Tag: Steve Spagnuolo

Chiefs HC Andy Reid praises All-Pro player’s run defense: ‘It helps everybody’

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid praises All-Pro Chris Jones’ run defense: ‘It helps everybody’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke to the media on Monday for his weekly Zoom press conference. He expressed his appreciation for the work All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones has done against the run.

“We understand that if you take care of business up front, it helps everybody. Chris Jones not only did it in the pass game but he did it in the run game,” said Reid. “People always say, ‘Wow, how is he in the run (game)?’ Well, he’s making tackles behind the line of scrimmage here, so that’s a positive thing.”

The Chiefs, entering Week 9, have the second-best defense against the run, holding teams to 576 yards, second to only the Baltimore Ravens.

“For us, being able to stop the run, that’s the primary goal every single week,” said Karlaftis during Sunday’s postgame press conference. “As the front seven as a defense, you know, we keep them, we make them one dimensional; that’s what we want to be.”

The ongoing dominance from defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s group has contributed heavily to Kansas City’s undefeated start to the season. The recent addition of Joshua Uche from Monday’s trade with the New England Patriots will only strengthen the unit for the postseason run.

Chiefs trade with Patriots for LB Joshua Uche

Kansas City #Chiefs acquired LB Joshua Uche in a trade with the New England #Patriots on Monday after their Week 8 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to add options for their undefeated roster ahead of the trade deadline as they set their sights on a three-peat.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kansas City is acquiring linebacker Joshua Uche from the New England Patriots. Uche is a former Patriots 2020 second-round pick from Michigan who will now be expected to make an impact for the Chiefs during their stretch run to the postseason.

The 26-year-old has had two sacks in six games this season with the rebuilding Patriots and 20.5 sacks in his career. The fifth-year outside linebacker is another pass rusher for the Chiefs, who are fresh off of five sacks in the Week 8 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

 

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the breaking news of the trade during his weekly Zoom press conference on Monday.

“I mean, it helps the secondary. Any pressure that you can put on the quarterback, we’re gonna add another guy in here,” said Reid. “(Brett) Veach has made a trade with (the) Patriots, so that’ll be a nice addition going forward, but we understand that you take care of business up front. It helps everybody.”

Uche’s addition to an already dominant Chiefs defense is another reason the team fully trusts general manager Brett Veach and the front office’s decisions.

Chiefs coaches, players recall last season’s Christmas Day loss to the Raiders

Kansas City #Chiefs coaches, players recall last season’s Christmas Day loss to the Las Vegas #Raiders | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ undefeated streak began last season following their Christmas Day loss to the Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium.

The players and coaches have pointed to that moment when the team came together and refocused on their goal of winning Super Bowl LVIII.

“I think more than anything, more than even the play on the field, I think it was just a wakeup call for us to know that we’re not going to be able to just come to the game and win,” said Mahomes during his Wednesday press conference. “We kind of battled through the year, and it was like everybody was just kind of trying to build, especially. I feel like myself; we were just building for the playoffs. We weren’t even worried about the regular season. I think you’ve seen that mentality since then is the guys are really taking every single practice and getting the best out of it so that every single week, we can play our best football, and if we don’t play our best football, we try to get better that next week. I think that’s translated into this season.

The Chiefs appeared lackluster offensively, while the defense held firm for most of the game. However, the unit couldn’t make the necessary stop in the fourth quarter to give the offense the ball back.

“The thing that I remember most is we were in there swinging away, right? It was a pretty tight game but where we kind of were disappointing as a group was when we had to stop them at the end, right? I think we had enough time-outs, and we call it a four-minute defense, right? We didn’t get that done.” said Spagnuolo during his Thursday press conference. “They ripped off a couple of long runs to kind of ice the game which is what you want your offense to do if you’re on their sideline, but we would’ve liked to have rose up somehow and got the ball back to Patrick (Mahomes) one more time. Am I right in saying it was a 20-14 final? Yeah, so if we could’ve got it back to Pat one more time – that’s what I remember. Now, I thought we played, for the most part, pretty good. I think we only gave up six points.“

The Chiefs are heading into Week 8 with the same mindset they adopted after last year’s matchup.

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo praises rookie defensive back: ‘He’s earned playing time’

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo praises rookie Chris Roland-Wallace: ‘He’s earned playing time’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo addressed the media on Thursday, discussing the emergence of rookie defensive back Chris Roland-Wallace after his impressive performance against the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday.

“Listen, C-Ro (Chris Roland-Wallace) is one of those guys that – he came here as a free agent,” said Spagnuolo. “He earned everything he’s gotten right now. He made the team, made the roster, made the 53. He’s earned playing time. I don’t know if you know – (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator) Dave (Toub) and I talked every week about trying to get him in there in games. We got him in there last week.”

