Tag: Steve Spagnuolo

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo explains the legacy left by former All-Pro Safety

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo explains the legacy left by Tyrann Mathieu | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense has dramatically improved over the years, primarily due to veteran talent that changed the culture.

During Friday’s press conference, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo praised former star defensive back Tyrann Mathieu.

“Listen, I’ve got a special place in my heart for (Saints S) Tyrann (Mathieu), right? He’s a special guy. It’ll be great to see him” said Spagnuolo. “I think the last time – I think we saw him when we went down there (to New Orleans) (for the) preseason game. Yeah, that’s the last time we got the chance to give him a big hug, but (I) love Tyrann.

Mathieu signed with his hometown, New Orleans Saints, before the start of the 2023 season but made sure to leave an ongoing legacy within the Chiefs secondary.

“You know, I see it every day. It’s a little thing, but our DBs, before we – you guys aren’t out there until we get to stretch, right?” said Spagnuolo “Usually, about 10 minutes before that, all of the DBs are out on the field, and they’re doing footwork and (Defensive Backs Coach) Dave’s (Merritt) with them and (Safeties Coach) Donald’s (D’Alesio) with them, but that was really established with Tyrann all the way back (in 2019). He was pulling those guys out of the locker room 10 minutes early, so that’s a leadership thing.”

Mathieu spent three seasons in Kansas City, earning Pro Bowl selections twice, first-team All-Pro honors in 2020 and second-team honors in 2019. He made an impression on a young L’Jarius Sneed, who has then passed on traits to current lead defensive back Trent McDuffie.

“I think he laid a foundation here, especially in the secondary, of some of the things that we do quite frankly and the way (that) they operate,” said Spagnuolo. “I know those years. Looking back on when he was first here (Titans CB L’Jarius Sneed), LJ was young at the time, and I remember him learning from Tyrann. Then, Tyrann left, and LJ was teaching Trent (McDuffie), so there’s been a trickle down, and I think we owe Tyrann a lot for what he did when he was here.”

If he’s available to play on Monday, Mathieu should expect some applause and appreciation from the Arrowhead Stadium crowd.

Saints HC Dennis Allen reveals veteran playmaker’s injury ahead of matchup vs. Chiefs

New Orleans #Saints head coach Dennis Allen reveals Taysom Hill’s injury ahead of matchup vs. Kansas City #Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs will host the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football. The visiting team will likely be without an essential part of its offense.

During Thursday’s press conference, Saints head coach Dennis Allen revealed an injury to tight end Taysom Hill. The veteran gadget offensive specialist is dealing with fractured ribs and continues to be kept out of practice.

He suffered the injury during the Saints’ dominant Week 2 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Allen was unsure if Hill could be placed on injured reserve, but it appears to be an option.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo may not have to plan for the versatile Hill, who has lined up at tight end, wide receiver, running back, and started games at quarterback in his career. Since 2019, The 34-year-old has held the NFL record for the most single-season touchdowns without a turnover by a quarterback, with seven.

Hill has 14 carries for 77 yards and two rushing touchdowns this season. Due to his rib injury, he missed the home matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3 and last week’s road loss to the Atlanta Falcons. His status for Monday’s game at Arrowhead Stadium is uncertain as both teams prepare for the prime time showcase.

Chargers Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert show respect for the Chiefs defense after Week 4

Los Angeles #Chargers Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert show respect for the Kansas City #Chiefs defense after Week 4 | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 17-10 on Sunday, largely thanks to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s game plan.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Justin Herbert commented on the Chiefs’ defensive performance last Sunday during their postgame conversations with reporters.

“It was pretty consistent the entire game. I thought we had some really good counters. The screen game was outstanding.” said Harbaugh. “Like I said, Justin (Herbert) – we’ve got to get him just a little more time. Some of the throws he made, some of the plays he made were incredible. We’ve got to look at it as ‘How we respond from here?’ It’ll be like starting the season over again when we come back.”

Herbert faced plenty of pressure in the second half and was sacked twice by All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones.

“They’re a really well-coached team. We’ve got a lot of respect for them,” said Herbert. “They’ve got a lot of guys on that side of the ball that fly around. So it’s on us to be able to handle their front seven, push the ball downfield, and keep running the ball.”

The two AFC West teams will meet again in Kansas City on December 8th; another exciting matchup is likely.

