Tag: Justin Reid

Safety Justin Reid breaks down strengths of Chiefs’ young secondary

Justin Reid shared his thoughts on the youngest members of the #Chiefs’ secondary after practice on Sunday.

Veteran safety Justin Reid is one of the most senior players on the Kansas City Chiefs defense and seems primed for a huge 2023 campaign as the team looks to defend its newly won Super Bowl title. He will be tasked with leading a secondary that is chock-full of youthful talent that has the potential to blossom into a valuable asset for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Asked for his assessment of the younger defensive backs on Kansas City’s roster after practice on Sunday, Reid went in-depth on each of the team’s first and second-year players.

“I’m going to start with the second-year players, start with my partner in crime Bryan Cook. I mean [the] guy is a baller, very cerebral player, probably the loudest communicator on the defense out of the DBs,” Reid explained. “You love to have that – a vocal guy that’s confident in the back end. All the young guys – Trent McDuffie, Jaylen (Watson), J-Will (Joshua Williams), Nazeeh Johnson all (are) doing an amazing job.

“The [first-year] young guys coming in Isaiah [Norman], Ekow [Boye-Doe]. These guys, they have their ears wide open. They’re humble, they’re willing to learn. Spags’ [Steve Spagnuolo] system is not easy but they’re willing to put in the work and we have good veterans in the room willing to lead them along and teach them.”

Watch for Reid to continue mentoring these players as training camp moves along, especially Bryan Cook, who the veteran seems to have taken under his wing in the early phase of the new season. With his help, the Chiefs’ up-and-coming secondary could prove to be among the NFL’s best by the end of their 2023 campaign.

Chiefs safety Justin Reid is adopting a ‘John Wick’ mentality for 2023 season

Kansas City #Chiefs safety Justin Reid is adopting a ‘John Wick’ mentality this season after feeling overlooked by critics. | from: @EdEastonJr

The offseason is over for the Kansas City Chiefs as training camp is officially underway on the campus of Missouri Western State University. Some players are still working to get back into shape physically and mentally before the start of the regular season, while others have already achieved their ideal physique ahead of the 2023 season.

One such player in the latter category is starting safety Justin Reid, whose offseason training regimen has put him in a position to play with an extra edge during the Chiefs’ new campaign. He told reporters about the fruits of his labor after practice on Sunday, making it clear that he feels primed for an excellent season.

“[I am] extremely confident,” Reid said. “I’ve been working heavy all offseason. I was out here working every day. I didn’t realize that I put on ten pounds of muscle, but I did, and I’m like 217, about 5 percent body fat, but I don’t feel like it. I still feel like I’m 205.”

He went on to describe his training methods to those of action movie hero John Wick, who is portrayed by actor Keanu Reeves in a film series of the same name.

“I was working like Keanu Reeves, you know, John Wick. It’s just assassin mentality, I feel really good out here,” Reid joked. “I’m confident that I know the playbook inside and out, and I’m not out there thinking, I’m just out there playing. I’m excited about what I’m going to be able to do to contribute to this defense and truly dominate this year and finally get some recognition and respect that I’ve been able to get.”

The playful comparison to the iconic movie character was a genuine example of the seriousness Reid takes in his abilities this upcoming season.

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Ranking the safety tandems in the AFC West

How does each AFC West team compare at the safety position?

The final position on the defense that gets a look is the safety spot. And the AFC West has two of the best in the league in its ranks.

Chiefs safety Justin Reid praises fans for elevating training camp experience

Chiefs safety Justin Reid told reporters that Kansas City’s fans elevate the experience at practice in St. Joseph. | From @EdEastonJr

The veterans and rookies are finally together on the field for the Kansas City Chiefs, as the first full practice is in the books. The Missouri Western State University campus is officially the epicenter of “Chiefs Kingdom”, with fans allowed to witness the team take the field for the first time together ahead of the 2023 season on at their Sunday practice session.

