Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes
November 6, 2024
HEAD COACH ANDY REID
OPENING STATEMENT: “Alright, as far as the guys that won’t go (practice) today, JuJu (Smith-Schuster) won’t but (he’s) making good progress, (he’s) just a little bit away. Then, Turk (Tershawn Wharton) won’t go today but it is good. He had a knee contusion and so we’re just letting it rest today. Everybody else will be out there and working. Again, we look forward to the challenge of playing Denver. We know they’re a good football team (and) they’re very well coached in all the phases. (Broncos Offensive Coordinator) Joe (Lombardi) does a good job with the offense along with (Broncos Head Coach) Sean (Payton) and (Broncos Defensive Coordinator) Vance (Joseph) on defense. (He’s) been a head coach, he’s a great football coach (and he) has a tremendous scheme there. Then, (Broncos Special Teams Coordinator) Ben (Kotwica) works with the special teams and does a nice job there and they’ve got good players. Like I said, they’re playing well (and) they’re executing well in all three phases so anyways, with that, the time’s yours.”
Q: With Patrick Mahomes, is there any expectations as far as managing the ankle that you need to back off a little this week?
REID: “No, we won’t have to back off, but he (Patrick Mahomes) manages it. He stays on top of all that.”
Q: Kingsley Suamataia played a couple of snaps on the first drive. What was happening on that?
REID: “So, our called player was 64 (Wanya Morris) so then we could sub Kingsley (Suamataia) out. When we put Mike (Caliendo) in and Mike could come in – you have to sub the guy out – the called player. So, to do what we were trying to do you had to make that move but I mean, it shows you the trust that we have in Kingsley too, because we came in and threw the ball. It didn’t matter what the play was. We have two good young guys. They’re getting better as we go.”
Q: Is it easier to have Wanya Morris eligible based on his limited receiving skills that we’ve seen? Is that a part of the equation as well?
REID: “Yeah. I mean, you know – we’re not – yeah. Listen, they both can catch so yeah, they both (Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia) can catch.”
Q: What are the timetables for Charles Omenihu and Isiah Pacheco in terms of returning to practice?
REID: “We’re taking it week-by-week, day-by-day, that whole deal. I mean, we’ve got to work through the doctors on that so – and the checkups there. They’re both (Charles Omenihu and Isiah Pacheco) doing great, they’re both making progress. JuJu (Smith-Schuster) the same way so we’re getting close.”
Q: But not this week?
REID: “Eh, I don’t think so. No.”
Q: What do you think has enabled you guys to keep moving forward and stay undefeated?
REID: “These games have been close. A lot of them. So, I’m proud of the guys for playing for four quarters and hanging together for that time but – so I’d probably tell you that. We can get better in all the different spots, me included. We’re just all kind of working in the same direction right now and that’s important to see if we can improve as we go.”
Q: Does it seem to you that it’s been a variety of different ways to win?
REID: “Different things have shown up at important times. I’d tell you, yes and guys have stepped up and really all three phases have been involved in that. So, I’d tell you yes.”
Q: Are there key ingredients to the successful third downs over the past few weeks?
REID: “First of all, (Offensive Coordinator) Matt (Nagy) does a great job supplying the plays on that and the guys buy in and believe in it. You’ve got an offensive line that’s doing a nice job protecting and a quarterback (Patrick Mahomes) that’s a real good player (laughs). Then, the receivers and (Travis) Kelce and Noah (Gray) have done a great job with their execution there – and staying alive. So, if there was a breakdown here or there or they did a great job in coverage, the guys stay alive and are able to get themselves open. It starts with Matt and what he’s put together for them.”
Q: What stands out about your three-interior offensive lineman?
REID: “Well they’re (Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey and Joe Thuney) all best buddies, they’re always together. They’re good players and they work at it. They’ve played together long enough where they kind of know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and cover up the weakness with each other’s strengths. Again, these challenges that we had – and this week won’t be any different. Their (Denver Broncos) inside guys are great, so it’ll be another big challenge for those inside three to execute. Just like last week was, that was a big challenge. They’re good friends, they spend a lot of time together, they study, they’re smart guys.”