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo praises linebacker’s resilience: ‘He’s got such great football instincts’

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo praises Nick Bolton’s resilience: ‘He’s got such great football instincts’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs are still riding high from their clutch victory last Sunday night over the Atlanta Falcons. Veteran players made plays on defense, halting a potential comeback drive and keeping the other Chiefs undefeated.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke with reporters on Thursday about linebacker Nick Bolton’s impact on the unit.

“Yeah, it was great to see Nick (Bolton) make that last tackle, I mean, well, you all know, he gutted it out. His back was bothering (him), and he went back in,” said Spagnuolo. “And, thank God we got guys that can go in when Nick’s not in there and still function the same way. I think that’s huge. I mean, we all learned that last year, right when Dru (Tranquil) had to take over. But when you lose that guy in the middle, it’s like losing the quarterback, right? And even if it’s for three plays, if you don’t have somebody that can go in there, that everybody feels comfortable with, it gets tough.

Bolton returned from the injury just in time to make the game-saving tackle on Bijan Robinson. The clutch performance was another reminder that Bolton is valuable to the defense.

“Nick just coming back and doing what he did,” said Spagnuolo. “I think we all know this about Nick: He’s got such great football instincts. He feels things, and he studies the game, so he knows ahead of time when teams are going to do certain things. But, I thought he played great.”

Bolton will look to recover quickly before the Chiefs make the West Coast trip for this Sunday’s AFC West matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Saints defensive back discusses playing with Chiefs Patrick Mahomes: ‘It was fun being his teammate’

New Orleans Saints defensive back Tyrann Mathieu discusses playing with Chiefs Patrick Mahomes: ‘It was fun being his teammate’ | @EdEastonJr

Many things have been said about Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes as a special player for his production on the field. The comments from teammates, past or present, continue to carry a different weight and respect for the three-time Super Bowl champion.

New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu recently appeared on ‘The Richard Sherman Podcast’ to discuss his NFL experiences, including his tenure with the Chiefs.

“I knew Patrick Mahomes was going to be pretty good,” said Mathieu. “He’s one of those dudes that, he practiced how he was going to play. It was fun being his teammate. Every game, we had a chance.”

Mathieu has often praised defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, and in Sherman’s podcast, he continued his praise.

“Coach Spags, man, like, he was one of those coaches that really gave me the keys. He really allowed me to be that middle fielder, center fielder for that defense and really take control and own it,” said Mathieu. “Man, I was so proud to be able to have that opportunity and capitalize on it because we all want that opportunity.”

The Chiefs are scheduled to play Mathieu and the Saints in Week 5, and although they are on opposing sides, their respect should show during the contest.

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo describes Chris Jones’ influence on games

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo describes Chris Jones’ influence on games | @EdEastonJr

The impact of star players doesn’t always show on the stat sheet. The Kansas City Chiefs have several players who fit that role and continue to change games.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke with the media on Thursday, discussing Chris Jones’ influence on games.

“He’s (Chris Jones) attracting a lot of double teams right now. You guys (the media) have probably done your film study, so you can see that, right? Yeah, he does.” said Spagnuolo. “I mean, we try as much as we can to get him on one person, but that’s hard to do. People tend not to let that happen. One of the things we probably need to do a better job of is get into some longer third downs.”

Jones recently had half a sack taken away from his assistance in taking down Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. He has worked well with double teams, allowing teammates like George Karlaftis to take advantage of matchups.

“I was sharing with the(defensive) unit this morning that, if I did my math right, I think we’ve only had 19 third-and-two plus (situations). That’s really not enough in the game,” said Spagnuolo. “That’s only nine and a half a game, but that means you have to play better on first and second down. That’s where this team (Atlanta Falcons) is going to become really challenging because we know they run the ball really well.”

The Chiefs will rely on Jones’ dominance while on the road against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night.

Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie evaluates his first two games: ‘I think I’m doing my job good’

Kansas City #Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie evaluates his first two games: ‘I think I’m doing my job good’ | @EdEastonJr

Chiefs All-Pro defensive back Trent McDuffie spoke with reporters on Wednesday about his self-evaluation as the team’s lead cornerback after two games.

“I think I’m doing my job good,” said McDuffie. “Definitely things that I have to clean up on the backend as far as communication, as far as technique wise. (I’m) kind of still getting comfortable out there at the corner position and playing that role that (Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Steve) Spags (Spagnuolo) wants me to play.”