The Chiefs’ triumphant return to St. Joseph, Missouri was welcome for safety Justin Reid, who is entering his second season in Kansas City after winning the Super Bowl last year.

Reid was a consistent part of the team’s secondary last season, excelling in a leadership role as one of the only unit’s only veterans, surrounded by younger teammates. He told reporters after workouts concluded on Sunday that the training camp experience plays a huge part in forming bonds that make success like the team found last year possible.

“I think this is where the chemistry comes in. I mean, one of the things that makes the Chiefs so fun to watch is you see the personalities and how the whole team gets along with each other,” Reid explained. “Training camp is a big part of that because we’ve come here, it’s kind of like college. We’re in dormitories together. We’re hanging out all day. You get to know your teammates. We have a lot of fun together. You build those relationships.”

Sunday marked the first full team practice of training camp, allowing fans to cheer their favorite players publicly. Reid noted the importance of having fan support during camp on the team’s morale.

“We love having them there, man I mean, Chiefs Kingdom is international,” He said of the fans’ presence. “It’s amazing here. They bring energy to the guys on the field; they make this a lot of fun. Otherwise, Andy Reid’s camps are no joke. And you know, they make it a lot more bearable to come out here and see them cheer and smile and makes it a lot of fun.”

The Chiefs will be looking to keep the positive vibes going throughout camp and continue putting on a show for the many fans in attendance.

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Mike Edwards impressed with Bryan Cook’s mastery of Chiefs’ defense

Mike Edwards told reporters that #Chiefs second-year safety Bryan Cook “looks like a vet” and “is making all of the calls” in the secondary. | from @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff will evaluate every position during their stay at the Missouri Western State University. The questions in the secondary will need answers immediately for Steve Spagnuolo’s young and athletic defense.

The Chiefs are taking a significant look at their depth at defensive back, most notably the safety positions. The unit performed well last season but will enter 2023 without former starter Juan Thornhill, who departed for the Cleveland Browns this offseason.

Veteran safety Mike Edwards signed with Kansas City after spending four years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Edwards was a member of the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV team that defeated the Chiefs in 2020. He finished last season with two interceptions in 13 games, one of which was a pick-six.

He spoke with reporters on Thursday about his new teammates and praised second-year player Bryan Cook.

“Yeah, they’re real smart,” said Edwards. “Like I said, J. Reid (Justin Reid) has been in the league for a long time. He’s, you know, the veteran guy out there. So I learn from him. And Bryan (Cook), ‘Big Cookie,’ he didn’t look like he was a rookie last year. He looks phenomenal. He’s making all the calls back there and looks like a vet out there. So my guy, you know, me and him from Cincinnati, so we’ve got our Cincinnati ties. So, gotta love him. We’re doing good back there.”

Cook appeared in 16 games as a rookie last season, playing 32% of the team’s defensive snaps. During that span, he recorded 33 total tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and two passes defended.

While Edwards didn’t get a chance to see Cook play up close in 2022, it’s certainly a compliment to say that he doesn’t look like a second-year player and commands the defense like a veteran.

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Chiefs S Justin Reid feels slighted by ‘Madden NFL 24’ player rating

#Chiefs S Justin Reid took to Twitter to voice his displeasure over his #Madden24 overall rating.

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Justin Reid received some extra motivation just days before he heads to his second Kansas City Chiefs training camp at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri.

On Monday, EA Sports revealed player ratings for all safeties in the upcoming “Madden NFL 24” video game. The Chiefs had no players in the top 10 and no players exceeding an 81 overall rating. For those who don’t play the game, that’s just above the average player rating.

Reid was atop the list for the Chiefs with an 81 overall rating, but he wasn’t too pleased with it or the sub-ratings that built up to it. He took to Twitter to express his displeasure over his ratings.

He cited his PFF grades to end the 2022 NFL season and his coverage ability as one reason the ratings on “Madden NFL 24” should be higher.

He also complained about his kick power (92) after he filled in for Harrison Butker as the team’s emergency kicker when Butker went down with an injury.

