Tag: Kingsley Suamataia

Chiefs HC Andy Reid responds to free agent veteran offensive lineman’s social media post

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid responds to free agent veteran offensive lineman Donovan Smith’s social media post | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Monday during his weekly Zoom press conference. He gave his thoughts on free agent and former Chiefs left tackle Donovan Smith’s social media post, indicating that he’s available if the team needs a veteran offensive tackle.

“Listen, that’s in (Brett) Veach’s area. I mean, he looks at everything. So I’m not going to say no, but what we do as coaches, and we overemphasize, is we’re going to focus on these kids that are here,” said Reid. “They’re getting better. I know it’s hard to see at times, but there’s progress being made, and we’re going to be okay as we go forward.”

Reid continues to support his current young tandem of left tackles who struggled in last Sunday’s victory over the Denver Broncos. Wanya Morris and rookie Kingsley Suamataia have started games and rotated on the offensive line.

Smith was the starting left tackle on last year’s Chiefs Super Bowl-winning team, along with his previous title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. The 31-year-old wasn’t re-signed in the offseason and is still interested in returning to Kansas City if necessary.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid comments on the offensive line’s progress: ‘They’re good players’

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid comments on the offensive line’s progress: ‘They’re good players’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed his offensive line during Wednesday’s press conference, focusing on the game packages featuring extra offensive tackles recently required to be eligible as receivers.

“So, our called player was 64 (Wanya Morris), so we could sub Kingsley (Suamataia) out. When we put Mike (Caliendo) in, and Mike could come in – you have to sub the guy out – the called player,” said Reid. “So, to do what we were trying to do, you had to make that move, but I mean, it shows you the trust that we have in Kingsley, too, because we came in and threw the ball. It didn’t matter what the play was. We have two good young guys. They’re getting better as we go.”

Reid has rarely had an issue regarding his highly praised interior offensive line, as each player is dominant in their roles with All-Pro accolades.

“Well, they’re (Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey, and Joe Thuney) all best buddies; they’re always together. They’re good players, and they work at it. They’ve played together long enough where they kind of know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and cover up the weakness with each other’s strengths.” said Reid. “Again, these challenges that we had – and this week won’t be any different. Their (Denver Broncos) inside guys are great, so it’ll be another big challenge for those inside three to execute. Just like last week was, that was a big challenge. They’re good friends, they spend a lot of time together, they study, they’re smart guys.”

The offensive line’s play has dramatically benefited the running game, as Kansas City remains one of the league’s better-rushing teams. The rotation of running backs due to injury hasn’t affected the on-field production, with Kareem Hunt quickly emerging as a standout in the group this season.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid discusses handling the rookie wall: ‘We try to manage that the best we can’

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid discusses handling the rookie wall: ‘We try to manage that the best we can’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid held his weekly Zoom press conference with reporters on Monday. He revealed his thoughts on dealing with the common rookie wall with this year’s class.

“Yeah, there is a rookie wall that the guys can hit at times. We try to manage that the best we can,” said Reid. “We’ve had pretty good success with it with the young guys where we can kind of get them through that phase, but the guys are – they’re working hard, they’re contributing in the games. Then, we’ll just – as the college season goes on, I’m always – you start getting around that bowl time in there, and guys – that’s when they go, ‘Oh jeez, we still have seven games left or six games left,’ and that’s kind of where you have to look at, but we try to do a good job of working them through all that.”

The Chiefs have had several rookies contribute this season on both sides of the ball. Carson Steele, Kingsley Suamataia, and Xavier Worthy have been featured throughout the season on offense. Christian Roland-Wallace and Jaden Hicks defensively had two crucial interceptions off San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in Sunday’s victory.

Chiefs coaching staff continues to evaluate options at left tackle through bye week

Kansas City #Chiefs coaching staff continues to evaluate options at left tackle through bye week | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid held his first Zoom press conference since the bye week on Monday. He addressed the ongoing battle for the starting left tackle position ahead of the Week 7 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.

“We obviously looked at that, and both of them can do better, and so Wanya (Morris) knows what he’s got to work on, and likewise, Kingsley (Suamataia) does,” said Reid. “We’re lucky to have both the guys, both young guys, and we’re kind of growing with them here. So we’ll just let that process keep rolling.”

Suamataia won the starting left tackle job out of training camp and began the season in that role. He struggled in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals, which led to his benching in the fourth quarter in favor of Morris. The rookie remains highly valued by Reid and the coaching staff but has some things to work on regarding his consistency.

