Chiefs Coordinator Quotes October 17, 2024

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUB

Q: In the Super Bowl, you guys blocked a field goal against the 49ers. What did you see on that play and do you think you can do it again on Sunday?

TOUB: “(It was) just a normal week. Every week we emphasize getting a good push inside and getting your hands up every time because you never know when it could be a low kick. That happened to be just a little bit of a low kick and we had our hands up and Leo (Chenal) got his hand on it first and then it deflected off of Mike Danna’s hand, huge play ended up in that game. We always talk about that now (laughter), ever since then. I mean we talk about how important it is to get your hands up and get that good push.”

Q:&nbsp; It seems like more teams are returning the ball when they are one or two yards deep in the endzone. Are you seeing that too?

TOUB: “Yeah, because you don’t know if it’s going to be a touchback back or not and you don’t want to let the ball hit. So, anything around – like you got your eyes up and you can’t tell exactly where your feet are, so you’ll see teams – you’ll see guys catching it on the run and then coming out even though they’re one (or) two yards deep. That’s why that happens.”

Q: Was that an expectation going into the year?

TOUB: “Yeah, you have to be aggressive with it. You can’t just assume the ball is going to be a touchback. You have to go field it, you don’t want that ball to hit and then get the ball at the 20 (yard line) if it bounces in.”&nbsp;

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Good to see you (the media) – beautiful day – weather’s changing a little bit, huh? It’s a great thing. I’ll just kind of open it up, I’m ready to go – bye week.”

Q:&nbsp;Why do you feel like your gameplan was as effective as it was last year against the 49ers?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“I don’t know. I think back and I always think we could’ve done a little bit better, Adam (Teicher). We did some good things, but I thought they – I mean, they kind of moved the ball. We played decent in the red zone. I’m trying to go back now. It was the trick play they got the score on, right? We were aided by the – early on they were moving the ball. It was really good to get that turnover in the first drive, that kind of helped us. I thought the guys played really hard. They were on point. We had two weeks to prepare. I really kind of just put it back on the players. They were just that hungry. Listen, this offense is still a headache to defend. I know they’re minus the running back (49ers RB Christian McCaffrey), but I think the guys that are plugged in there for him still make that whole system effective, so we’re going to have a pretty good challenge on this one too.”

Q:&nbsp;Could you explain how Chris Jones affects games without piling up big sack numbers?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Well, you could – you saw it last week. The Saints, I think paid a lot of attention to Chris (Jones) in the way they protected in the pass game. That’s going to happen a lot, doesn’t happen all the time. Somehow we have to find a way for Chris to win a couple of those even when he’s doubled and when that does happen and they do choose to put a lot of attention on one guy, somewhere in there, somebody’s got a one-on-one, somebody’s got to step up and win and we’ve had a little bit of that, we’d like to have a little bit more of that. I think the other 10 guys on the field appreciate the fact that we have a guy like Chris that demands that kind of attention and possibly can open up something for somebody else.”

Q:&nbsp;How tough is it to combat a 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan offense?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“We’ve talked a lot about the whole eye candy. There’s a lot of movement up there for a reason, they get your eyes all over the place, they can disrupt support in run systems and that’s why they do it, they try to soften you up a little bit. We have a good group of guys that have worked well together. We need to do that all day long out there in San Francisco because all it does is take one missed fit and just any running back they put back there, but especially the number 24 (49ers RB Jordan Mason) has been doing a really good job of it. That’s what the system is built for, and we have to negate that by kind of being on point. I think our eyes are probably the biggest thing.”

Q: What’s the expectations for Clyde Edwards-Helaire as he works his way back?

NAGY:&nbsp;“I don’t know, we’ll see. We’ll leave that up to (Head) Coach (Andy Reid), I’m sure he has a plan and that sort of thing. Clyde’s (Edwards-Helaire) been great in meetings, and we all know who Clyde is (and) what he can do. Again, I go back to who he is as a person and what he’s all about. I think it’s – we just have so much appreciation for him and (I’ll) just let that go with (Head) Coach (Andy Reid) and (General Manager Brett) Veach and let them play that out.”

Q: JuJu Smith-Schuster’s game last week was very good. What signs do you have that that is more repeatable rather than an outlier?

NAGY:&nbsp;“His (JuJu Smith-Schuster) experience in the league, his experience within this offense (and) his experience with Pat (Patrick Mahomes). There’s a trust factor there. I knew it wasn’t going to happen overnight or right away – and you don’t know how many more of those (big games) will happen but when you have a guy that is able to get in the right spots and you build that trust with a quarterback and JuJu has that. He’s been to the highest level with us and has had success and so it’s just a matter of ‘Okay, let’s get him in, let’s see what he does well, let’s fit that with what we do, let’s do what he does well in our offense and let it roll.’”

Q: Do you guys have a downhill type of mentality when running the football?

NAGY:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think so. That is something that (Offensive Line) Coach (Andy) Heck and (Assistant Offensive Line) Coach (Corey) Matthaei do a great job (of) emphasizing in OTAs and then taking that to transfer to the season and kind of see where we’re at. You get pullers and gap schemes (and) stuff like that, it’s downhill. We’ve been a zone – midzone, outside zone, inside zone team for a long, long time and that continues. Then, we just want to be able to make sure (that) we’re putting the guys, collectively, in the right spots.”

