Quotes from Andy Reid
OPENING STATEMENT: “I don’t have any injuries for you right now. Guys are just starting to come in. I started off yesterday mentioning about the fans, they were phenomenal yesterday. We appreciate all that support on these away games that we get. I thought we started off slow on both sides of the ball, and we were able to regroup, pick it up, (it’s) a tribute to the guys for not panicking, the coaches not panicking, keeping their head and actually playing better as we went through the rest of the game after the 14 points. Defensively, it’s hard to pick one guy. Obviously, Chris (Jones) is the leader of that bunch, and he kept the guys going there and he had good production on top of all of that so he played well. I thought as a group the defense just played very, very good football. After those 14 points, they rallied it and made the changes and adjustments that they needed leverage-wise and ended up coming out with a good game. (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Spags kept all that together, and it’s a tribute to him and his staff there for doing that. Then offensively, I felt – again we started off slow for the first couple of series and then things picked up. That’s a tribute to Pat (Mahomes), (Isiah) Pacheco and (Travis) Kelce. They just kept everyone going with their energy, and it ended up working out. I thought the offensive line did a pretty good job even when we weren’t getting the drives we wanted. I thought they were doing a nice job up front against a good defensive line. As an end result, those three guys had a nice day, the offensive line had a nice day when it was all said and done. We were able to score in the second half, which we hadn’t done there for three games. I thought (Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy) Nags had a great game plan and the execution by the coaches, they did a nice job with their input on the plays. All in all, a good day on the offensive side and defensive side. Then special teams, they did a nice, solid job on special teams, field position was good. We had to fill in that punt return position and kick return position, and I thought the guys did a good job there stepping up. Richie (James) securing the ball, which was important, and then Skyy (Moore) and Richie on the kickoffs, they did a nice job with what they needed to do back there to follow (Special Teams Coordinator) Dave’s (Toub) plan there. Anyway, with that time’s yours.”
Q: Would it be fair to call Sunday a breakthrough with the performance from guys outside of Travis Kelce?
REID: “Yeah, I should have mentioned Rashee (Rice) in the opening remarks there. He’s been getting better every week, and he’s working to be more Patrick (Mahomes) friendly. There’s a lot that goes into that when you say something like that and a lot of it is just playing. Being willing to fit your game into the offense’s game and how Patrick sees things. He’s done a nice job of being open that away, listening and deciphering what defenses work with what routes and how to manipulate that. (Travis) Kelce has been a good example for him and has had some good input there too. I didn’t mean to skip him. It was good. It was a good offensive – it was good to be productive as opposed to the first half – being able to get a complete game after the first couple of series.”
Q: What are some examples of what Rashee Rice has done in the past weeks to make himself more ‘Patrick Mahomes Friendly’ like you mentioned?
REID: “When we’re doing special teams and he’s (Rashee Rice) not in there, he goes over and works with Pat (Mahomes). They talk through things, then they run routes, ‘This is the look where I’m seeing you on this route against this coverage.’ They spend time with each other there and then off the field likewise, for meetings they keep an open communication there, so it’s something that is needed, especially with a young receiver. He’s getting better every week. He’s getting a little bit more production, yes, but also a few more plays and opportunities to get in the game.”
Q: Your team has converted on more third-and-shorts recently, how much energy does it give the team when they are successful on these plays?
REID: “(Offensive Coordinator) Matt (Nagy) and (Offensive Line Coach) Andy Heck head that up, (Tight Ends Coach) Tom Melvin, and (Assistant Offensive Line Coach) Corey Matthaei, they all kind of join in on that and work the run and the pass game together in those situations. They’ve done a nice job with it, I think the more guys that are available that are a threat there, that you can utilize from a coaching standpoint, is a positive thing and so we’re talking an example with Rashee (Rice) he’s getting better, well those are situations that he’s becoming more familiar with and now he can be a part of that equation of helping out there and then (Travis) Kelce likewise, and (Isiah) Pacheco and Clyde (Edwards-Helaire) are doing a nice job likewise. Clyde stepped in for (Jerick) McKinnon in the third down stuff and did a good job along with Pacheco.”
Q: The Raiders didn’t go for it on a fourth and one on the second drive of the game. Did that surprise you?
REID: “I don’t think that, I will tell you I’m glad he missed the field goal, that puts them up 17 which was the same as last year which you don’t want to be in that kind of position but I think the fact that they ended up missing it gives you a little juice but I’m not sure we took full advantage of that from an offensive point.”
Q: Kadarius Toney was practicing last week but then did not make the trip. What was your thought process on that?
REID: “I’m not sure he (Kadarius Toney) could have taken a hit, and that was what it came down to. We thought we’d give him time – we had a short week – give him as much time as we could to progress there, but it just didn’t work out that way.”
Q: Update on Jerick McKinnon and Nick Bolton’s health.
REID: “I think we’ll be able to get some work from Nick (Bolton), I mean he’s wanted to go here even before this but you’re just trying to make sure he’s right. Then, (Jerick) McKinnon, his groin has been bothering him for a bit. He’s kind of pushed through it, but he was at the point where he was going to have a hard time working at the level he wants to work at there and be safe.”
Q: On the Justin Watson touchdown and the penalty afterwards.
REID: “I mean (Raiders LB Robert) Spillane hit him pretty good there, knocked him off his feet. Just the fact that he bounced up – the way he bounced up was amazing and then to make the catch. Then I love to see the fire in the guys – I can’t stand the penalties right now – the fire, I can see why he did what he did yeah, that was a pretty rough hit that he took there. He’s a tough kid and for him to bounce up like he did and then score, he didn’t flinch a lick on that. I’m good, but I’m not good.”