Q: On Xavier Worthy’s development.
REID: “He’s (Xavier Worthy) doing a good job. You know he just had that luck of stepping out of bounds there but what a great route. That was an adjustment he made to even put himself in that position off of the route but he’s doing a good job. He didn’t have his number dialed up as much as he did the weeks in the past. I mean, most of the stuff ended up going to (Travis) Kelce and 8 (DeAndre Hopkins) so that – but there will be weeks that his number is called a lot more, that’s just how it goes in these games.
Q: What adjustment did Xavier Worthy make on that route?
REID: “They clouded that side, and he (Xavier Worthy) adjusted back outside and was able to escape where you can get yourself forced wide. He was able to keep himself in bounds and escape that corner and force him wider than the play normally brings you to. I thought he did a great job on that part and then just – you know, he’ll learn from that – young guy, he’ll learn from it. You won’t see him step out of bounds very often, that’s not going to – but it was good, it was good. He can take some positive out of it and then he can take something he can learn from out of it too.”
Q: How much of DeAndre Hopkins’ early success is due to the way he thinks about football in the same way that Patrick Mahomes does?
REID: “I mean they’re both (Patrick Mahomes and DeAndre Hopkins) football guys. I’m not sure they turn it off for a long period of time, if at all. He studies like crazy. I mean we have him in a bunch of different spots so just for him to be able to pick it up like he has and be able to get out of the huddle and get lined up has been a plus and then know the routes that are coming to him. He and Pat do a ton of talking and they – you see this with good receivers, good quarterbacks, they’ve got a feel for one another in their games, and you say receivers are quarterback friendly, well some of it’s just body language and seeing the same space together and being able to work in that.”
Q: What do expect from a team coached by Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton?
REID: “Well first of all, he’s (Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton) a great football coach and a heck of an offensive mind. He’s got a young quarterback there that you can just see him developing every week, the kid gets better and better. He knows how to do all that and he does it as well as anybody in this league. They’re improving, their defense is playing out of their minds, they’re one of the top defenses in the National Football League in a bunch of categories. He’s got a good staff that he’s hired and he’s leading it the right way.”
Q: Is there something that you find more satisfying about a longer drive that ends in a touchdown?
REID: “I just like touchdowns (laughter). I don’t grade them - I mean as long as we can get in there. I think probably for the fans it’s the long ones, you know, the long bombs are all good. For us, we – it’s so hard to score in this league, you just want to get in the end zone whatever way is working for you.”
Chiefs Player Quotes
November 6, 2024
QB PATRICK MAHOMES
Q: How’s the ankle?
MAHOMES: “It’s doing good. Obviously, when you have a little bit of a roll, it’s a little bit sore, but I’m able to move around and I look forward to getting out at practice and seeing how I can push it as the week goes on.”
Q: After a Monday night game, does treatment begin right away?
MAHOMES: “Yeah, I mean, you can only do so much. Obviously, it was pretty late but getting some stuff in the training room right after the game and then getting some stuff to take home – you throw it on there (the ankle) – stuff that you can do overnight that you put on there to kind of reduce swelling and stuff like that. You come in early (Tuesday) morning – it was a long day yesterday of watching film and then getting treatment and doing some rehab type stuff and prepare yourself for a short week and a practice today.”
Q: Do you remember anything right when you hurt your ankle or was it just a blur?
MAHOMES: “Yeah, I was going to run so at the last second I saw him (Samaje Perine) open and just tried to get the ball out before I got past that line of scrimmage there. It snagged on me a little bit and with the previous injury, it just sent a sharp pain down my leg. I mean, you just (have to) get the ball in the end zone – third and goal – we were able to score a touchdown in a big moment and kind of once the pain went away, I was able to get back out there and play again.”
Q: You didn’t necessarily feel it before you let go of the ball, right?