Chiefs Coordinator Quotes October 17, 2024ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUBQ: In the Super Bowl, you guys blocked a field goal against the 49ers. What did you see on that play and do you think you can do it again on Sunday?TOUB: “(It was) just a normal week. Every week we emphasize getting a good push inside and getting your hands up every time because you never know when it could be a low kick. That happened to be just a little bit of a low kick and we had our hands up and Leo (Chenal) got his hand on it first and then it deflected off of Mike Danna’s hand, huge play ended up in that game. We always talk about that now (laughter), ever since then. I mean we talk about how important it is to get your hands up and get that good push.”Q:&nbsp; It seems like more teams are returning the ball when they are one or two yards deep in the endzone. Are you seeing that too?TOUB: “Yeah, because you don’t know if it’s going to be a touchback back or not and you don’t want to let the ball hit. So, anything around – like you got your eyes up and you can’t tell exactly where your feet are, so you’ll see teams – you’ll see guys catching it on the run and then coming out even though they’re one (or) two yards deep. That’s why that happens.”Q: Was that an expectation going into the year?TOUB: “Yeah, you have to be aggressive with it. You can’t just assume the ball is going to be a touchback. You have to go field it, you don’t want that ball to hit and then get the ball at the 20 (yard line) if it bounces in.”&nbsp;DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLOOPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Good to see you (the media) – beautiful day – weather’s changing a little bit, huh? It’s a great thing. I’ll just kind of open it up, I’m ready to go – bye week.”Q:&nbsp;Why do you feel like your gameplan was as effective as it was last year against the 49ers?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“I don’t know. I think back and I always think we could’ve done a little bit better, Adam (Teicher). We did some good things, but I thought they – I mean, they kind of moved the ball. We played decent in the red zone. I’m trying to go back now. It was the trick play they got the score on, right? We were aided by the – early on they were moving the ball. It was really good to get that turnover in the first drive, that kind of helped us. I thought the guys played really hard. They were on point. We had two weeks to prepare. I really kind of just put it back on the players. They were just that hungry. Listen, this offense is still a headache to defend. I know they’re minus the running back (49ers RB Christian McCaffrey), but I think the guys that are plugged in there for him still make that whole system effective, so we’re going to have a pretty good challenge on this one too.”Q:&nbsp;Could you explain how Chris Jones affects games without piling up big sack numbers?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Well, you could – you saw it last week. The Saints, I think paid a lot of attention to Chris (Jones) in the way they protected in the pass game. That’s going to happen a lot, doesn’t happen all the time. Somehow we have to find a way for Chris to win a couple of those even when he’s doubled and when that does happen and they do choose to put a lot of attention on one guy, somewhere in there, somebody’s got a one-on-one, somebody’s got to step up and win and we’ve had a little bit of that, we’d like to have a little bit more of that. I think the other 10 guys on the field appreciate the fact that we have a guy like Chris that demands that kind of attention and possibly can open up something for somebody else.”Q:&nbsp;How tough is it to combat a 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan offense?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“We’ve talked a lot about the whole eye candy. There’s a lot of movement up there for a reason, they get your eyes all over the place, they can disrupt support in run systems and that’s why they do it, they try to soften you up a little bit. We have a good group of guys that have worked well together. We need to do that all day long out there in San Francisco because all it does is take one missed fit and just any running back they put back there, but especially the number 24 (49ers RB Jordan Mason) has been doing a really good job of it. That’s what the system is built for, and we have to negate that by kind of being on point. I think our eyes are probably the biggest thing.”OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT NAGYQ: What’s the expectations for Clyde Edwards-Helaire as he works his way back?NAGY:&nbsp;“I don’t know, we’ll see. We’ll leave that up to (Head) Coach (Andy Reid), I’m sure he has a plan and that sort of thing. Clyde’s (Edwards-Helaire) been great in meetings, and we all know who Clyde is (and) what he can do. Again, I go back to who he is as a person and what he’s all about. I think it’s – we just have so much appreciation for him and (I’ll) just let that go with (Head) Coach (Andy Reid) and (General Manager Brett) Veach and let them play that out.”Q: JuJu Smith-Schuster’s game last week was very good. What signs do you have that that is more repeatable rather than an outlier?NAGY:&nbsp;“His (JuJu Smith-Schuster) experience in the league, his experience within this offense (and) his experience with Pat (Patrick Mahomes). There’s a trust factor there. I knew it wasn’t going to happen overnight or right away – and you don’t know how many more of those (big games) will happen but when you have a guy that is able to get in the right spots and you build that trust with a quarterback and JuJu has that. He’s been to the highest level with us and has had success and so it’s just a matter of ‘Okay, let’s get him in, let’s see what he does well, let’s fit that with what we do, let’s do what he does well in our offense and let it roll.’”Q: Do you guys have a downhill type of mentality when running the football?NAGY:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think so. That is something that (Offensive Line) Coach (Andy) Heck and (Assistant Offensive Line) Coach (Corey) Matthaei do a great job (of) emphasizing in OTAs and then taking that to transfer to the season and kind of see where we’re at. You get pullers and gap schemes (and) stuff like that, it’s downhill. We’ve been a zone – midzone, outside zone, inside zone team for a long, long time and that continues. Then, we just want to be able to make sure (that) we’re putting the guys, collectively, in the right spots.”

Chiefs Quotes: 10-17-24

<a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu">By LISA MOSER </a>K-State Research and Extension news service

No matter the sport or age of an athlete, it is often recommended that at the end of the season, the body should be given time to rest. That body management strategy can apply to bulls after they’ve completed the breeding season, according to the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute.

<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/10/11/replacement-heifers-pain-management-bull-management/" target="_blank">Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast</a>, K-State veterinarians Bob Larson and Brian Lubbers talked about bull longevity in the herd. In this case, it was bulls coming off of summer breeding pastures in spring calving herds.

“In single-sire herds in which replacement heifers are retained, the bull will need to be replaced more frequently (than with multiple sire herds) to avoid breeding sires to their daughters,” Larson said. “In a larger herd where the mating can be controlled, bulls may be able to stay in the herd 4-6 years or even longer.”

He said regardless of the bull’s age, breeding soundness exams need to be done annually near the start of the breeding season.

“As bulls get past middle age, their fertility starts to decrease,” Larson said. “They also start to have more musculoskeletal issues because of their size, and that can lead to foot and leg problems.”

Lubbers said fall is a good time to evaluate the hooves of the bulls because hoof growth slows in the winter weather.

“Fall is a good time to do some routine hoof trimming not only from the slowed hoof growth but also if they experience an injury in the process, there is time for them to heal,” Lubbers said. “And while it isn’t common, if there is a severe injury that happens when the bull is put on the trimming table, there is time to replace him ahead of the breeding season.”

Regarding nutrition management, K-State beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster offered some recommendations.

“Yearling and two-year-old bulls are still growing, so they will need a higher quality diet than mature bulls outside of the breeding season,” Lancaster said. “But they probably don’t need supplements unless they lost a lot of weight during the breeding season, and they need to regain body condition.”

He said producers should offer good quality hay to the younger bulls. Once he is mature, his nutritional needs are less so the quality of hay can also be decreased.

“A mature bull has the lowest nutritional requirements of any animal in the herd, so he can be fed the lowest quality hay due to his maintenance needs,” Lancaster said.

Because of the different nutritional needs of cattle in the herds, Lancaster advised that producers separate the bulls from the cows when not in the breeding season.

“By leaving the bulls with the cows outside of the breeding season, nutritionally speaking, there is a risk that the bulls will get over-conditioned from eating the supplements that the cows need,” Lancaster said.