McDuffie earned his All-Pro honors last season as a slot cornerback and has transitioned to the lead defensive back following the opposing team’s best receiver.

“I thought I did a good job at just making sure everybody knows where I’m at on the field,” said McDuffie. “Having to travel, a lot of guys have to go to different places, so just being vocal about that and just letting people know where I’m at on the field is kind of something that I’m trying to work on a little bit better.”

The Chiefs defense has had mixed reviews through two games, but McDuffie has been impressive in his new role.

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo on veterans being rusty in Week 1: ‘Those guys hadn’t played’

Kansas City #Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo on veterans being rusty in Week 1: ‘Those guys hadn’t played’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs defense battled during their Week 1 victory, as starters Chris Jones, Justin Reid, and Nick Bolton emerged strong after missing significant time due to injuries in the preseason.

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was concerned heading into last week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens because his veteran starters were not available during training camp. On Thursday, he addressed his thoughts on their performance in last week’s victory with reporters.

“I mean, playing 80 plays is a lot of plays. Now, that’s partly our fault, right? We can get off the field on a couple of third downs, but I thought it got tough at the end of the game because of that.” said Spagnuolo. “those guys hadn’t played, so that’s a different kind of conditioning. It’s different than getting on a bike or running gasses and whatnot.”

The Chiefs’ defense could not slow Lamar Jackson’s mobility as he still managed a 100-yard rushing performance. The unit pulled out the win after a suspenseful finish at the back of the goal line.

“I think if you ask those guys, they’d tell you that they were gutting it out at the end, and fortunately for us. I mean, listen, I know the foot and the inches the game is, and all that, but what I look at is, thank God,” said Spagnuolo. “I mean, Nick (Bolton) could have been closer to that, but thank God he got there when he did to at least push him out enough that we got the black shoe on the white back in there.”

The players should be a little more up to speed after returning to regular reps this week ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.

NFL Week 1: Steve Spagnuolo knows exactly how to make Lamar Jackson uneasy

Kansas City Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo knows exactly how to make life uncomfortable for Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo knows exactly how to make Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s life uncomfortable.

Jackson’s apparent frustration in week one could not be overstated, especially after Chris Jones stripped and sacked him in the first half.

The Chiefs escaped the Ravens 20-27, so pure dominance doesn’t seem to be the narrative in this growing AFC rival. However, because Jackson continues to come up just short, it’s only reasonable to consider that Spagnuolo has used a steady formula to disrupt the Ravens’ offense.

Spagnuolo deploys both heavy doses of man coverage and blitz to rush Jackson into quick throws while also neutralizing the Ravens’ rushing attack. Jackson did rush for 122 yards in week 1 but many of his carries were a result of broken plays and improvisation.

Spagnuolo simply knows how to get inside Jackson’s head. He coaches the Chiefs’ defense to ensure they tackle players in the open field.

From the bone-chilling turnover forced by Jones to the fierce fourth down stop by Chiefs’ defensive back Trent McDuffie, Spagnuolo’s defense knows precisely how to help Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes and company out by getting off the field.

Ultimately, the Ravens’ struggle against the Chiefs isn’t due to a lack of offensive production but rather Spagnuolo’s various attacks, which keep Jackson, Monken, and the opposing offensive line uneasy.

Why Steve Spagnuolo was seemingly given a timeout during Ravens-Chiefs

There’s a good reason why this wasn’t a big deal.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo seemingly got away with something he was not allowed to do during his team’s season opener at home against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.

As the Chiefs were in red zone defense against the Ravens late in the second quarter, the game broadcast showed Spagnuolo, not Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, trying to call a time out for Kansas City, which the official allowed.

That’s seeimingly a big no-no for Spagnuolo and the official, as only players and head coaches are allowed to call for timeouts in the NFL.

Did the official screw this up and give Spagnuolo a timeout he wasn’t allowed to call?

https://twitter.com/Rate_the_Refs/status/1831877546297979093

Well, apparently not. Kansas City Star columnist Sam McDowell observed that Reid called the timeout first, which was granted by the official at the back pylon.

To McDowell, Spagnuolo had not spotted the exchange and was trying to notify the near ref who apparently also didn’t notice that Reid had called and been given a timeout.

https://twitter.com/SamMcDowell11/status/1831880308192637181

So that’s apparently what happened. The exchange between Spagnuolo and the official was perfectly within NFL rules since Reid called and got the timeout first.

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