MAHOMES: “You definitely feel it, but you’re more focused on the actual throw at that time, so just trying to get the ball off as fast as possible and then get away from anyone else that wants to hit me.”
Q: What were the days like at training camp when you would work on long drives and how much do you think that correlates with what you guys have done this year?
MAHOMES: “Yeah, 100 percent. (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid prepares us for those moments. He prepares us to be in those long drives. We do long drive drill like every day, and it sucks. I mean, it’s the best way to say it, but at the same time, it prepares you to be ready for those moments in the game. I think you’ve seen this year and in previous years, it seems like we play our best football in the fourth quarter and it’s because we’ve been preparing ourselves all year long to play our best football then. Games in the NFL are such close margins that every game seems like it goes down to that – to the very end and I feel like we’re the best prepared team in those situations.”
Q: Can you describe the exhaustion after those drills at training camp in St. Joseph?
MAHOMES: “I don’t want to act like it’s the hardest for me, but I know they’re hard for a lot of the guys like the receivers, the tight ends, the o-line, d-line, DBs (defensive backs). I know I’m kind of the motivator. I’m like (I’ve) got to push the guys through the finish line, but there’s not – (Head) Coach (Andy Reid) doesn’t let you sub out. He makes you go for 15, 18 plays, whatever it is in a row – you might have a water break in there, here and there, but it’s for moments like this last game and it’s proven. We’ve been able to play great football in fourth quarters and (in the) end of seasons over these last few years and I believe that’s a big reason why.”
Q: How is the process going as you head into the third week of playing with DeAndre Hopkins?
MAHOMES: “You just continue to get him (DeAndre Hopkins) more and more comfortable within the offense. Obviously, he had a big game this last game, but we continue to give him more and more opportunities to make plays. We move him around and let him do what he’s special at and that’s catching the football, winning one-on-one matchups and getting open in zone coverage. It’s just going to help the entire offense, not only for him, but helping other guys get open as well. Obviously, with the big game that he had this last game, I’m sure they’ll be more eyes on him this week which will in turn help other guys get open.”
Q: Head Coach Andy Reid complimented Xavier Worthy on the adjustment he made even though he stepped out of bounds. How have you seen him progress as a rookie?
MAHOMES: “He does a lot of great things. Like you said, on that play, he (Xavier Worthy) kind of had more of an in-cut type route. They (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) went to a coverage that they hadn’t played a lot with kind of a (cover) two invert with the safety kind of playing in the middle there. I looked down the middle of the field because that’s kind of my guy I look to and then out of the corner of my eye, I saw Xavier down the sideline making that adjustment. I tried to get him the ball as quickly as possible. Obviously, you’re half an inch from scoring a touchdown or whatever it is, maybe even less than that. I mean, he’ll learn from that, but I thought he did a great job on that play in general of recognizing the coverage and getting into the right spot. Regardless of stats and whatever it is, the threat of him and over the top is getting a lot of other guys open. That gets lost in the swing of things is that you don’t see the big catches down field, but I promise you the defenses are respecting his speed and that’s helping getting guys like DeAndre (Hopkins) and Trav (Travis Kelce) open kind of in that medium range.”
Q: Are you seeing any signs that Xavier Worthy can have a similar jump in production like Rashee Rice did last year?
MAHOMES: “Rashee’s (Rice) season was special last year, and a lot (of that) came (from) that we needed him to step up and have that role in the offense. Obviously, we’ve gotten guys in here that take off that pressure of having one guy make all those big plays, but I think you’ll continue to see big games from him (Xavier Worthy). You’ve seen it in certain moments throughout the season – the big plays. You’ve seen certain plays where he’s caught the ball and scored touchdowns. I think his role will get bigger and bigger within the offense, but I think we’re probably more well-rounded as an offense in general, so he won’t (have) – maybe not as big of the numbers and stats that Rashee had last year.”
Q: How much are you learning about DeAndre Hopkins as far as how he sees coverages and routes the way that you see them?