To hear the full discussion,&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/10/11/replacement-heifers-pain-management-bull-management/" target="_blank">listen to Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714569477275.jpeg" alt="K-State beef cattle experts offer strategies for caring for bulls between breeding seasons. Image Courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>K-State beef cattle experts offer strategies for caring for bulls between breeding seasons. Image Courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu">By LISA MOSER </a>K-State Research and Extension news serviceNo matter the sport or age of an athlete, it is often recommended that at the end of the season, the body should be given time to rest. That body management strategy can apply to bulls after they’ve completed the breeding season, according to the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute.<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/10/11/replacement-heifers-pain-management-bull-management/" target="_blank">Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast</a>, K-State veterinarians Bob Larson and Brian Lubbers talked about bull longevity in the herd. In this case, it was bulls coming off of summer breeding pastures in spring calving herds.“In single-sire herds in which replacement heifers are retained, the bull will need to be replaced more frequently (than with multiple sire herds) to avoid breeding sires to their daughters,” Larson said. “In a larger herd where the mating can be controlled, bulls may be able to stay in the herd 4-6 years or even longer.”<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/1sxyooyQITpyKZjXM03UeW?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>He said regardless of the bull’s age, breeding soundness exams need to be done annually near the start of the breeding season.“As bulls get past middle age, their fertility starts to decrease,” Larson said. “They also start to have more musculoskeletal issues because of their size, and that can lead to foot and leg problems.”Lubbers said fall is a good time to evaluate the hooves of the bulls because hoof growth slows in the winter weather.“Fall is a good time to do some routine hoof trimming not only from the slowed hoof growth but also if they experience an injury in the process, there is time for them to heal,” Lubbers said. “And while it isn’t common, if there is a severe injury that happens when the bull is put on the trimming table, there is time to replace him ahead of the breeding season.”Nutrition tipsRegarding nutrition management, K-State beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster offered some recommendations.“Yearling and two-year-old bulls are still growing, so they will need a higher quality diet than mature bulls outside of the breeding season,” Lancaster said. “But they probably don’t need supplements unless they lost a lot of weight during the breeding season, and they need to regain body condition.”He said producers should offer good quality hay to the younger bulls. Once he is mature, his nutritional needs are less so the quality of hay can also be decreased.“A mature bull has the lowest nutritional requirements of any animal in the herd, so he can be fed the lowest quality hay due to his maintenance needs,” Lancaster said.Because of the different nutritional needs of cattle in the herds, Lancaster advised that producers separate the bulls from the cows when not in the breeding season.“By leaving the bulls with the cows outside of the breeding season, nutritionally speaking, there is a risk that the bulls will get over-conditioned from eating the supplements that the cows need,” Lancaster said.To hear the full discussion,&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/10/11/replacement-heifers-pain-management-bull-management/" target="_blank">listen to Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.

KSRE Cattle Chat: Bull management in the fall

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a Fire Weather Watch for the Salina area, effective from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening. This warning covers several counties, including Russell, Lincoln, Barton, Ellsworth, Saline, Rice, McPherson, Marion, and Chase, indicating extreme grassland fire danger.

According to the forecast, residents can expect strong winds from the south at speeds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching up to 50 mph. Compounding the risk, relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 25%. 

The National Weather Service warns that if fires develop during this time, they are likely to spread rapidly and could become very difficult to control. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged as conditions are expected to be critical.

A Fire Weather Watch is an alert that critical fire weather conditions are anticipated. Officials and fire crews in the field are advised to stay vigilant and prepare for potential emergencies. The public is encouraged to listen for updates and potential red flag warnings throughout the day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729085756560.jpeg" alt="Very High to Extreme Fire Danger Thursday" />
 <figcaption>Very High to Extreme Fire Danger Thursday</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTThe National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a Fire Weather Watch for the Salina area, effective from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening. This warning covers several counties, including Russell, Lincoln, Barton, Ellsworth, Saline, Rice, McPherson, Marion, and Chase, indicating extreme grassland fire danger.According to the forecast, residents can expect strong winds from the south at speeds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching up to 50 mph. Compounding the risk, relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 25%. The National Weather Service warns that if fires develop during this time, they are likely to spread rapidly and could become very difficult to control. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged as conditions are expected to be critical.A Fire Weather Watch is an alert that critical fire weather conditions are anticipated. Officials and fire crews in the field are advised to stay vigilant and prepare for potential emergencies. The public is encouraged to listen for updates and potential red flag warnings throughout the day.

Fire Weather Watch issued for Salina area today

The Salina League of Women Voters has gathered responses from candidates seeking local and federal office. Each candidate was provided a set of questions. Their responses offer information on their positions and plans, providing voters with a resource to better understand where each candidate stands on important topics.

Important dates for the 2024 General Election:

Oct. 15 — Voter Registration Deadline&nbsp;

Oct. 16 — Advance Ballots by Mail are mailed

Oct. 21 — Early Voting in office Begins&nbsp;

Oct. 29 — Last Apply for an Advance Ballot by Mail

Nov. 2 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. — Saturday Advance Voting in the County Election Office

Kansans can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/voterreg/" target="_blank">register online</a>&nbsp;with the Secretary of State and Department of Revenue,&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.ks.gov/forms/elections/voterregistration.pdf" target="_blank">mail in their registration</a>&nbsp;in English or Spanish to their local county election office — as long as it’s postmarked by Oct. 15 — or register in person at their local county election office.&nbsp;

If already signed up, Kansas can check on their voter registration status at the&nbsp;<a href="https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/voterview" target="_blank">Secretary of State’s website</a>.&nbsp;

Meet Saline County candidates on the Nov. 5 ballot during an upcoming candidate forum planned by the Salina League of Women Voters.

The forum is planned for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, in the Watson Room of the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe, Salina. If they do not attend, candidates were invited to send a written statement.

Salina League of Women Voters President Lori Trow said the following candidates&nbsp; were invited to the event:&nbsp; Senate Distict 24-John Baker and JR Claeys; House District 69-Lori Blake and Clarke Sanders; Saline County Commission District 2-Annie Grevas and Kathleen Malone Crouch.

Trow said the forum will be moderated by league members Bruce Wyatt and Cori Sherman North, and will follow the league’s usual format, which includes one-minute opening and closing statements and questions from local media and the audience.

The league has also assembled a booklet with questions and candidate information. They will be available at the forum, several Salina locations and on the league’s website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.lwvsalina.org/">www.lwvsalina.org</a>.

The event is free and open to the public.

The Salina League of Women Voters gathers this information neither to endorse nor to reject the views of any candidate. We do not assume responsibility for the content of any candidates replies. This questionnaire has been reproduced as submitted to the Salina League of Women Voters by the candidates. Any continuation past the stated word limit has been deleted.

