LB NICK BOLTON
Q: What’s it been like to work through the defensive injuries so far this season?
BOLTON: “It’s definitely a little bit different but (I’ve) been around here long enough to know that it’s always the next man up. That’s kind of the mindset (that) you have to have. In this league, nobody’s playing games completely healthy. I think in the past years we’ve been a little bit more fortunate in that department, but it comes with the game of football, man. It’s (the) next man up, man. (It) takes everybody on the roster, that’s why it’s cut that way and that’s why it’s managed that way. It’s going to take everybody. We’re going to need those guys that were on (the) practice squad earlier in the year to kind of help us out on the back half of the year. We’re going to need the guys that are banged up to get back out there and depend on them as well, so it’s just part of the game.”
Q: What are some of the challenges that come with a short week?
BOLTON: “(I) definitely have family coming in town – Thanksgiving. Everybody understands that, but – just a short week coming from an away game, try to get guys healthy as much as we can and just get back in the swing of things. It’s a short week. We have a different opponent – completely different offense. Then, they (Las Vegas Raiders) have a new quarterback as well – I think the quarterback (Raiders QB Gardner Minshew) got hurt as well so we have to figure out where we’re going to go in that direction. There’s a lot of moving parts but I think that’s the biggest challenge going into this week.”
Q: Why do you think your defense normally gets better at the end of the season?
BOLTON: “I think it’s just the veteran group of guys – guys that have been here long enough. I understand that you have to continue to try to get better in the back half of this year. I think we have a lot of guys that are just looking in the mirror (and) figuring out what they can be better at. I think that’s the big thing and also just hone in on the gameplan and just honoring what we’re good at. I think we’re a multi-defense, we do a lot of different things. As you get into the back half of the year, you kind of get more numbers and more data which (on what) you’re really good at – just honing in on those things and I think we’re going to kind of do that as the year progresses.”
G TREY SMITH
Q: What was your reaction when you rewatched Patrick Mahomes’ scramble down the sideline?
SMITH: “It’s just classic Patrick Mahomes, man. Just extending plays, being the ultimate competitor and finding a way to win and doing whatever it takes for us to have victory and us to get a win.”
Q: You guys have been successful in late game situations. What are those moments like when you’re taking the field as an offense?
SMITH: “I just think the approach is pretty much the same. Just trying to be as focused and (as) locked in at the moment, understanding what you need to do at your job and what’s required for your job in that situation. I think it requires elite focus to understand the task at hand. You have a great operator in Patrick Mahomes who’s going to coordinate everyone and get everything finely tuned the way (that) we need it to be. At the end of the day, if we all can just focus on our single role, you know, playing together - football’s the ultimate team sport. If we all focus on our singular goal and objective, then we’ll be able to accomplish our goals and be successful.”
Q: How’s the preparation change this week since you’re playing on a Friday and Thanksgiving is approaching?
SMITH: “It’s tough. I feel like since I’ve been in the league with (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid, (he) does an excellent job of making sure we’re prepared week in and week out. Obviously, the way our schedules and schedules across the league are so different now. It takes a couple of minutes and (it’s some) things you have to do a little bit differently, but Coach Reid does a phenomenal job (and) the entire coaching staff does a phenomenal job of making sure that we’re prepared and ready to go and in tune with our gameplan. For us, our mental focus has to be extremely sharp, you take nothing for granted. With the holiday season coming in (laughs), watch what you’re putting on your plate, you know what I mean? Before the game but ultimately, it just takes a high level of focus and understanding that at the end of the day, we’re here to go win a game and we’re ready to go play on Friday but just being mentally sharp the entire time.”