OPENING STATEMENT: “I don’t really have anything injury wise for you. I think we came out in pretty good shape there. As far as the game goes, I thought all three phases did a nice job of contributing in their own way. It was a good team win for us. Again, I appreciate the opportunity always to play at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and the fans and how they go about welcoming in the opponent. Again, my hat goes off to them. There were a lot of individual things we can go through, but I just thought overall, I thought the coordinators – all three coordinators had a good plan going into this thing. Offensively I mentioned how (Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy) Nags utilized number one (Xavier Worthy) coming back. Xavier (Worthy), getting him back in the mix of things I thought was impressive. The run game part of it, being able to get that established early I thought was important against this crew. The offensive and defensive lines I thought most important was getting them started and they were able to do that. I thought (Defensive Coordinator Steve) Spags on the defensive side had a nice plan there. Again, against a very explosive, very explosive offense, and that was relatively healthy. The defense was banged up just a little bit, but the offense was pretty much intact and coming out and being able to be strong against that group is always a plus. I thought linebackers (Nick) Bolton, he was in on a lot of plays but most of all, the calls that he (Nick Bolton) has to make. He’s Spags’ quarterback, and for him to be able to work his way through all of that, it takes a lot of time and effort, and he does a great job with that. And then I thought the back end stayed aggressive in the run game and the pass game. Anytime you can hold 22 (Ravens RB Derrick Henry) to just a few yards that he had; he’s a tough dude. And then special teams was solid. You saw some of the tackles and angles that we took. That is so important on special teams, whether it’s blocking or tackling, being able to get yourself in the proper position and (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Dave) Toub does a great job with making sure that things are set up schematically where the guys can do that. The guys take such pride in it. I know Pat’s (Mahomes) accomplishment. My hat goes off to him for all that he’s done in his short career here. We’re still young at 30, and he’s done a real nice job of setting all these records that he’s done. Most of all, I love the way he brings the team into it, and that’s a good thing and he and (Travis) Kelce are creeping up on being the old guys there. Kelce is definitely the older guy and for him to come out and have a good day was good. Let me go back (to) one more thing. Chris Jones loses his aunt and goes down to the funeral, flies down (and) flies back on Sunday and then jumps in and plays a heck of a game. The guy, he’s something special, and I really respect him for all that he does for the team but also taking care of his family at this time is very important to do, too. With that, time’s yours.”
Q: On the offensive line.
REID: “I thought they did a good job there. (Offensive Line Coach) Andy (Heck) had a good plan for this crew. I thought the young left side there I thought stayed strong and then the right side I thought worked well together. I thought Creed (Humphrey) had his best game. He’s been pretty solid all along but this game here I thought he really played special.”
Q: What have you seen from George Karlaftis over the last couple of weeks?
REID: “Yeah George (Karlaftis) gives us a ton of snaps. He plays almost the whole game every week and very seldom comes out. Again, he brings that aggressive heartbeat. Even though he might not get home, he’s always around, and he just keeps getting better. He’s got a little bit of the diehard battery deal in him, so he keeps on going.”
Q: On the development of Nohl Williams and Brashard Smith.
REID: “So both of them (Nohl Williams and Brashard Smith) have gotten a little bit more time in this last couple weeks. I know offensively, (Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy) Nags has just tried to increase (Brashard) Smith’s reps every week and putting him in positions where he can do some things and he seems to be handling it good. And then (Nohl) Williams, likewise (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Spags has put him in a little bit bigger role every week, and he seems to be stepping up. I know he had a couple nice physical plays in there against some pretty good receivers, so I liked what I saw there.”
Q: On being prepared on fourth down.
REID: “We try to stay aggressive in that area which that’s why you’re asking this question and try to be relatively smart with this, Soren (Petro), the best we can. Judgement obviously is a part of that. Nags spends a ton of time on that with (Offensive Line Coach) Andy Heck, they go over and crank that stuff out and (Tight Ends Coach) Tom Melvin’s involved with that, too, and (Assistant Offensive Line Coach) Corey (Matthaei), so they get in there and grind on what they see there and then the pass game and the run game. We’ve been able to do both and be successful on both, which has helped. And it’s just a matter of where we’re at, the situation of the game, you’ve got to take that into consideration when you’re doing it. We’ve tried to stay aggressive. Pat’s (Mahomes) got a good feel on that too when he’s out there, we’ve got a lot of trust in him. Some of these things that we’re doing, he’s got options on, and he’s got to be spot on when we’re doing them.”
Q: What did you see from Kingsley Suamataia?
REID: “Yeah, he (Kingsley Suamataia) was very aggressive in the game. I thought the run game he, really that third quarter and second quarter, he was really on fire there. That was a good thing. I thought the pass game, he was solid there. I’d probably agree with that (with) whoever is grading that.”
Q: On Travis Kelce’s 66% snap count and how they manage that.
REID: “That’s probably a good area. I thought he (Travis Kelce) really played well in both the run and pass game. He looked strong all the way through. He’s in great shape right now Soren (Petro), that’s the important part. He came back, and he’d really trained hard and aggressive for this thing. He’s such a big part of it. Not only his effort, but the mentality he comes into these games with, he’s all in all the time. Then it’s my responsibility – he gets mad at me, but it’s my responsibility to make sure that we don’t get too many reps in there. That we give him at least a blow here and there. He’d play every play if he had his choice.”
Q: On the red zone offense.
REID: “(Quarterbacks Coach) David Girardi does a lot of the red zone stuff and puts it together and I thought he really did a nice job with just getting some good stuff in there. Stuff that Pat (Mahomes) felt comfortable with (and) the (running) backs and receivers felt comfortable with. He does a nice job every week with it, but we just had more opportunities it seemed like this week to be able to utilize it (and) it worked out well.”
Q: Why has the running game improved in the second half recently?
REID: “The problem Pete (Sweeney) is if one guy is off there’s a problem. The more those guys play together I think it should improve even more as we go. This group that we’re playing this week (Jacksonville Jaguars) is pretty stiff in the run game. But again, it’s a nice challenge for our guys (and) you’ve got some young guys in there that haven’t played a lot together and I think just the more reps they get – game reps are so important on that.”
Q: What have you learned about this team through four weeks?
REID: “They’ll fight you. Maybe it’s not all pretty but they’re going to keep fighting. When you fight and study and practice hard and do all of those things you’re going to make progress. I’ve seen that from them; they haven’t really flinched from some of the negative things that have gone on or negative plays they just want to get back on the horse and go. You know?”
Q: Where do Nazeeh Johnson and Jake Briningstool stand on the injured reserve? Will they be designated for return?
REID: “They’re (Nazeeh Johnson and Jake Briningstool) doing good. Matt (Derrick) I haven’t hit (General Manager Brett) Veach on all of this and or (Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance) Rick (Burkholder) or the doctors on it. I know they’re doing well in their rehab as they’ve been working here – I get those updates, and they seem to be doing good. I don’t know the move that we’ll make there or if we make a move.”
Q: What is the dynamic between Gardner Minshew and Patrick Mahomes in the quarterback room?
REID: “Gardner’s (Minshew) a brilliant guy first of all. I know he’s got the mustache and the hair and all that stuff that goes with it. But he’s brilliant. He’s got such a good feel for things as far as the game goes, and I think it’s great for Pat (Mahomes) to be able to talk to him. He understands – he’s been a starter and understands when to speak and when not to speak and when to jump in or not jump in. I’ve appreciated having him here. He’s a lot of fun to be with too. He’s got quite a wit.”
Q: Do you like the overtime rules where they stand?