Candidates for U.S. House of Representatives District One

What is your motive for running for this office and what are your qualifications?

How can we be assured that, if elected, you will work in the best interests of your constituents versus your personal interests?

What will you do to address the Gun Violence crisis?

Address: PO Box 3285; Lawerence KS 66046

Email: paul@buskirkforcongress.com

Education: Bachelors in Psychology; Master’s in Counseling

What is your motive for running for this office and what are your qualifications?

 I was raised in a family of service.  As I look at our elected and appointed officials in Washington, they seem to spend most their time fussing and bickering with one another and ignoring the core of serving their communities.  It is time to remind ourselves of the purpose of Government:  to serve the needs of the people.

For nearly 40 years I have worked to help high school students get to college; and help college students complete their degrees and begin their careers.  My vast experience includes working in high-stress and high-demand atmospheres where bringing people together is the only way to move forward and to serve.

How can we be assured that, if elected, you will work in the best interests of your constituents versus your personal interests?

 I always honor my word. My first 100 days in office will be invested with meeting my 434 new colleagues I the House of Representatives – learning about their journeys and the needs of the communities they represent.  Hopefully they will be willing to listen about the needs of the communities in our 1st District of Kansas.  We cannot wait until the moment of dispute or heated negotiation to meet for the first time.  Government can succeed when good people “give a little to gain a little’ in support of their communities.

What will you do to address the Gun Violence crisis?

 Our country’s founders established the 2nd amendment as part of the Bill of Rights – to assure these new and unruly colonies that their freedoms would be protected.  These same founders, ordinary people shaped by extraordinary times, knew that this frame work of government would evolve over time.  And I believe they embraced that America would lean upon its common sense to grow.

Requiring permits to own a gun makes sense.

Requiring a brief waiting period to conduct background checks make sense.

Keeping guns out of the hands of those who would do harm to themselves or to others makes sense.

And the most advanced gun available to soldiers of 1787 could shoot 3 rounds per minute.  I truly doubt that the founders would see any common sense in allow weapons that shoot hundreds of rounds per minute to be accessed by anyone outside of our police and armed forces.

1. Why are you seeking this office and what are your qualifications?

2. What is your position on Expanding Medicaid and why? Would you support putting Medicaid Expansion on the ballot?

3. How can we be assured that if elected, you will work in the best interests of your constituents versus your personal interests?

4. What will you do about the Gun Violence crisis?

Address: PO Box 3323, Salina, KS 67402

Education: Washburn University School of Law, JD '22, Fort Hays State University BBA Management ’17.

Why are you seeking this office and what are your qualifications?

 I am running for Kansas Senate District 24 because I believe our state needs leaders who will prioritize the well-being of every Kansan, not just he wealthy and powerful.  I am committed to ensuring that all Kansans have access to quality healthcare, fully funded public education, and the opportunity to build a better life. 

 My background as an attorney, coupled with my experiences in community organizing has equipped me with the skills to advocate for policies that promote fairness and justice.  I’ve been deeply involved in local efforts to address systemic issues and believe that public service is the best way to create lasting, positive change.

What is your position on Expanding Medicaid and why? Would you support putting Medicaid Expansion on the ballot?

  I fully support expanding Medicaid in Kansas.  Medicaid expansion is vital for ensuring healthcare access for thousands of Kansans, reducing mortality rates, and supporting our rural hospitals, many of which are struggling to survive. 

 Kansas is one of the few remaining states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid, and this inaction has resulted in unnecessary suffering and economic strain on our healthcare system,  I would support putting Medicaid expansion on the ballot to let the people decide, through the Kansas Legislature should take immediate action rather than continuing to stall on this issue.

How can we be assured that if elected, you will work in the best interests of your constituents versus your personal interests?

 My dedication to public service stems from my commitment to helping others, not advancing personal interests.  I have spent my career advocating for the rights of individuals and have consistently put people before profit.  If elected, I will continue to work with integrity and transparency, listening to my constituents and making decisions based on what’s best for our community. 

I believe in accountability, and my record of community involvement and professional advocacy demonstrates that I prioritize the needs of the people I serve over personal gain.

What will you do about the Gun Violence crisis?

The gun violence crisis is one of the most pressing public health issues facing our country. I support common-sense gun safety measures, including universal background checks, and red flag laws.

While I respect the Second Amendment, we must take steps to reduce the horrific levels of gun violence that claim thousands of lives each year.  I will work to build bipartisan consensus on gun safety reforms, ensuring that we protect both public safety and responsible gun ownership.

Candidates for Kansas House of Representatives District 69

Address: 2096 Leland Way, Salina, KS 67401

Telephone Number: 785-577-4604

Occupation: Retired radio announcer

Please limit responses to the questions to 200 words per question.

Salina LWV candidate questionnaire responses for Nov. election, forum on Oct. 20

Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Good afternoon and I’m glad everybody is here. Before I get going, I want to express my condolences to the Hall family on the passing of (former Hallmark Chairman and CEO) Don Hall Sr., he was a true Kansas City icon who did so much for the city. He leaves a tremendous legacy and will be greatly missed. For the Chiefs, it’s been a great start to the season. Obviously, we’re excited to be coming out of the bye week at 5-0, we’ve certainly experienced some adversity with injuries that we’ve had and I want to compliment the guys who have come in and stepped up in those positions. I think it’s a real credit to both (Head Coach) Andy Reid and (General Manager) Brett Veach with the job that they’ve done of taking the next man up and putting him in a position to succeed. With that, I’m happy to open it up to questions.”

Q: After the video of Kareem Hunt was released in 2018, the Chiefs let him go from the team. How do you reconcile that with bringing him back now?

HUNT:&nbsp;“Well, going back to six years ago we were obviously very disappointed by the actions that we saw in that video and how he (Kareem Hunt) handled it afterwards. As we talked about it as an organization here a few weeks ago, both (General Manager) Brett (Veach) and (Head Coach) Andy (Reid) expressed to me that they felt confident that he had matured from that, that he learned from the mistake, gotten the help that he had needed and as a result, we felt comfortable in bringing him back.”

Q: Have you spoken with Kareem Hunt yet?

HUNT:&nbsp;“I have, I have. He (Kareem Hunt) expressed to me his gratitude for being back here. He knows it’s a really good fit for him from a career standpoint. (He) knows that he left here under some difficult circumstances and is very glad to be back and getting to play for our great fans.”

Q: On Tom Brady becoming a partial owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.