Roland-Wallace is an undrafted free agent who made the team and took advantage of his opportunity in Week 7. The rookie collected his first interception, much to the delight of his teammates and Spagnuolo.

“I think before Jaylen (Watson) got hurt, I can’t even remember, but we’ve been talking about it a lot,” said Spagnuolo. “I guess what I’m trying to say is he’s kind of earned the right to get some playing time, so you’ll see him in and out of there, and we’re going to have to use him as one guy goes down – other guys, our responsibilities go up so that’ll happen to Chris.”

The Chiefs’ defense is looking for a steady replacement for Jaylen Watson, who was at the cornerback position opposite Trent McDuffie.

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo analyzes the 49ers offense: ‘They get your eyes all over the place’

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo analyzes the San Francisco #49ers offense: ‘They get your eyes all over the place’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke with reporters on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s Week 7 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. He shared his breakdown of their offense and the importance of staying focused on their many playmakers.

“We’ve talked a lot about the whole eye candy. There’s a lot of movement up there for a reason; they get your eyes all over the place, they can disrupt support in run systems, and that’s why they do it, they try to soften you up a little bit,” said Spagnuolo. “We have a good group of guys that have worked well together. We need to do that all day long out there in San Francisco because all it does is take one missed fit and just any running back they put back there, but especially the number 24 (49ers RB Jordan Mason) has been doing a really good job of it. That’s what the system is built for, and we have to negate that by kind of being on point. I think our eyes are probably the biggest thing.”

49ers running back Jordan Mason has stepped in admirably for the injured Christian McCaffrey. Mason was limited in practice on Thursday as he was dealing with a joint sprain in his shoulder. He leads the team in rushing this season with 609 yards and three touchdowns.

Chiefs coach ‘can’t find weakness’ in 49ers QB Brock Purdy

The Chiefs have a terrific defense, but their defensive coordinator doesn’t know how to stop the 49ers’ QB.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo hasn’t changed his opinion of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.

Spagnuolo had a ton of praise for Purdy after Super Bowl LVIII, going as far as to seek out the QB’s phone number to reach out individually. Purdy’s performance in 2024 has only solidified Spagnuolo’s thoughts on the 49ers’ signal caller.

The Chiefs’ defensive coordinator spoke with reporters Thursday and said he can’t find a weakness in Purdy’s game.

“I can’t find a weakness in this quarterback,” Spagnuolo said via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. “Every time I put the film on, I’m more and more impressed.”

Perhaps Spagnuolo is simply trying not to enflame an already big Super Bowl rematch. However, given his praise for Purdy immediately after the game and Purdy’s strong start to the 2024 campaign, it’s tough to imagine he’s being entirely untruthful.

On the other hand, if there was something Spagnuolo thought he could exploit with the 49ers’ QB, he wouldn’t divulge that in a press conference.

So far this season there’s not a glaring weakness in the way Purdy has succeeded. Teams have tried heavily blitzing him. Teams have tried not blitzing him. They’ve taken away the middle of the field. They’ve forced him to scramble. There’s nothing in particular that jumps out as the secret to beating the 49ers’ QB.

If there is a secret to doing so and Spagnuolo has it, the 49ers would love to have it come out in Week 7 instead of later in the regular season or in the playoffs.

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PFF: Chris Jones earned Chiefs’ highest grade in Week 5 win vs. Saints

According to Pro Football Focus, veteran DL Chris Jones was the #Chiefs’ highest-graded player in Kansas City’s Week 5 win over the #Saints.

The Kansas City Chiefs secured their fifth victory of the 2024 regular season on Monday after defeating the New Orleans Saints 26-13 to keep their perfect record alive heading into a Week 6 bye.

The Chiefs’ offense was firing on all cylinders, totaling 460 yards and dominating the time of possession with a 20-plus minute advantage at the end of the game.

The real star of the matchup on “Monday Night Football,” however, was Kansas City’s defense, which stymied New Orleans in all four quarters.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has masterminded the fifth-best run defense in the NFL, led by star defensive lineman Chris Jones.

On Tuesday, the experts at Pro Football Focus released a list of the Chiefs’ top-graded players in Kansas City’s Week 5 win, and the All-Pro pass rusher led the pack with a mark of 93.2:

Jones was dominant in the Chiefs’ Week 5 win, tallying six quarterback pressures and two combined tackles to keep quarterback Derek Carr and running back Alvin Kamara at bay.

