Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes
July 23, 2024
OPENING STATEMENT: Alright, as far as injuries go – Xavier Worthy is ill, he’s getting better but not ready to practice yet and then you probably saw BJ (Thompson) out there today, which is great to see him standing around and watching. Again, he’s not ready to go but it’s good to see him up right, right? So, that’s a positive thing. Other than that, it was great work – heated up, a little bit longer practice –Herbie (Teope) how you doing?Things ramp up – we’re in this ramp up period, so we had an hour (and) fifty-five (minutes) today, we’ll have an hour (and) fifty-five (minutes) tomorrow, then the guys get a day off, and then they’ll come back, then they’re in pads after that. Then we’ll do another ramp up in the pads. All in all, good day today – both sides challenging each other, which means that you’re going to have improvement, right? So that was a positive. Alright, time’s yours.”
Q: One of the few changes we saw today was having Lucas Niang be at left guard. What led to that decision? And what would you like to see from that position right now?
REID: “Yeah, so you know how (Offensive Line Coach) Andy Heck does it. I mean, he mixes everybody in, and we did a little bit of that in the OTAs and we ask the guys – listen, we’re just going to play the five best, it doesn’t really matter what position, so we’re going to give you a chance at all of them. This is a good time to do that, during this ramp up period, so when they’re not in pads just get them familiar with those areas.”
Q: It seems like Patrick Mahomes likes to go downfield a little bit more often this year, what’s your advice been to him in that regard other than go ahead and do it?
REID: “I mean he’s got to throw to the guy that’s open – we’re calling kind of the same plays, Adam (Teicher), but he’s got guys that that’s a part of their game – the best part of their game is going down field. So, he’s utilizing that right now and testing it out and seeing how it works, and so far he’s had some good connections there.”
Q: I know you’ll have more connection once the pads come on but so far, Wanya Morris, how is he doing?
REID: “He’s doing a nice job. Everything is kind of pass, you’re not doing a ton of running here but from what we’re asking him to do, he’s done a nice job.”
Q: You do have some competition at the left tackle position. Realistically, is there a timeline you would like to see that position settled?
REID: “I mean, we’ll just see how it goes. You obviously want to get the guys reps in there and all that, but you also want to make sure you get the best guy in there, so you give them a chance to play with one another. As far as the guards and the tackles go, you see what the best match is there and how they fit together.”
Q: Safe to say that competition ramps up once the pads come on on Friday?
REID: “A lot of things ramp up there, Herbie (Teope), but yeah that’s one of them. Once you mix the pass and the run in, that’s what you’ve got to get in going here. We don’t – the run is curved down to where it’s almost just fits, so it’s not quite the same.”
Q: Kadarius Toney has been working with the running backs and receivers. What’s your plans for him?
REID: “I think that’s one of his strengths is to be able to move him around. He had some positive snaps for us at running back last year and so I think he enjoys doing that. He’s pretty multi-faceted there with what he can do, and we’re going to try and utilize it, to the best of his ability.”
Q: The NFL and the NFL Players Association are talking about an 18-game schedule, and it looks like it’s only a matter of time until that happens. What are your thoughts on an 18-game schedule?
REID: “Listen, whatever they decide to do, (they’ll) do. I don’t have much of a say on it, Adam (Teicher). If it goes 18 games – I know this year, it’s not going 18 games. We are going to try and focus in on these 17 (games) that we got and try to do the best we can.”
Q: Jawaan Taylor had a rough start with the penalties last year, how much do you think that affected the rest of the season? He’s coming in with a fresh start this season, can you speak on that?
REID: “He’s working hard. I think he settled down in that last quarter of (last) season there. As far as the penalties go, he started out like he did (in) the first game, and he got away with a couple things as far as being deep and then he got nailed for it after that, so that’s how that goes. I think he learned a good lesson last year, and it looked like he finished strong so that was a positive – (He’s) picking up in a good spot with the OTAs and these practices we’ve had up here (in St. Joe).”