HUNT:&nbsp;“We certainly talked about the subject of him (former NFL QB Tom Brady) being an owner as well as a broadcaster. The commissioner – after consulting with many owners – decided that the right step to take was to limit his participation in the production meetings and that was enough to get everybody comfortable with the dual roles. It did pass unanimously with everybody yesterday, so I think everybody felt very comfortable with that.”

Q: Is there another quarterback that you can envision being an owner in this league one day?

HUNT:&nbsp;“(Laughter) I’m sure he (former NFL QB Tom Brady) won’t be the last.”

Q: You led the committee to allow private equity investment in teams. Why is that not a route that the Chiefs are pursuing?

HUNT:&nbsp;“Every organization and the families who are involved are going to make their own decisions and there are a lot of things that play into a decision to sell a stake in the team, whether you’re selling it to private equity or to another individual. We’ve talked about it as a family and everybody is very excited about the Chiefs and what we’re doing on the field and opportunities that we have in front of us and we just don’t feel it’s the right time to sell a stake in the team.”

Q: Have any of the other ownership groups started down the private equity road yet?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

HUNT:&nbsp;“It’s a very compressed time frame with the league just approving it at the end of August and the paperwork literally being finalized over the last several weeks. My understanding is that there are several teams that are pursuing transactions. One or two of those might close before year end, but I would expect that there’ll be many others that will close next year and in the years to come.”

Q: What can you share about your timeline of decision making on the stadium situation?

HUNT:&nbsp;“For the last three months or so, since I had the chance to visit with you all at training camp, we’ve been working on creating some options. Not only for the stadium but also for potentially a new training facility. We’ve been looking at a lot at sites on both the Kansas and Missouri sides, as well as talking to the political leaders in Missouri about perhaps renovating GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Again, we’re not at the end of that process at all, we continue to have good conversations and we’re hopeful that by the spring we’ll have some direction. I certainly don’t expect to have anything finalized by that point, but I’d like to know the direction that we’re heading in that time frame.”

Q: When you spoke during training camp, you said that you would like to have answers about the stadium at the end of the year. Are you saying that now it will likely be later than that?

HUNT:&nbsp;“I would just reiterate what I said at training camp which is it’s very hard to put a timeline on a stadium process. We want to move as quickly as we can, the real deadline that we have is in February of 2031 when our lease runs out here at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. There’s a lot of work that will need to go into either renovating the stadium or building a new one, so we do feel like we need to work as expeditiously as possible.”

Q: What are the three or four things you might point to that take so long to make this process thorough?

HUNT:&nbsp;“Probably the most difficult thing is there are a lot of stakeholders. When you’re involved in a stadium process, you’ve got the local city, the county, the state, that all have to be part of those conversations. Obviously, there is a lot of work on our side in terms of figuring out what the right opportunity is for us economically. We also are very cognizant of making sure that we keep the community and our fans in mind. We want to make sure that where we end up will work for many generations of Chiefs fans.”

Q:&nbsp;On a political side, Harrison Butker has created a PAC, are you fine with your players being involved politically like that?

HUNT:&nbsp;“One of the things I talk to the players about every year at training camp is using their platform to make a difference. Obviously, we have players on both sides of the political spectrum and both sides of whichever controversial issue you want to bring up, so I’m not at all concerned when our players use their platform to try to make a difference for what they believe in.”

Q:&nbsp;Regarding stadium decisions, what do you need to have happen in the state of Missouri through all the levels? Do you anticipate if something gets done in Missouri, it won’t be a ballot issue at that point and there’s going to have to be another vehicle to get that done?

HUNT:&nbsp;“I think there are a lot of avenues that we could pursue with Missouri on financing for a renovation of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The effort that failed earlier this year had a couple stakeholders – with the state being part of it as well as the county, and the city historically has also had a small involvement with the stadium. So, I would anticipate that it would be a combination of all three of those. Certainly, something that has slowed us down a little bit is the election coming up here in three weeks. We’re going to have a change in the governor of the state, so, once we get past that, we think that will really open up the opportunity for us to have more constructive conversations.”

Q:&nbsp;From the outside looking in, it looks like Kansas did a whole bunch of work for this and it looks easier to maybe go do that. Is it not easier just to take that? Is it worth something more to work harder on this side of the state line?

HUNT:&nbsp;“Well, we are not looking for what’s easiest, we are looking for the right opportunity. We are grateful for the work that was done on the Kansas side that opens that up as an opportunity.”

Q:&nbsp;From talking to Head Coach Andy Reid in that airport in Philadelphia 11 years ago to where you are now, do you feel like you guys have been able to build everything that you envisioned culture-wise when you were talking to him?

HUNT:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think there is an argument that we’ve maybe exceeded my expectations. Certainly, I envisioned building a team that could consistently compete for championships, and obviously, (Head Coach) Andy (Reid) and (General Manager) Brett (Veach), and their coaching staff and football operations team, have done an unbelievable job of that. But you mention the culture, and I think that is one of the things that is so special about this team is the culture. Andy Reid gets a lot of credit for having established that culture, but we wouldn’t have what we have, both on the field and off, without the players. The player leadership specifically – Patrick (Mahomes), Travis (Kelce), Chris Jones – those veteran players do a tremendous job of helping perpetuate the culture that Andy established when he came here 11-plus years ago.”

Q:&nbsp;You mention the possibility of different locations on both sides, can you share what some of those locations might be on each side of the border and how important is it that the stadium and the practice facility be tied together instead of separate locations?

HUNT:&nbsp;“It wouldn’t be helpful to the process for me to mention specific sites other than obviously, here at the (Harry S.) Truman Sports Complex, which is an obvious one. In regard to your second question, the practice facility and the stadium don’t have to be next to each other going forward, and on the Missouri side that’s something that we’re contemplating, is perhaps another location in Missouri for a training facility.”

Q:&nbsp;Do they both have to be in the same state, or can you have one in one state and one in the other?

HUNT:&nbsp;“I think really everything is on the table in that regard. There is some logic to having them in the same state, but I don’t think they have to be.”

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, really the only injury that will not practice today is Mike Danna. He’s got a pec strain, so we’ll just see how he does this week as we go forward. (We) look forward to the challenge of playing the 49ers, (they’re) a heck of a football team. (49ers Head Coach) Kyle (Shanahan) does a great job with the team and he and (49ers Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line) Chris (Foerster) have that offense rolling right now and their defense is one of the top defenses in the NFL –and (49ers Defensive Coordinator) Nick (Sorensen) heading up the defense. Special teams, (49ers Special Teams Coordinator) Brian (Schneider) does a great job there on special teams so listen, they’re well coached (and) they’ve got good players. I think both teams kind of know each other and it should just be a heck of a game. With that, time’s yours.”