The 26-year-old has put on some good weight this offseason, stating that he’s the “biggest, strongest, fastest and most technical” he’s been during his NFL career.

We wondered if he could establish himself as one of the best safeties in the NFL after he was left off Touchdown Wire’s top 11 list. He’s in the second year in the Chiefs’ system, which should prove beneficial in 2023. He’ll have command of the defense and be able to play quicker without thinking quite as much.

It’s clear, however, that Reid feels slighted by his rating. The best way to change public perception is to have a standout season during the team’s Super Bowl title defense.

This should serve as a swift reminder of what Reid has been working toward this offseason.

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Chiefs S Bryan Cook candidate for second-year jump in 2023

Our @LazarczykLogan believes #Chiefs S Bryan Cook is poised for second-year jump in 2023.

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Drafting and developing players will be key to the Kansas City Chiefs’ future with QB Patrick Mahomes taking up a substantial part of the salary cap for the foreseeable future.

One area where the team has a lot of cheap and young talent is in the secondary. Bryan Cook will be one of the young players in contention to see his role and production increase compared to his rookie season. The second-round draft pick out of Cincinnati gained a good amount of experience last season, playing in multiple roles throughout the course of the season.

More particularly, Cook lined up almost three times more often at free safety than in the box. With the departure of Juan Thornhill, Cook will likely step into the starting lineup at free safety. Thornhill lined up at free safety over 800 times last season for Kansas City. That paired with fellow S Justin Reid noticeably bulking up, it is very plausible that Reid plays more at strong safety than he did a season ago.

Not only have circumstances surrounding other players opened up opportunities, but Cook’s play down the stretch proved he can play a major part in this defense.

Tackling was a strength of Cook’s in college, which translated over to the NFL. He wasn’t able to show it due to limited snaps in the first few weeks of the season, paired with the learning curve for a rookie. However, after those early games, the Cincinnati product’s game would sharpen all around in the playoffs.

The second-year safety had his best game in the AFC Championship Game against the Bengals. Not only was he stellar in the tackling department, but Cook made a great play on a pass from Joe Burrow. After providing the necessary help over the top, Cook tipped an attempted pass for Tee Higgins, leading to an interception by CB Joshua Williams. He proved that he was capable in the most important game of the season to that point. The performance also came against one of the best WR tandems in the league.  It certainly provides optimism for the secondary’s future.

Finally, Cook has a certain level of confidence about him. It’s something that his teammates and coaches both have noticed. That confidence in his assignments should allow him to play faster and make fewer mistakes during the course of the 2023 NFL season.

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Can Chiefs’ Justin Reid establish himself as one of NFL’s best safeties in 2023?

Our @goldmctNFL ponders whether #Chiefs S Justin Reid can put himself in the conversation for the league’s best safety in 2023:

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Kansas City Chiefs S Justin Reid is entering his sixth NFL season, but he has rarely seen his name mentioned among the league’s best safeties. He didn’t make the cut in Touchdown Wire’s list of the 11 best at his position heading into the 2023 NFL season. Can he manage to change the narrative surrounding his play in 2023?

Typically, there are questions about motivation after a player wins a Super Bowl ring, but Reid seems motivated as ever to make the upcoming season his greatest yet. He’s spent the offseason getting bigger, stronger and faster, preparing himself for the team’s Super Bowl title defense.

The upcoming season will mark Reid’s second season in Kansas City, but it won’t be without changes. His running mate in the defensive back-end from a season ago, Juan Thornhill, joined the Cleveland Browns during the offseason.

Even with the personnel change, Reid told reporters he’s feeling much more confident in his own role and executing the defense than he did a season ago.

“The confidence,” Reid told reporters during OTAs. “I see myself as a play-caller on defense. I enjoy the X’s and O’s, the checks, really getting everybody situated and put in the best position. Then playing different roles, from strong safety to free safety to dime linebacker to sometimes kicker. Having confidence in those roles and not having to be out there and think, just being able to play as offenses make shifts and make adjustments rapidly, to play fast at that point, you really start to take the game to a new level. I think, in the second half of the year, you started seeing that. I’m planning to continue that progression this year.”