MAHOMES: “I mean, a lot of that comes with reps but you can tell by the way he (DeAndre Hopkins) talks and the way he does stuff on the football field that he has a good feel for getting himself open, being in the right spot at the right time. There’s certain things that we do in our offense – even at the end of the game, that’s not what we we’re really taught to do is kind of look right there but I kind of just try to get him to do it so we can get a few more yards, get that first down and that’s stuff that we’ll learn and we’ll learn from this next time. He does a great job at getting himself open and being in the right spot at the right time and as we get more and more reps, that will continue to get better.”
Q: Was that second-and-two on the second drive of the first quarter a true RPO to DeAndre Hopkins?
MAHOMES: “That was a true RPO (run-pass option). The safety came down pretty aggressively and I was able to hit him (DeAndre Hopkins) and then if you watch, we kind of ran some of the similar type runs later in the game and that safety stayed back. Having that threat, not only (do) you get the one completion for a big gain, but it helps the run game out as well and it’s keeping defenses honest about how they are going to attack playing against us.”
Q: On what contributes to the long drives and the success on third downs.
MAHOMES: “First off, having manageable third downs. We are running the ball so well and getting in these third-and-shorts, third-and-mediums, where I can throw the ball underneath and we can still get first downs without trying to force it with these third-and-long situations, so I think that contributes to a lot of the success. I think a good planning with Nagy (Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy) and all the different coaches and having a great third down scheme, having answers versus all (of) the coverages the defenses play. Obviously, I feel like we get a lot of different coverages than they might play in a week before but we’ve kind of seen some of them now, so we know and they let me know if we do get some coverages that have previously worked on us, where to go with the football and I’m able to get the ball out and guys are getting first downs.”
Q: What about the way the Broncos defense is playing right now poses the biggest challenge for the offense?
MAHOMES: “They are very well coached. They play extremely hard, and they have great football players. That’s what it takes on great defenses is they have an understanding for the scheme that we run. Coach Joseph (Broncos Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph) has played against us a lot – as a head coach, as a defensive coordinator – so he knows how to take away some of the stuff that we are really good at. They have great – Surtain (Broncos Cornerback Pat Surtain II) might be the best corner in the NFL, so you have a guy that can take away some guys because he’s that good of a player, that high caliber of a player. Then the whole entire team, they play together as a team, they play hard, they don’t let you have anything easy, so some of those drives, even in the game we won (during the 2023 season), we got down the football field, but they didn’t give up touchdowns. They forced us into turnovers, they forced us into field goals, and they played the long game, so it’s about us executing like you said these long drives and finding ways to get in the end zone and know it’s going to take perfection on every single drive in order to do that.”
Q: Are you excited to play a noon game on Sunday?
MAHOMES: “I’m excited for it because my kids are going to get to come. All of these night games are awesome, and they are primetime, but the kids don’t get to go to a lot of those because it’s past bedtime or if they do, they have to leave early, so I’ll be able to have the kids at the game. They will get to have a great experience at (GEHA Field) at Arrowhead (Stadium) and hopefully we can wake up and have a good game. It’s going to be a great challenge for us though. We’re just going to take our best football against a division opponent, but hopefully you get in there and get a win and you’re able to watch football the rest of the day.”
Q: Would you point to something beyond the stats that accounts for why you guys are undefeated?
MAHOMES: “I think it’s just – we’re a really good football team. Whatever it takes that day, guys are going to step up and make the play – if it’s defense, if it’s offense, if it’s special teams and each individual in those situations, they’re going to step up and make that play whenever their number is called that day. None of us are about stats here, we’re about wins. We’ve kind of dealt – we’ve went seasons where we have had great stats and not won the Super Bowl and the seasons like last year whenever you don’t necessarily have the great stats, but you win the Super Bowl still feel way better. Just to be able to go in each and every week knowing that it’s going to take – whatever it takes, we’re going to find a way to win the football game. It comes with experience, and it comes with a great culture that we’ve built here.”
Q: Do you feel like this is the most adaptable you guys have been?