Chiefs' Reid talks proposed rule changes, working virtually

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid talked football with the media on Friday. Following are his remarks.

OPENING STATEMENT: “Good to be with you guys and ladies. It’s an interesting time and we’re making the best of it and getting a lot of work done. We’re still working through our Webex app that we have on our iPads and computers and it’s our way that we can meet with the players for two hours per day and interact with them and still do our installs. It’s been good for us that way. We’re not in the office, we’re in our basements and homes still, and that’s where I’m coming to you from right now. With that, time’s yours.”

Q: What are your thoughts on the proposed rule change to replace the onside kick with a 4th and 15? Are you in favor of it, and how do you think your team would be equipped to handle it if it passes?

REID: “Listen, I don’t know if it’s going to pass or not. I know the special teams coaches aren’t real big on that. It obviously takes away one of the elements of theirs, and it’s also the kickoff, which has been under scrutiny here, and kickoff returns. To keep the integrity of the game, you’d like that part of it. On the other hand, if it does pass, we’ve got a guy that can do 4th and 15s, he’d give us the opportunity to be able to do that. So, I’ve got kind of mixed thoughts on it. Being an old guy, I’d probably stick with the integrity of the game as it sits right now, but I can also see where the other part could be exciting too.”

Q: When going through installs virtually right now, how big of a challenge is it for you and your coaching staff to really know how it’s going? And how does that affect what you typically like to see out of your players in position battles in a normal year?

REID: “Yeah, because we can’t go on the field, the coaches have used unique tools with them as far as maybe calling on a player to do an install, to install a play, or whatever it might be. For us, it’s given all our coaches an opportunity to do installs as we go, just to keep the focus of the player and to keep it fresh. Other than that, it’s been great. Phase three for us, we’re kind of keeping the same schedule that we had before, for the most part, to this point. We’re going from two installs to three installs and then we work from there. But again, we’re still not able to be on the field.”

Q: Have you reached out to any coaches at the professional or college levels – in football or in other sports – for advice or how to navigate your team’s quest for back-to-back championships?

REID: “No, I haven’t. I was lucky to be on a team that did that one time, so I have that. But no, I have not. However, I have talked to a lot of coaches, but I haven’t had that actual discussion.”

Q: Do you think the team might be at a disadvantage if you have to go forward with games without fans or games with a limited fan capacity?

REID: “First of all, we love our fans. They are the loudest in the world and it’s ridiculous how loud it gets for our opponents. On the other hand, we’ll still go play and it’ll kind of be that way. There will probably be a lot of talking with the players that you can hear. Those guys get pretty creative out there in their conversations. The fans, we’ll miss them if that’s where it goes, but we’ll still be able to function.”

Q: Aaron Donald said that you can’t play the game without fans. What are your feelings about that if that becomes reality? And how long can you continue virtually preparing before you feel like you have to be able to put the pads on and actually start working that way?

REID: “Listen, we probably could do anything and still put out a good product. That’s how our mindset is as players and coaches. However, you sure would like to have the opportunity to get back on the field and do it, I think it’d make for a better game. As far as the fans go, I understand what Aaron [Donald] is saying. It just doesn’t feel like it makes sense to be without fans, but it’s also part of what we’ll all have to deal with, if that’s the situation that it comes to. My hope is that we can get everybody back out there and we can have a stadium full of people and everybody can stay safe. That is the most important thing as we go forward. And I’d say that same thing for your teams – all the teams around the world that are playing these different sports and are getting together now – I know safety ends up being the thing that’s talked about the most. And we make sure we’re doing that with our players.”

Q: Can you offer specifics about what you’re missing out on by not being able to be out on the field? What concerns you the most about not having enough on-field time with the guys?

REID: “So I’d probably tell you timing of routes, I’d tell you breakpoints on the secondary and linebackers. The offensive line is fundamentals and defensive line is more fundamental work. Then if you talk to medical people, you understand that injuries can go up if you’re not working change-of-direction or being tugged on like a running back would be tackled and he’s got to pull through a tackle, it has a tendency to up injuries. We saw that a little bit with the lockout year with Achilles tendons. Those things end up being important. From a pure football standpoint, it’s your timing, your breaks. The guys are still going to be competitive; they’re going to do the best they possibly can do with whatever we give them. It sure would help, I think, the injury area and the game if we have a little build up to it.”

Q: Typically at this point you are trying to get a rough idea of what your rookie class can do on the field, but with that not being the case this year is there anything that you’ve learned about your rookies in this virtual process and are there things you are starting to identify that you want to implement or have them work on when you get on the field?

REID: “I have staff meetings and I still ask about the players and who’s doing well and predominantly the rookies as far as learning. I think if we can overemphasize the learning part of it now, not that we don’t but we can really emphasize that now, there’s a chance that eliminates just an inch of that angst when they’re on the field where they can perform athletically or physically to the best of their ability. We’re kind of putting the hammer down on that and working it and emphasizing it to the player. I’m getting good reports back from the coaches on the rookies. The guys are working their tails off right now. The coaches give quizzes and all of those things too, so you get an idea of the feedback. I’d also go ‘Hey why don’t you explain to the guys 22ZN. Take us through it and detail it’. So you get a feel there on exactly what they know. Then with the rookies you’ve got a couple extra hours that you can work with them. The coaches have a little log time in there where they can get the rookies aside and visit with them.”