Dennis Allen says Saints were ‘outplayed, outcoached’ by Chiefs

When he’s right, he’s right. Dennis Allen says the New Orleans Saints were outplayed and outcoached by the Chiefs on “Monday Night Football:”

When he’s right, he’s right. Dennis Allen had the correct diagnosis after the New Orleans Saints lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on “Monday Night Football.” They ran into a Super Bowl contender who put a spotlight on all of the flaws they’ve been working to hide.

“I thought we got outplayed today, we got outcoached,” Allen said after the game. “Really couldn’t get anything going on either side of the ball.”

But this has happened far too often during Allen’s three season as head coach. Under his watch, the Saints are now 2-8 against teams who took the field with a winning record. They’re only 4-3 versus opponents who were sitting at .500 before kickoff. And Allen’s team has gone 12-10 against those with fewer wins than losses.

Sunday’s game was no different. Andy Reid coached circles around Allen, running for 139 yards on the ground (the second-most the Saints have allowed this season) and passing for 321 yards through the air. That’s the second-most passing yards Allen’s defense has given up since he was hired as head coach, trailing only the 325 yards they allowed to the Los Angeles Rams in last year’s late prime-time loss.

The inverse was true, too. As creative and impressive as Klint Kubiak’s offense looked to start the season, Steve Spagnuolo made them look pedestrian at best. Sure, injuries were a problem, but this was the first time Alvin Kamara was held to fewer than 100 scrimmage yards all season (he totaled 66). It’s ironic that Spagnuolo has done so well against his former team. He’s the defensive coordinator the Saints may have let go too soon. Allen has turned out to be the one they’re holding onto far too long.

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Chiefs defense examines Saints offense ahead of their Week 5 matchup

Kansas City #Chiefs defense examines New Orleans #Saints offense ahead of their Week 5 matchup | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs defense has made big plays this season, contributing to their undefeated record and confidence leading into Week 5.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke with reporters after practice last week, sharing his thoughts on the New Orleans Saints thriving offense ahead of their Monday Night Football battle at Arrowhead Stadium.

“Well, I think they’re really good because they mix it up. It’s not just pass, and it’s not just trying to chuck it down deep. I mean, they’ll run the football, and they have some really good people to do that, so that’ll kind of get you on your heels a little bit.” said Spagnuolo. “Derek (Carr) knows exactly what to – I’ve always had respect for Derek Carr and how he gets them in and out – or out of a bad play and into a good one. I think that has a lot to do with it, and he’s a very accurate quarterback.“

After four games this season, New Orleans leads the NFL in points per game with 31.8. Derek Carr has six touchdown passes and three interceptions with 824 yards. He, along with lead running back Alvin Kamara (362 rushing yards), has the attention of Spagnuolo and star defensive lineman Chris Jones.

“They’re playing really good football. It’s a playoff-caliber team (that) we’re facing,” said Jones late last week after practice. (”They have a) heck of a defense, and the offense is relying heavily on Derek Carr and (Saints RB) Alvin Kamara.”

Due to injury, the Saints will be without Taysom Hill, who has played an essential offensive role over the years.

Chiefs scouting report: Alabama Crimson Tide DT Tim Keenan III

Alabama Crimson Tide DT Tim Keenan III is a rising prospect who the Kansas City #Chiefs should target in the 2025 NFL draft.

The decline in explosive offenses across the NFL lead several teams to build up their offensive lines and invest more in the run game during the 2024 offseason. The Kansas City Chiefs should counter this trend in the 2025 NFL draft by adding some more beef along the defensive line.

Alabama defensive tackle Tim Keenan III brings the versatility to play 2-tech, 2i, 1-tech, and 0-tech and would be an ideal fit in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.

His thick 6 foot 2, 326-pound frame helps him play low to the ground. He sets a wide base to anchor at the point of attack. Keenan doesn’t hold his ground against double teams consistently, but he posted several examples of withstanding combo blocks over the past year.

Keenan contorts his upper body to absorb the offensive lineman’s blows without losing his positioning. He stacks and sheds one-on-one blocks against centers with ease. Keenan prefers to use long-arm moves and club-swims to discard run blocks.

Keenan is a unique athlete for a nose tackle. He possesses surprising bend in his hips to slip past guards while rushing the quarterback. Keenan flashes impressive lateral burst to exchange gaps at the snap and gain an agility advantage against linemen. His limited pass rush plan includes club-swims, humps, and two-handed swipes. He deploys a powerful bull rush too.

The Crimson Tide plan to follow up their victory against Georgia as they go on the road this week to visit Vanderbilt. The Commodores upset Virginia Tech earlier this season and took Missouri to double overtime. Alabama versus Vanderbilt kicks off at 3:15 p.m. CST.