Q: What is it about the 49ers defense that makes them so difficult to prepare for?

REID:&nbsp;“Their defensive front. It starts with those guys and then they’ve got an All-Pro linebacker (49ers LB Fred Warner) sitting right there that’s pretty good, along with their secondary. They’re well-rounded but it starts with the defensive front. Those guys – they set the tempo for their defense.”

Q: What are your plans for Clyde Edwards-Helaire now that he’s on the active roster again?

REID:&nbsp;“We’ll just see how that goes and how it all works, and we’ve got to look at everything on that. Special teams, etcetera, etcetera so, we’ll just – but he’s (Clyde Edwards-Helaire) good to go practice. He knows what he’s doing (and) he’s feeling great, which is the most important thing.”

Q: Do you anticipate that Clyde Edwards-Helaire will play on Sunday?

REID:&nbsp;“We’ll see. We’ll see how that goes.”

Q: Is the Super Bowl footage of any use at all at this stage?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think both teams will look at that, for sure. You’re going to look at everything. I mean, over the time that we’ve had against each other, along with the games we’ve already played and they’ve played. So, you look at all of that.”

Q: Do you consider this a rematch or is it just another regular season game?

REID:&nbsp;“I think that comes from you guys (the media) and then – but I think it’s two good teams playing each other, for sure. That’s how I look at it.”

Q: How was the bye week for you and your coaching staff?

REID:&nbsp;“It was good. It was good to step back for a second – for the players in particular. They got quite a bit of time off and (the) coaches got a little bit of time off. It was good for everybody there.”

Q: What are the benefits of having an early bye rather than a later bye?

REID:&nbsp;“We’ve normally had them (a) little (later) – ninth week or plus, somewhere in that area. Our schedule is crazy enough where you’re going to get some days off and it’s important that you take advantage of those days so that’s what I’d tell you. It was good to get this one and then how we handle the rest of the schedule is the important part and when we have time, make sure you take the time for recovery purposes.”

Q: You had a lot of success under center against the Saints. What do you attribute that to?

REID:&nbsp;“We’ve done a little bit more of that this year and it’s just – listen, it’s one more thing that we like to use and we’re able to use it a little bit more. I think (the) running backs love that part, obviously, but it’s a good change up.”

Q: How do you feel about the pass protection at the left tackle position so far?

REID:&nbsp;“Listen, we’ve got young guys playing the left tackle. I mean, that’s not a secret and so it’s important that we just continue to progress there and get better. We know there’s going to be some hiccups, and we’ve just got to keep getting better and better as we go, that’s the important thing. The guys are working hard so that’s kind of where we’re at with that.”

Q: Will Wanya Morris start this week?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, Wanya (Morris) will start.”

Q: What have you seen from 49ers QB Brock Purdy over the first few years of his career?

REID:&nbsp;“I think he’s (49ers QB Brock Purdy) a heck of a player. I remember there – the head coach at Iowa State (Matt Campbell) saying, ‘This guy changed the program around.’ When you make a statement like that – and he’s a good football coach – when you make a statement like that, that’s bold and we all see why he said it. He was right on with that. I mean, this kid – he’s a heck of a football player.”

Q: Why has JuJu Smith-Schuster been able to pick up right where he left off from the 2022 season?

REID:&nbsp;“First of all, he’s (JuJu Smith-Schuster) a veteran and he works hard and he’s smart, so I think all of those kind of go into that. Pat (Mahomes) has trust in him and we as coaches have trust in him and we’ve tried to put him in good positions for his strengths and try to utilize those. I think all of those things kind of add up to production. The main thing is (that) he’s kept himself in great shape and he’s smart, you know? He knows how to play the game.”

Q: JuJu Smith-Schuster said that he saw Rashee Rice doing a lot of the things that he had done the year before. Does that just make him a really good piece to have around when you do lose Rashee?

REID:&nbsp;“You and I have talked about this, Matt (Derrick) but the guy opposite of (Travis) Kelce ends up being very important. That they know how to play the game and can kind of do similar things that Kelce can do. If you can get that then you’ve got something going offensively that way. So, he (JuJu Smith-Schuster) did that before, (former WR Byron) Pringle did that before him. We’ve had guys in those spots that could do that so that’s a positive thing. Anyways, JuJu’s good with that and yeah, there are similar things. They’re doing similar things.”

Q:&nbsp;You’re used to playing in big games, but is there anything special about this one given the recent history between these teams?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I mean, it’s as big as a regular season game (that) you can play in. They’re a great football team and I always like going up against the best and that’s what we’re going up against this week. We understand that it’s going to be a big game. We understand that it’s going to take our best to win, so you just have to have extreme focus and know that it’s going to be one play that decides the entire game.”

Q:&nbsp;Are you aware of this rivalry’s place in NFL history?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah, in a sense. I think when you have two great football that meet up in the Super Bowl and meet up in all these big games, there’s going to be a history between that. Obviously, we’ve been able to win those games, but we know how good this football team is, and we have a ton of respect for them. It’s not like one play couldn’t have changed all of these football games and so we go in with that mindset of we just have to make the plays whenever they count.”

Q:&nbsp;What goes through your mind when you watch the last two offensive drives of last year’s game?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think the biggest thing is the guys just stepped up and made plays. It wasn’t one guy, it was everybody. Guys just continued to make plays and did their job and that’s what special football teams do. It was this close (hand motion), I mean, there was a play here and there that if that changes, then they win. So, that’s kind of the NFL and especially when you get two of the top teams going up against each other.”

Q:&nbsp;Was there something you still wanted to focus in on with your own game over the bye week?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah, I got some work in, and I feel like I’m in a good spot. Until you take time off, you stay on top of your fundamentals, you stay on top of the stuff that’s gotten you to where you are so far in the season. I thought it was good bye week. I spent some time with my family and some friends and family as well - did that and then got some work in fundamentally and I’m excited for a great challenge ahead.”

Q:&nbsp;&nbsp;What’s your approach for yourself and for your teammates for the rest of the season as you guys buckle in for this 12-game unbroken stretch to finish things out?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“You have to take it one game at a time (and) one day at a time. I haven’t been in this situation before just because I’ve always had a later bye week, but I always try to stay on top of my body and making sure I’m (as) healthy as possible. I mean, you’re going to be banged up in the NFL, but you have to continue to just grind away every single day and get better. Then, once you get to the playoffs, that’s when you want to be playing your best football. I think that’s something that (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid does a great job of (is) how he schedules practices (and) how he schedules the week to get your body best prepared for the entire season.”