Morris has started the last few games and is used in the occasional big packages with Suamataia. The second-year offensive tackle has also faced criticism for recent penalties as he works on his effectiveness. Both players will likely be interchangeable for the rest of the season, barring any shocking moves at the trade deadline.

Chiefs scouting report: Ohio State Buckeyes OT Josh Simmons

The Kansas City #Chiefs could address their depth at offensive tackle by selecting Ohio State’s Josh Simmons in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs invested plenty of draft picks and free agent money in offensive tackles over the past two years. They shouldn’t stop. Left tackle Jawaan Taylor saw his level of play drop significantly after arriving in Kansas City, and young draft picks Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia aren’t yet starting-caliber linemen.

Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid make the situation work because they’re generational geniuses, but Kansas City can’t rely on that duo to cover for sub-par offensive tackle play forever. The Chiefs should invest more draft picks into developing their offensive line.

Ohio State Buckeyes lineman Josh Simmons started at both left and right tackle in recent years. He is unofficially listed at 6 foot 5 inches tall and 310 pounds and has arms that surpass the league’s thresholds to play offensive tackle. Simmons needs to refine his kick step and slide, but he flashes the explosiveness to handle speedsters and wide-alignment rushers.

Simmons’ lower half has room to fill out, but his upper body pops on tape. He delivers powerful blows in pass protection that stun pass rushers. Simmons’ hands pack the knockback to stall the defender’s rush plan, and his strong arm extensions lock defenders out of his frame.

Defenders struggle to play through Simmons’ frame in the run game. Simmons must play with better balance as a run blocker to sustain his assignments for longer. He stops his feet and lunges sometimes and allows his chest to drift over his feet. Simmons needs to clean up these flaws before entering the NFL.

Ohio State opens its Big Ten conference schedule on Saturday, Sept. 28 against Michigan State at 6:30 p.m CST.

Chiefs OC Matt Nagy comments on starting left tackle changes: ‘Guys are going to have opportunities’

Kansas City #Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy comments on starting left tackle changes: ‘Guys are going to have opportunities’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs consistently switch starting left tackle between Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia. The evenly matched pair has forced the coaches to find creative ways to utilize their strengths.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy addressed the ongoing competition at left tackle with reporters on Thursday.

“Ideally, you’d love for one of those guys just to be able to take over and have it,” said Nagy. “I think the beauty of this is right now, going through that, these guys are going to have opportunities. Wanya (Morris) did a good job last Week; he can continue to improve. Kingsley’s (Suamataia) got to do the same thing. It’s a part of this league.”

The Chiefs have shuffled the two young offensive tackles in and out of the lineup since Week 2. They believe who plays will be determined by the matchup during that game as they await a standout from the duo.

“There’s competition, there’s injuries, so you’ve always got to stay prepared. It’s our job as coaches to make sure we’re developing them Monday through Saturday, throughout the week,” said Nagy. “We can’t just sit there; this is any player, not just O-line. You’ve got to make sure that we’re developing these guys. If they’re not a starter, what are we doing to try to make them a starter?”

The plan from last week will continue into Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers, with both players seeing action.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid reveals plan for Wanya Morris, Kingsley Suamataia at left tackle

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid reveals plan for Wanya Morris, Kingsley Suamataia at left tackle | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive line had a slight shake-up on Sunday night, as Wanya Morris started at left tackle.

During his weekly Monday Zoom press conference, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the ongoing discussions surrounding the starting left tackle spot.

“I thought Wanya (Morris) did some good things in there, so we’ll probably stick with that same thing you saw, where Kingsley (Suamataia) rotated in and played some tight end,” said Reid. “So he was able to get some good reps in there, and then again, one day, had the good reps at the left tackle spot.

As Reid said, Suamataia was used sparingly in big formations, but it isn’t guaranteed that either player will swap for each other if necessary.

“So, do they both have stuff to work on? Yes, so we’ll keep their young guys in a tough position with a tough go here, and they’ve got another good one coming here this week,” said Reid. “So they’ve got a prep for a couple of good ones. So we’ve got to make sure we keep growing. But they’re surely getting tested early.”

The back-and-forth between two talented young players will likely be an ongoing discussion throughout the season.

Ex-Chiefs star breaks down Andy Reid’s decision to bench Kingsley Suamataia

In a post to Twitter, former #Chiefs star Mitchell Schwartz broke down Andy Reid’s decision to bench rookie Kingsley Suamataia.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to face the Atlanta Falcons in a crucial Week 3 matchup on Sunday Night Football with a chance to earn their third win of the regular season.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid made the difficult decision to bench rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia in favor of Wanya Morris for the highly-anticipated game after he struggled against the Cincinnati Bengals last week.

