go out there and do it. Like I feel like wherever they need me to play is where I’m gonna be at. I feel like there’s nothing I can’t do. So, yes, I could step outside and go play x or play z. Step in the slot. I feel like you could put me anywhere.”

Playing multiple positions is not an easy skill to find in the NFL but is valuable for coaching playbooks. Regarding drawing up unique sets, there aren’t many better than Chiefs head coach Andy Reid who shared his thoughts on Fortson making the team.

“He busts his tail,” Chiefs HC Andy Reid said on Tuesday. “He’s earned the right to make that cut. It’s been his attitude all the way through, just a positive attitude and fighting for a spot. That’s been the one common denominator that got him to this point — a matter of becoming more consistent, growing in the size part of it. Remember, he was a college quarterback, then a receiver, then a tight end. So, he’s gone through a gambit of positions there.”

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Chiefs HC Andy Reid turns attention to Browns after preseason Week 3 win

With the preseason in the books, #Chiefs HC Andy Reid is turning his attention to the season opener against the #Browns. | from @TheJohnDillon

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The Kansas City Chiefs’ perfect preseason was headlined by stellar play by several young players that has set the table for the team to pursue another championship. Guys like Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey, Lucas Niang and Willie Gay Jr. have brought a new vitality to Kansas City, as their identity has shifted following their Super Bowl loss in February.

First and second-year talent is supremely valuable for teams on the cusp of a ring because of the lower salaries associated with rookie contracts. For Andy Reid, the shift toward a youth movement, especially on the offensive line and across the defense is a break from tradition from his first seven years with the Chiefs. Usually, one to lean on veterans, notoriously wary of relying on younger players to carry his teams, Reid seems to have embraced the greener crowd in 2021.

Following the Chiefs’ win against Minnesota, Reid spoke to the media post-game, telling reporters that the front office had their work cut out for them after a solid team showing in all three preseason games.

“I thought both sides of the ball and special teams did well,” Reid said of his team, “It was good to get the young guys in—they had some extended play there and I thought that was good for them. It gives Brett (Veach) an opportunity to go back and evaluate one more time some of those guys that he’s got tough decisions on. But I sure appreciated their effort.”

For now, Reid said the team will spend some time away from the facilities as they assemble the final roster. It’ll be a short respite before preparation begins for the Week 1 tilt with the Cleveland Browns, it will certainly be a crucial couple of days.

“We’ll take a couple of days off here for the players,” Reid told reporters, “It will give Brett (Veach) time to organize and get ready. We’ll come back in a couple days and have a short practice, a lift and a workout. Then, we’ll have three practices and they get three days off at the end of it—everybody in the league does—so that’s kind of the format of it.”

Asked if he was concerned about the effect on Kansas City’s preparation with the extra bye before the regular season officially starts, Reid seemed hopeful that the Chiefs would be able to carry the momentum gained from their preseason victories through the next couple of weeks.

“We’ll be all right,” Reid said of the extra break. “The guys will have good energy. They finished here with that and they know they’ve got a good football team coming in here in Cleveland, so you don’t have to say a whole lot. They know what’s ahead of them.”

His supreme optimism in the team points to a level of trust in his players that feels somewhat unnatural for such a young group. With two rookies on an offensive line featuring new starters at all five positions and young players scattered throughout the defense, all eyes are on Reid to bring the whole squad together to get off to a hot start in September. If he can harness the talent of players still coming into their prime on cheap rookie or minimum contracts, Kansas City’s ascension to dynasty status could be on a fast track with good results this season.

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Chiefs’ Andy Reid explains how many roster spots are still up for grabs

With only a few spots still up for grabs, the #Chiefs are going to have some tough roster decisions to make after preseason Week 3.

After consecutive Super Bowl appearances, this Kansas City Chiefs roster is perhaps as competitive as it has ever been.

While those at the top of the roster are certainly secure, the depth below has just one more opportunity to make an impression on the front office and coaching staff. When asked about how many spots are realistically still up for grabs, Chiefs HC Andy Reid didn’t hold out.

“There are a few spots that we’ve got to look at,” Reid explained.

Which positions could those few spots be, though? If you’ve been following along this preseason, you’ve seen competitive depth flash at nearly every position. Quarterback, running back, tight end, wide receiver, defensive line, linebacker, cornerback and more.

The one thing the Chiefs want to do is ensure that they’re keeping the very best players, in some cases regardless of numbers.

“There are a couple of spots that we have questions on, but (Brett) Veach has done a nice job of bringing in great competition,” Reid explained. “So, we’ve got to make some decisions in certain areas, and maybe we keep a guy here or there that we normally wouldn’t keep at a position and have a little bit of an overload because he’s been a good player.”

Something that may influence the decisions to come is special teams. The more you’re able to do, the more valuable you are for this football club. If the Chiefs are considering “an overload” at a position, tight end, for example. It pays that someone like Jody Fortson has been a standout on special teams. Some players will even make the team purely because of their special teams performances.

“It’s important from this standpoint that you always have two or three guys that make it on their special teams play,” Reid added. “So there are spots there.”

But how much will preseason Week 3 count for players looking to secure a roster spot? As Eric Bieniemy said recently, every day you’re in the building is a job interview.

“This game will help us sort it out, but it’s just part of it,” Reid concluded.

The tilt with the Minnesota Vikings will be just one piece of the puzzle. It’s easy to dismiss it as unimportant with 53-man roster cuts near. A good performance, however, also serves as a prominent reminder of everything that any particular player has accomplished this offseason.

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