Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes
August 2, 2024
OPENING STATEMENT: “Alright, as far as the injuries go, you have the guys from yesterday. It’s the same guys. Add Kelvin Joseph in there, (he has) a slight hamstring (injury). Then, Wanya (Morris) hurt his shoulder a bit, so we’ll get that checked out and worked out. Good work today. (There was) a lot of red zone work today. That benefits you, (it’s) obviously an important situation there once you get inside that red zone. (We have to) make sure you’re accurate with all your assignments. Anyways, with that, time’s yours.”
Q: How are you feeling about the offense being eight days away from the first preseason game?
REID: “Good. The guys are learning and working hard. I think they’ll be excited to play against somebody else other than themselves here.”
Q: Is there anything specific that impressed you about the red zone work today?
REID: “When it goes back and forth like it did, that’s a positive thing. Both sides challenged each other. It was all ones versus ones and two versus twos. It was good work against good guys and all.”
Q: What kind of progress have you seen from Kingsley Suamataia?
REID: “Kingsley, you’re saying?”
Q: Yes.
REID: “It was a good try on the last name though.”
Q: It was perfect, right?
REID: “That’s right. You pronounced every syllable. You got it. He’s worked in with those starters, and he’s doing a nice job there. He’s working – number one – hard on the things we’re trying to teach him. There’s a lot of new things that he’s learning. He’s playing aggressive and getting better every day. He’s not taking steps back which is important. He’s getting to go against good players which also is important and competing (with) them.”
Q: With Wanya Morris playing left guard today, is it fair to say Kingsley Suamataia is your left tackle now?
REID: “No, not necessarily. It gives us a chance to let Wanya (Morris) work a little guard. (Offensive Line Coach) Andy (Heck) moves those guys around. You saw (Lucas) Niang in there last week. Wanya (Morris) got a shot at it this week, or today. It’s not a permanent thing. That’s not what it is. It’s just having a shot to get in there and see what we’ve got and what he can do there.”
Q: Do you have plans to move Kingsley Suamataia around at all?
REID: “Well, I think just being a rookie here – I think you probably leave him (Kinglsey Suamataia) in one spot for right now. Eventually, he’ll be able to do all of it.”
Q: What’s it been like to watch Chris Jones every day in the heart of camp?
REID: “It’s good. He’s very disruptive when he’s in there. I like the way he’s working. It’s good to have him here. He brings energy. I mean, you guys know his personality. He brings that every day, and he’s playing good.”
Q: How have you seen Isiah Pacheco grow in pass protection?
REID: “He’s (Isiah Pacheco) ready to be able to do all that. He’s good with the protections. He’s good with the technique and fundamentals. He can run all the routes. He’s got great hands. He can do that. Clyde (Edwards-Helaire) can do that. We’ve got guys who can step in there and do it.”
Q: Last year you had a dominant offense and defense, what do you need to do to build on that consistency so that there’s a balance between the two units?
REID: “We need to get better, just strive to get better – coaches and players. If you can just keep the hammer down and keep working and detail in your work and not worry about what’s going on a play down the way here. Just focus on what your job is and get it done. I think then you have a chance to get better. We’ve added some new things, and the coaches are working on detailing all of that and the players are working hard to this point. They’re working their tails off to master everything.”
Q: On Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s PTSD struggles.
REID: “It’s real, first of all. He’s (Clyde Edwards-Helaire) admitted it which is – that’s a positive. He knows, and he’s willing to attack it. We’ve got help here for him with (Vice President of Player Services and Assessment) Dr. (Shaun) T (Tyrance), who spends time with him. Just keeping us informed, he does a great job with that, and then if he needs spotting, we spot him. We take that – we’re not firing through things, we get it. It’s a serious deal, so I’m just glad that he’s on board with that part. He’s been great with it.”
Q: How has Carson Wentz done as the backup quarterback and how has the team’s speed looked during training camp?
REID: “Carson’s (Wentz) done a nice job. (I) really like what I’ve seen from him. He’s got a real good feel for the game. Smart kid, real smart and has picked it up quickly. As far as the speed goes, it’s good to have the speed, but you still have to be able to run the routes and do all those things so those guys are working like crazy on it. You see them in there working on releases and working on the intermediate short routes, so it’s not just about throwing the ball down the field. You can’t just do that in the National Football League, I mean you have to be able to do the other things with it.”