Q:&nbsp;What qualities make JuJu Smith-Schuster a good player for that role opposite of Travis Kelce?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think he (JuJu Smith-Schuster) just does a good job of knowing where to be at, knowing the full concept of the offense, getting himself open in man-to-man coverage and then just doing whatever it takes to be good. I mean, he’ll block, he’ll catch the ball, he’ll run routes (to) get other guys open. (He’s) just a true team player and then when his number gets called, he goes out there and makes the play and that’s what it takes to be great in this league.”

Q:&nbsp;Speaking of keeping your body right,&nbsp;what sort of stuff do you try to do with Bobby Stroupe during the season and what are you emphasizing right now?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“You stay on top of the little things – shoulder health, knee health, ankle health, all that different type of stuff, especially when you get a little bit of extra time in the bye week. Then, I try to do whatever I can to maintain my weight in the right spot. Then, I even get with my QB coach and get some work in as well in that bye week. You just get a little extra time to focus on your fundamentals even more and so doing that and then coming back in the building and continuing to stay on top of that will be important to me this year.”

Q:&nbsp;What’s Bobby Stroupe’s voice like in your ear at this point in the season?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“His (Bobby Stroupe) voice is in my ear at all times. No, he just makes sure I stay on top of the little things. I think that’s the biggest thing that’s helped me throughout my career, and I’ve noticed a difference from my first few years to know that Bobby’s up here working with me is that he doesn’t let the little things slide and he knows some days I don’t feel as good. He makes sure that I get that work in, and I make sure to kind of check the boxes so that I can be the best I can be every single week.”

Q:&nbsp;Did you enjoy your trip over to Kauffman Stadium?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I did. It was awesome. The energy was amazing. Obviously, the Royals played great against a great baseball team and didn’t come out with the win, but it was cool to see and experience that. I’ve been waiting for that for a long time and hopefully it’s a building block and a step in the right direction for the future and I’m excited for those guys and the seasons to come.”

Q:&nbsp;How awful was Gehrig Dieter in the suite with you?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“He (Gehrig Dieter) actually wasn’t that bad. I probably was worse. I was the ‘Dieter’ in that situation. No, he’s a big Yankees fan, obviously, and he’s super excited and now he gets to talk trash to Travis (Kelce), so I passed that along to Trav.”

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“No, dude. You can’t give him (Gehrig Dieter) a little sliver of opening and Travis (Kelce) told us that he was going to the game and all of a sudden, I looked and Dieter’s flying to New York. (You) can’t give him an opening but it’s cool for him to get to do it. I mean, I’m not like a (New York) Yankees hater, but sometimes I don’t want the Yankees to win because of him. He’s made me not want the Yankees – but I like the guys on the team so I’m just watching as a fan now, which is cool.”

Q:&nbsp;What inspired you to get involved with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“It was cool because I don’t know Kansas City and the history of the Negro Leagues in Kansas City. When I got here as a rookie and the rookie symposium type (of) stuff, they took us over to the museum and I realized how great it was and met (Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President) Bob (Kendrick) and got to hear the history. That was the same stuff that my dad (Patrick Mahomes Sr.) and LaTroy (Hawkins) had talked about growing up and my dad used to mimic (National Baseball Hall of Famer) Satchel Paige and some of the ways he’d do his mechanics and pitch and so it just hit me close because I had heard this stuff growing up and now I got to hear the history of it. I know people talk about it but if you haven’t been, I would go over to the Negro Leagues Museum and see the history of the game and how it impacted not only baseball but the sports world in general. It was easy for me whenever Adidas came up to me and said, ‘Let’s make something that goes with Kansas City,’ and I was like, ‘The Negro Leagues Museum and the (Kansas City) Monarchs, especially.’ I’m excited for how this shoe turned out and hopefully you go out and get them.”

Q:&nbsp;What’s your confidence like with your receivers?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I have extreme confidence with the guys that are on that football field. I mean, they’ve won games, they’ve won Super Bowls, they’ve made plays in big moments and (General Manager) Brett Veach does a great job of bringing payers in that can step up whenever their number is called. Every time I step on that football field, I feel like we have the best ability to win. I think that’s a credit to Brett Veach and (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid bringing in guys that really get after it and put in the work to be great every single day.”

Q:&nbsp;&nbsp;How much time in the bye week did you look at your performance in the red zone and is there anything you want to change when you guys get in that area of the field?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think it’s just execution. I think for me, myself, I have to just trust to throw into those tighter windows and make those plays and know that that window might be the only opportunity you have to score a touchdown. Then, we have to be able to run the ball down there and know that we get different coverages than a lot of other teams. So, instead of necessarily going in with a certain mindset because this is how this team has played in the red zone, we have to go in with more ‘good vs. all’ plays. If you look at some of these teams, it’s like they play man (coverage) all game and then they play us – I mean all season – and then they play us, and it’s Cover 2 or Cover 4 and vice versa. We have to go in with the mindset of knowing teams are going to play us a little differently, and we have to execute and accept that challenge. I’ve talked about it, if we score in some of these red zone situations, there isn’t as many – I guess, questions about the offense because we’re scoring more and more points and so eliminating turnover (and) scoring in the red zone are the two things that we just need to work on as the season goes on.”

Q:&nbsp;Did you see stuff when going through film, particularly in the red zone, where there was a small crease where you could have thrown it?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“In certain situations, yeah. I remember just from not even watching on tape but just remembering the Atlanta game, I had one where I kind of went out to the left and it wasn’t necessarily the window to throw it, but I could’ve maybe back shouldered the corner route. I didn’t throw it that one instance and then we didn’t get another opportunity to score (on) that drive. So, just knowing that you have to pick and choose when you want to take those chances. Obviously, with our defense and how they’re playing, you don’t want to necessarily put the ball in harm’s way in the red zone, but whenever you get those opportunities, you can throw a ball that might be him or nobody and the guy can make a catch. (That’s) stuff that I’ll continue to work on as the season goes on.”

Q:&nbsp;When a guy like JuJu Smith-Schuster comes back, what’s the process like of getting on the same page again?

Chiefs Quotes: 10-16-24

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, I don’t have a lot to go over with you. I can just give you a brief update on Rashee (Rice). His surgery was not his ACL, it was the posterolateral corner. There’s damage there. It’s probably the same result though that you’d get timewise for an ACL. It takes a while for that to come back, and he’ll get into his rehab and get rolling on that as we go here but that’s what it was. Other than that, we look forward to the challenge of playing a very good 49er team. I think both teams know each other and what we’re about. (It) should be a heck of a game. Anyways, with that, the time’s yours.”