Q: Isiah Pacheco looks like he’s getting a handful of reps early on, what’s the plan there for him?
REID: “We always try to rotate guys in there and that’s what we’re doing. It’s really nothing different. We’re not doing anything different there. (We) just try to rotate them in, make sure they get their legs under them in these four days and then getting them going here.”
Q: As far as the player’s workload, how much goes into managing their day-to-day data and health?
REID: “That’s important. We try to keep a close eye on the guys. As coaches we try to keep a close eye – trainers, plus, you have the data that (Statistical Analysis Coordinator Mike Frazier) Fraz keeps track of. Between all of that, we want to make sure that we ramp them up, (so) we don’t have the (hamstring) pulls. The first three days here, that’s when they’re really fragile – those hamstrings. We try to make sure that we mix everybody in. We’ve got numbers – use the numbers and try to stay away from those pulls.”
Q: How have you seen Deneric Prince grow behind the scenes and grow into maybe getting some more opportunities?
REID: “(Deneric) Prince, you’re saying?”
Q: Deneric Prince.
REID: “He’s been working hard, so he’s worked hard this offseason, he’s a great kid. He’s getting reps now, so we’ll see how that goes and how he does once we get the pads on.”
Q: We saw Louis Rees-Zammit and Nikko Remigio returning kicks and Louis was actually kicking. What have you seen from those two guys and their effort to make this team?
REID: “We always tell the guys that three or four guys make it because of their special teams play. Those two would probably fit into that category. They still (have) to do well at their position, but they’re given opportunities right now to do that. Now, we have got a lot of returners, so they’re rotating in there. For them – you’d probably say for them to make the team, they’ve got to be able to help out in that area.”
Q: Regarding Louis Rees-Zammit’s kicking ability, how has he looked on kickoff?
REID: “Yeah, he does okay with that. He’s kicked a few balls before, so he’s got a little feel for it. It’s not something new to him to have to do.”
Chiefs Player Quotes
July 23, 2024
T JAWAAN TAYLOR
Q: Is there anything you did to improve for training camp and the upcoming season?
TAYLOR: “Yeah, I’ve been mainly working on like bettering myself with penalties and stuff like that, making sure I’m up on the ball and different things like that. But other than that, just doing my part (and) helping the team win games.”
Q: What do you see from Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris?
TAYLOR: “Those are both great guys. They’re coming to work every day, and they are definitely embracing the competition. I feel like they’re both going to be great players for us, and helping Kingsley, man, he’s a great listener. He’s definitely willing to soak in anything that we give him – any coaching points. I think he is doing well, and he is definitely meshing well on the offense.”
Q: Is the offensive line looking forward to getting the pads on?
TAYLOR: “Absolutely. We definitely take a lot of pride in our work and our craft every day. I feel like (Offensive Line) Coach (Andy) Heck’s doing a great job with us in the meeting room and out here on the field, bettering our technique. But we (are) definitely ready to get the pads on and get it going.”
RB ISIAH PACHECO
Q: You have got a new teammate in Louis Rees-Zammit, what’s it been like with him so far?
PACHECO: “It’s been great. The transition’s been fantastic for him. Just being that player that is a (leader) in the room – for me to allow him to keep coming out here and putting that in his ear of just keep working hard, keep finishing is the main thing.”
Q: We talked the other day about you taking over kind of the similar role of the guy who really gets people fired up. Now, is that something that you’re conscious of doing or is that just kind of part of who you are?
PACHECO: “I’m just me as a person. Every day I come in here unsatisfied – just getting one percent better every day and knowing that I have to find that edge, and for me to pick something to get to it, each and every day to get better at, I’m going to do it.”
Q: Have you seen Deneric Prince work behind the scenes to come into camp even better than maybe last year?
PACHECO: “I’m pretty sure y’all (have) seen. Y’all (are) on (social) media watching people’s stories. Y’all know how guys work in the offseason getting prepared for moments like this. It all comes and it and feels natural.”
