Chiefs Coordinator Quotes
December 22, 2024
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO
OPENING STATEMENT: “I’m ready to roll. We’re onto Pittsburgh.”
Q: What was your main takeaway from Saturday’s game against the Texans?
SPAGNUOLO: “Yeah, would’ve liked to play a little bit better in the first half, especially (on) third down but I do think we came out in the second half and did what we had to do. The kid (Texans QB C.J. Stroud) made a great throw on that one touchdown, unfortunately the kid (Texans WR Tank Dell) got hurt. Trent (McDuffie) was with him there. The quarterback was really impressive, but I liked the way we battled in the second half and found a way to keep them at 19 points.”
Q: What are you seeing from the Steelers offense?
SPAGNUOLO: “Listen, first of all, that quarterback (Steelers QB Russell Wilson). We know what he’s been all about, he’s all about making big plays. He loves to chuck the ball deep. He’s got guys and he’s got a lot of confidence in them to go up and get it. We have to be on point back there. I mean, we’ve been playing the ball pretty well on the back end in the last couple of games. That needs to continue in this game. When we get these 50/50 jump balls against the Pittsburgh Steelers, we have to try to win more than we lose on there. That’ll be – that’ll make a big difference in the game.”
Q: How did you feel like Chris Roland-Wallace did in his first start filling in for Chamarri Conner?
SPAGNUOLO: “I thought he (Chris Roland-Wallace) did a great job. He’s one of those guys that I’ve been real hopeful for all season long. The more reps he gets, the better he gets and he’s a very – he’s a real smart, intelligent football player with some instincts. He’s played special teams with (Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator) Dave (Toub). I’m really – I’m happy for him. He’ll probably tell you that he made one key mistake that he could fix because that’s all he could think about at the end of the game. I told him, ‘Look, think about the other good plays that you made,’ because he played 30-odd- something plays for us. I thought he did a solid job going in there and filling in for Chamarri (Conner).”
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT NAGY
Q: What’s your take on Wanya Morris and how he’s progressed recently?
NAGY: “He’s (Wanya Morris) done a good job with that. It’s important that these guys – as they go through the ebb-and-flows of the season and game-by-game is (that) they stay locked in (and) they stay focused. I think most importantly, more than anything, is that they understand that we always are supporting them and we need to be coaching them and still be tough on them but also have that ‘one play away’ mentality and you saw that yesterday. Wanya’s done that this whole time and he came in and played well. He just needs to keep growing and he will – he’s young and I think we all just need to keep that in perspective. I like where he’s at right now and we’ve just got to continue to stay true to what he’s doing well and continue to teach him what he’s not doing great, and we can keep working at that.”
Q: What have you seen from DeAndre Hopkins when it comes to Xavier Worthy and his development?
NAGY: “It started right away, Jesse (Newell). It was something where I think both guys understand what they’re coming into so D-Hop (DeAndre Hopkins) comes in (and) he’s trying to learn kind of a new way of how we do things here, which every team is different. Then, he’s kind of learning that wide receiver room as well but it’s a little different and unique when you’re a guy like D-Hop and you’ve played as many games as you’ve played, you’ve had as much success as you’ve had and now to have a young rookie who is trying to get his first year under his belt and still find out from D-Hop, ‘Hey, what are some tricks to the trade? What can I do as a rookie – if you can remember back then and how it was for you?’ Then, that bond and that friendship starts, and it just continues in practice. The dialogue on gameday amongst those guys on the bench and talking through plays is phenomenal. I really wish everyone could kind of have a part of that and understand the stuff that goes on. Not just from coach-to-player but player-to-player and how they talk through that, but D-Hop’s been amazing, he’s been really good. Xavier’s (Worthy) been great, (he’s) taking it all in and I think he’s improving as well.”
Q: What have you seen from Xavier Worthy in recent weeks that’s allowed him to become a more consistently productive player?