Q: Have you heard of any precautions that the league may take that make you feel better about guys getting back together on the field?

REID: “They’re going through a lot of things whether it’s studies of other sports that are starting up around the world. They’re keeping close track on that. I’m sure they’ve talked about everything. I haven’t been in the meetings, but I know they’re meeting a lot on player safety and fan safety. I know whatever they come up with will be good and it’s also the union that works, so the players union also works with them on that. So, they’ll come up with a good solution. I don’t know what those are right now, but I know it will be good once it happens.”

Q: We had talked about fans and their importance and Peter Vermes had said he believes if you don’t have fans you have no home field advantage. What are your thoughts on that?

REID: “There’s home field advantage with the fans. There’s home field advantage that you don’t travel and that you know the facility and where everything lays on that field. You have that part of it. I would tell you that we’d miss the fans if that’s the direction it goes. We’ve got the best fans in the NFL, so we’d miss the fans. Again, when you’re given these things you have to go through and say ‘This is what we’ve got fellas’ and you’ve got to muster it up and go play and still do all that. If nothing else, we know our fans are watching because the Kansas City fans don’t miss a beat. They’ll make sure that our players know that they’re behind us.”

Q: Patrick Mahomes is going to be giving the commencement speech tomorrow. As a guy who has spent a lot of time in front of a microphone what kind of advice do you have for him? Also, what do you guys like about Shea Patterson and how well have you gotten to know him through this distant coaching season?

REID: “I think it’s a real neat thing that he’s [Patrick Mahomes] having an opportunity to do with Texas Tech. He is passionate about sports, he’s passionate about Tech and I think it’s a neat thing that he’d have that opportunity to do it. Pat’s a pretty cool cucumber there. He’s a sharp kid and speaks well so I think he’ll have a nice presentation for them. The main thing is just to relax and enjoy the moment and what a great experience it is. Then as far as Shea goes, I started chuckling when you asked because you’ve got everything behind you Michigan State and here’s a Michigan kid, you guys are like archrivals. We’ve got a lot of Michigan background in our quarterback room with Chad [Henne]. Jordan [Ta’amu] and Shea actually played together at Mississippi, so they also know each other. We’ll see how he does. It’s an opportunity for him to make our football team and that’s how he has to look at it. It doesn’t matter how you get in the door, you’re in the door. Now whatever you do with it you do. You’ve got to handle yourself the right way and work with it. Jim Harbaugh spoke highly of him and I trust Jim.”

Q: With everything surrounding the Rooney Rule changes, it seems Eric Bieniemy has been thrust into a role he may not want? How do you think that’s impacted him as a coach and what advice do you give him?

REID: “First of all, keep being you. That’s the most important thing and it’s gotten him to this point. He’ll have an opportunity here as a head coach. Listen, I think anything that helps opportunity, I’m good with as long as it doesn’t put that person in a bind or disadvantage coming in whatever it is. I think in Eric’s situation and everybody that interviews, you’re in there for only a couple of hours with the owners. So, do they really get to know you in that time? I wish there was an extended period of time where they got to visit with you. Owners are always having to cram in these interviews, but to actually get enough time to get to know what the person is all about. I think that becomes an important thing. The more you’re with Eric Bieniemy, the more you appreciate him and understand him and know he’s a great leader of

men. Does an owner really have that time, or are we rushing? Some of it’s our schedule because of the playoffs. Are we rushing in and ‘OK, I have to get these three interviews done. Boom. Boom. Boom.’ And does that owner actually see the worth in that person interviewing. So, I worry more about those kind of things. Eric has had opportunities to interview, but it’s always a bang-bang thing. You get a couple hours and then you’re out. I mean, how well do you get to know a guy in a couple hours?”

Q: How have the installs gone with the young guys? Logistically, how are you making sure those guys are absorbing everything you’re giving them?

REID: “Yeah, we try to keep this time consistent. They’ve got a two-hour period with the veterans. That’s what you have. With the rookies, you have a five-hour period that you can work with them. We try to work in a couple extra hours for the rookies to meet. We were originally doing it with Dave Toub and the coaches, so Dave got a little bit of special teams introduction with the guys. Then the coaches got them for a nice block of two hours. You’ve got that extra time, and our coaches use that. They’ve gotten with them, and in some cases just one or two guys in a room or whatever. We’re calling these rooms but doing it this way here virtually. They get that time, and right now for those kids that time is important and your attitude and approach to that is important. Are you going to stay awake looking at this screen? Are you going to stay awake? We make them have their face showing and not click off the camera, so we see them. That’s a little interaction there. One of the things that we teach the guy is that when the coach is talking, try to make eye contact with him if you’re not writing something down so that you stay focused on it. Whether it’s on the field or in a meeting, eyes up and on the person that’s speaking. So, these guys are doing that. We’re at 100% participation, and they’re cranking. They’re going, and I’ve been very happy with that, with their approach. So far, so good.”

--CHIEFS--