What exactly would progression from last year look like for Reid? He finished last season with 103 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, 5 QB hits and eight passes defended (regular season and playoffs combined). He also allowed 46 receptions on 65 targets for over 400 yards and three touchdowns according to PFF. Those numbers would certainly have to improve if he’s to be recognized as one of the league’s best.

With another year under his belt in Steve Spagnuolo’s system for himself and other defenders in the secondary, his job should get markedly easier. He’ll be doing less thinking and be able to react to what he’s seeing on the field with greater conviction. That alone should leave to tangible improvements during the 2023 NFL season.

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Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo says secondary is ‘light-years ahead’ of last season

Based on recent comments from #Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo, the secondary is looking primed for another step forward in 2023. | from @LazarczykLogan

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The Kansas City Chiefs completed their second week of OTAs on Thursday, and DC Steve Spagnuolo highlighted the growth of the secondary.

In 2022, the Chiefs added a number of rookies and new veterans, featuring players like Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson and Justin Reid. Heading into 2023, it seems that group of players has a much better grasp of the system than they had during their championship season.

“I sat somewhere with them a week ago, and they’re like light-years ahead, and they feel it, it’s different, they are confident,” Spagnuolo said. “The first day we went out there for a walkthrough, the communication — and I’m including Justin Reid in that because last year was all new for him too, even though he was a vet the system was new. And those guys, from a verbal and being kind of tied into that standpoint, they were just gelling.”

When talking about the top corner on the team, the two names that pop up are L’Jarius Sneed and Trent McDuffie. Spagnuolo spoke about how he would like to utilize those two players in 2023, and how one of them may need to play in the slot until another cornerback steps up at that position.

“We would never give up on always having Trent (McDuffie and (L’Jarius Sneed) ready to play in (the slot) there. I don’t think that will change,” Spagnuolo said. “I’d love for another guy to surface, so when we want to keep LJ and Trent outside, somebody can go in there.”

Bryan Cook was another rookie that came in and made an impact during his first year in the NFL. Spagnuolo sees Cook’s leadership from last season carrying over to this season with the departure of Juan Thornhill.

“Bryan (Cook) is one of those guys that is a bold, vocal guy. Even last year, as a young guy a year ago, I was impressed with how bold he was,” Spagnuolo said. “Some of these guys come in, and they’re in a position where they have to communicate, and they don’t want to make a mistake, so they whisper it. But the guys who blurt it out, whether they are wrong, whether they are right, I like those guys. Cook was like that last year, and he has carried that into this year.”

As small as it sounds, confidence is one of, if not the biggest keys to a player having success. These rookies came in last year with no idea how walkthroughs, practices, meetings, etc. would go. Yet, they contributed to a Super Bowl-winning season in Kansas City, learning an entirely new system in the process.

This offseason, those players have the experience to come in and feel more confident of themselves in drills and practices. Those small details are monumental to carry over into live-game action set to come when the preseason kicks off in August.

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3 reasons why Chiefs’ defense could be a top-10 unit in 2023

Here are the three reasons why the #Chiefs defense will be a top-10 unit in 2023:

During Patrick Mahomes’ time as the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, the defense has always been a question mark heading into the season. However, entering the 2023 season, Kansas City could have a defensive unit that is flying a bit under the radar.

In 2022, Kansas City’s defense featured six rookies that played significant snaps in the regular season and playoffs. Those players include Trent McDuffie, George Karlaftis, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson, Bryan Cook, and Leo Chenal. That’s what is so exciting about the potential of this defense in 2023. Yes, the players are still very young, but the experience these players went through on a Super Bowl run will have them more prepared this time around. In addition, there are veteran players on the defense that should continue to elevate the young players around them. 

There are a few reasons why this defense can take substantial steps in the upcoming season.