Q: Is there something that you didn’t expect or learned about Trent McDuffie in his first two years here?
REID: “(He’s) extremely smart, (a) student of the game and then he’s always in balance. As receivers, we’re trying to get the corners out of balance, especially when they’re coming up and pressing you and doing all that. He’s always under control and in balance, and that’s a unique characteristic that he has.”
Q: How tempting is Carson Steele making it to bring back the fullback position fulltime?
REID: “(Carson) Steele is doing a nice job with that. He’s jumped in there and played fullback. He’s been banging it in there with what we ask him to do. He’s really not a fullback, but he can also do the other things but he’s a big kid and he wants to – he’s trying to make the team. He’s had some real good snaps for us. It’s been a surprise there.”
Chiefs Player Quotes
August 2, 2024
DE GEORGE KARLAFTIS
Q: The other day Travis Kelce talked about how training camp is a sanctuary for him. How would you describe camp?
KARLAFTIS: “I didn’t hear that, but that’s a great – I’d say that that’s a great description. You know, you (have) the summer, you’re traveling, you’re training, all this and that and then you come here and you can just focus on ball. Our d-line (Defensive Line) coach, Coach (Joe) Cullen, he’s like, ‘hey, you’ve got to take advantage of this because not a lot of teams get to go away and do training camp at a different site,’ and all that stuff. So, this is special. It’s unique, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Q: Going into your third year do you feel like you’re fully in tune with the playbook? Do you feel like you can be that resource for the young guys now?
KARLAFTIS: “Yeah, absolutely. I think every year when you’re in the system and you’ve played so many games and you’ve gone through so many preparations and you’ve kind of grown – that’s all I know in the NFL, this playbook and this system. So, I feel like I can really help the young guys. I feel like I know what (Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Steve) Spags (Spagnuolo) wants, what he’s asking for and I could help teach the younger guys and bring them along. It’s been great to see how the playbook’s developed and how we can continue to develop around our strengths. It’s been awesome and Coach Spags calls it better than anyone.”
Q: What do you feel like Defensive Line Coach Joe Cullen challenges you at the most?
KARLAFTIS: “I think with (Defensive Line) Coach (Joe) Cullen and (Assistant Defensive Line) Coach (Terry) Bradden, they’re both challenging us every single day to become better. It’s like – whatever our goals were last year, (it’s) just up a notch and it’s like – what is it – it’s like (places hand at one level) this is your ceiling then once you reach, then you break it (moves hand up higher) and then you go even higher. It’s all about just getting better every single day, trying to be perfect, and never being complacent.”
QB CARSON WENTZ
Q: What have you learned about yourself in this offense that you didn’t know about previous offenses you’ve been in?
WENTZ: “It’s a lot of similarities to my time in Philly (with the Eagles) but it’s evolved quite a bit. The speed that this offense has is second to none. It’s faster than any team (that) I’ve been a part of, I would argue. I think just the way that we utilize crossers and utilize things and really do a lot of things that Pat (Mahomes) excels at and how it kind of comes to life out here. It’s fun to be a part of it and be in x’s and o’s meetings and just the ‘why’s’ behind the things. (I) try to just learn as much as I can and be a part of it, but it’s pretty cool how they do things.”
Q: What have you learned about Patrick Mahomes since getting here?
WENTZ: “He’s pretty good. Not that I needed to learn that physically being here but just kind of the way he sees the game is unique. The way he plays and just the anticipation he plays with. Sometimes, it’s maybe not the main throw on a play, but he’s making things work. So, it’s just cool to kind of see, not only the offense come together, but just how he sees it – maybe a little different at times. It’s been fun to work with him and kind of pick his brain on some of those things.”
Q: How have you been adjusting to camp being an hour away at Missouri Western State University?
WENTZ: “Still doing it, still adjusting to it, but it’s really not bad. I’m 31 (years old) now, so it’s been a hot minute since I’ve been in a dorm room but it’s not terrible. Everything being right here, the food’s been great, the service has been awesome and the (Missouri Western State University) campus has done a really good job of taking care of the players and the staff as well here. It first seemed really weird, kind of being out of town in a dorm room (and) all that but coming out to this (the fans) every day makes it pretty fun.”