Though Suamataia is expected to get a chance to regain his starting spot, Reid’s decision to play Morris instead of Kansas City’s 2024 second-round pick left some fans reeling.

Former Chiefs star Mitchell Schwartz, who was a lynchpin on Kansas City’s offensive line from 2016 until 2020, took to Twitter to explain what he thinks is going through Reid’s mind and expressed confidence in the long-tenured head coach’s call.

https://twitter.com/MitchSchwartz71/status/1837873175419326746

“It’s an interesting one because it’s not really yes or no. I think Wanya is the better player right now. Usually when you’re deciding between two players, as long as it’s close you’ll go with the young guy because they can learn and improve more than an older player. But Wanya is young too so age becomes less of a factor.

In terms of technique, I think Wanya gets to his spot and uses his outside hand better. You’ll see that in the video I posted. He protects the top of the pocket better than Kingsley right now, which is important for a Left Tackle (duh). Kingsley shows all the ability to do it, if you saw my week 1 breakdowns, but it’s not consistent.

On that note, the other thing is Wanya doesn’t necessarily lose fast. When Kingsley loses right now it’s on initial contact and he’s beat quickly. Tough for the QB when that’s the case, because Pat usually gets the ball out fast, so if you’re giving up multiple pressures and sacks that affect him it’s a big problem.

All that being said: I think it’s the right call for now. Wanya is the better player from what I’ve seen, and they’re both young. Kingsley’s issues are more technique based, so give him some time to work on that in practice while staying ready should an injury occur. Just got to make sure he stays sharp mentally and doesn’t take it too hard.”

Though Schwartz isn’t on the Chiefs’ coaching staff, his insight helped illuminate Reid’s philosophy on the matter and should help fans cope with the idea of benching a highly touted prospect during a primetime matchup.

Stay tuned to Kansas City’s matchup against Atlanta to see if Reid made the right decision to bench Suamataia and start Morris.

Chiefs plan to play multiple left tackles on Sunday night vs. Falcons

Kansas City #Chiefs plan to play multiple left tackles on Sunday night vs. Atlanta #Falcons | @EdEastonJr

The Sunday night matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons will feature a different look for the offense. Following the noticeable struggles at left tackle during last week’s victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, changes are planned for Week 3.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid expressed his plan to play Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris at left tackle vs. The Falcons during Friday’s press conference.

“The two tackles will both have an opportunity to get in there this game. The left tackles,” said Reid, “We’ll see how it goes as we roll. They’re both ready to go.”

Suamataia’s performance heavily influenced the decision. The rookie allowed five total pressures, including two sacks, and drew three flags against the Bengals. Morris replaced the rookie in the fourth quarter.

“In the second half, he (Kingsley Suamataia) had a couple (of) breakdowns in technique, and he had one or two mental errors there,” said offensive line coach Andy Heck on Thursday. “I think it was earlier in the game that those occurred, but stuff that he was able to look at, we’re able to make corrections in our meeting, and stuff he’s working on this week.”

No official word on the number of snaps for each player on Sunday night was available, as the number could be based on initial performances throughout the game.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid reveals reason for benching rookie starter during game vs. Bengals

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid reveals reason for benching rookie Kingsley Suamataia during game vs. Cincinnati #Bengals | @EdEastonJr

On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs’ last-second victory over the Cincinnati Bengals kept the team undefeated in the young season. However, some question marks have emerged from the victory, specifically on the offensive line.

During his Sunday press conference, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed his decision to sit rookie starting left tackle Kingsley Suamataia late in the game.

“Kingsley, he’s going against arguably one of the best defensive ends in the league. It would be a great experience that he could put away and learn from, but I ended up taking him out of the game,” said Reid. “Sometimes you got to take a step back to take a step forward.“

Bengals veteran pass rusher Trey Hendrickson dominated the one-on-one matchup with Suamataia. Reid is optimistic that the experience will help the former BYU stand out in the long term.

“Listen, it’s a great learning experience; sometimes, if you get beat a couple of different times and you’re a young guy, you haven’t quite figured out the answers to the test there on how to fix it,” said Reid. “Your coach talks to you, and you’ve got to settle down. That happens, so you go back, and you learn from it. Wanya will do the same. He did a nice job jumping in there, with the exception of penalties.”

Morris committed a penalty trying to block Hendrickson on the last drive, so it’s not certain that either player will start against the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday night.

“We’ll see how it goes,” said Reid. “I’m gonna go back and look at the tape, and I’ll talk with Coach (Andy) Heck, and we’ll go from there.”