Q: Is it still your process to use the bye week to self-scout? If so, what was your point of emphasis?

REID:&nbsp;“We actually have a continual self-scout that we do throughout there and then look at it and we’ve got areas to improve. I’m not necessarily going to go through those areas but there are things that we can definitely improve on, (on) both sides of the ball, special teams so we’ve got to – and special teams. We were able to go back and look at some of that to be able to – offensively – to keep our drives going and things that can help us sustain things that might have hurt those drives. Then, the obvious redzone questions, we kind of worked through that (to) make sure we’re a little bit more sound there. Defensively, we’re doing a pretty good job in most of the situational things. We’d had that first drive thing going and (that) we did a little better on so we’re doing a pretty good job there. There are some things that (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Spags has got that he’s got to work on with the guys. That’s kind of in a nutshell, that was it.”

Q: What stands out to you about the redzone offensively from week-to-week?

REID:&nbsp;“Well, listen, we can do a better job of not stopping ourselves with things. Whether it’s penalties or dropped balls, we’ve had a couple of those. Schematically, we go back and we hammer through that. We can help out the guys in some of the areas, too, there – just putting them in a little bit better position. The things that are hurting us right now – which are obvious, but the penalty situation’s hurting us, and we’ve got to take care of that. That’s something we can control, focus in on (and) do a better job with.”

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid QuotesOctober 14, 2024HEAD COACH ANDY REIDOPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, I don’t have a lot to go over with you. I can just give you a brief update on Rashee (Rice). His surgery was not his ACL, it was the posterolateral corner. There’s damage there. It’s probably the same result though that you’d get timewise for an ACL. It takes a while for that to come back, and he’ll get into his rehab and get rolling on that as we go here but that’s what it was. Other than that, we look forward to the challenge of playing a very good 49er team. I think both teams know each other and what we’re about. (It) should be a heck of a game. Anyways, with that, the time’s yours.”Q: Is it still your process to use the bye week to self-scout? If so, what was your point of emphasis?REID:&nbsp;“We actually have a continual self-scout that we do throughout there and then look at it and we’ve got areas to improve. I’m not necessarily going to go through those areas but there are things that we can definitely improve on, (on) both sides of the ball, special teams so we’ve got to – and special teams. We were able to go back and look at some of that to be able to – offensively – to keep our drives going and things that can help us sustain things that might have hurt those drives. Then, the obvious redzone questions, we kind of worked through that (to) make sure we’re a little bit more sound there. Defensively, we’re doing a pretty good job in most of the situational things. We’d had that first drive thing going and (that) we did a little better on so we’re doing a pretty good job there. There are some things that (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Spags has got that he’s got to work on with the guys. That’s kind of in a nutshell, that was it.”Q: What stands out to you about the redzone offensively from week-to-week?REID:&nbsp;“Well, listen, we can do a better job of not stopping ourselves with things. Whether it’s penalties or dropped balls, we’ve had a couple of those. Schematically, we go back and we hammer through that. We can help out the guys in some of the areas, too, there – just putting them in a little bit better position. The things that are hurting us right now – which are obvious, but the penalty situation’s hurting us, and we’ve got to take care of that. That’s something we can control, focus in on (and) do a better job with.”Q:&nbsp;How much of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Kareem Hunt’s production is due to them being here before?REID:&nbsp;“I think that’s a big part of it. They kind of know how we operate. They know the offense, they’re comfortable with it. Kareem (Hunt) had obviously been away for a while, but he was able to pick everything up quickly. He and Pat (Mahomes) are very good friends. They’ve stayed in touch throughout the years here, so he was welcomed back in, he had that part of it, the comfort part that you’re welcomed back in and to get things rolling. That opens up another avenue there for him psychologically.”Q:&nbsp;What are your plans for Clyde Edwards-Helaire now that he’s been at practice for a week now?REID:&nbsp;“He’ll (Clyde Edwards-Helaire) be back in tomorrow. We’ll be able to talk to him then. I haven’t had the chance to talk to him here, so I want to just get with him first before I put anything out there publicly. We’re awful glad to have him here.”Q:&nbsp;Do you still see Wanya Morris starting at left tackle for at least the interim?REID:&nbsp;“We obviously looked at that and we’ll just – both of them can do better. Wanya (Morris) knows what he has to work on and likewise Kingsley (Suamataia) does and we’re lucky to have both of the guys – both young guys. We’re kind of growing with them here so we’ll just kind of let that process keep rolling.”Q:&nbsp;How important is bringing in a receiver with some familiarity if you are to acquire one at the trade deadline?REID:&nbsp;“I think – it’s probably what Adam (Teicher) was saying too – just I think that helped JuJu (Smith-Schuster) and his situation coming back in (and) jumping in. It helped Mecole (Hardman) coming back, but I’m not telling (you) other guys can’t come in and help out. That’s not – I don’t think that’s an issue. It’s just going to take them a little bit longer to figure it out and get on the same page with Pat (Mahomes) and all of those things. It won’t be quite as what you’ve seen with these other guys that have been here, but that’s – and I’m not saying that we need to bring anybody else in. You asked the question. I’m just saying that I’m answering your question on that, Matt (Derrick).”Q: On Xavier Worthy’s progress.REID:&nbsp;“I think Xavier’s (Worthy) has done a nice job for us; he does a lot of things there for us. (He plays) a lot of different positions, we have flexibility with him to move him around. He’s a quick learner which helps in this offense. I’m happy with what we’ve got so far and I don’t think we’ve tapped that out at all. He’ll keep getting better and that’s exciting.”Q: Do you feel good about everyone on your active roster health-wise?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, the only one that was working on something was (Mike) Danna. Mike had hurt his pec(toral) and so he’s working through that, but he would be the only one that was working this past week with something.”Q: What is a good number of carries for Kareem Hunt at this point in his career?REID:&nbsp;“I kind of joked with him (Kareem Hunt), Soren (Petro), that he’d spend the bye week in the cold tub after all those carries. I told you – I mentioned before that he came back in pretty good shape other than not having played football and that’s held true to this point. He’s been able to do a good job in practice when he was on the scout team. Then, he worked through that (and) he was able to get in the game. We started him off relatively slow and then increased it and he was able to handle both of those things. I think – and we’ll just see how the game goes but I feel comfortable with him carrying the ball. We had (Carson) Steele backing him up there (and) he had a few carries that were productive so we’re in pretty good shape there.”Q: You usually have later bye weeks and home games coming out of the bye week, since it’s different this year, will you do anything different?