Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes
August 5, 2024
OPENING STATEMENT: “Man you guys are spoiled with this thing here (referring to the tent) – holy toledo. Alright, so injuries – Nick Bolton didn’t practice today, (Jaaron) Hayek didn’t practice, Kelvin Joseph no practice, (and) Justin Reid no practice. Deon Bush was out there practicing, Nazeeh (Johnson) practiced, and then Chris Jones got a little tweak to his shoulder – stinger type thing, so he came out for a little bit. Anyways, good work today. The guys are busting their tails, getting after it. (I) appreciate that. It’s warm so they’re getting good heat work. With that, time’s yours.”
Q: Isiah Pacheco has spent a lot of time working on his receiving. What have you seen? Do you feel like he’s growing in that role?
REID: “Isiah Pacheco? Yeah, he’s doing a nice job. He’s good with all that – protections, good there. No problem.”
Q: What went into the successful development of Patrick Mahomes?
REID: “Yeah well, the guy – he worked and he worked with (NY Giants Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator) Mike Kafka, he worked with (Offensive Coordinator) Matt Nagy (and) you know, (former NFL QB) Alex (Smith) was a big part of that. The bottom line was he worked and studied so – and then he’s got gifts too. He’s pretty gifted.”
Q: With Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy helping, how important was picking that support staff for you?
REID: “Those guys are very important, but you’ve got to have good coaches (and) good players. Both are important so, yeah those are important hires.”
Q: In regard to wide receivers, what are you looking for over the next month? How difficult are some of those decisions going to be?
REID: “Yeah, we tell the guys, ‘Be as hard as you can on us when it comes that time. Not everybody is going to make the team, but make it tough on us,’ and so they have got time to do that. With this schedule, that’s one of the benefits (and) they have time to do that – show us what you got, and they will be tough cuts.”
Q: Do you see much of a change with Drue Tranquill from the first year of camp to this year having worked him in with the defense?
REID: “Yeah. He’s very comfortable. I felt that way though towards the end of the year. (I) feel very comfortable with it.”
Q: When do you expect Joe Thuney to get more involved?
REID: “Well, you got to get – we’re working with his doctors, so it will keep increasing as we go. I can’t tell you exactly when and where it will be live and all that, but we’ll just see how he continues to progress.”
Q: What do you guys feel like you have from Jack Cochrane, especially with Nick Bolton out of the mix?
REID: “Jack (Cochrane) knows every position – every linebacker position. He probably knows every position, but he knows every (linebacker) position. (He’s) smart, athletic, and you know is a good commander out there. He gets everybody lined up and we feel very secure with him in there.”
Q: With being at camp for a while now, do you feel like there’s a little bit of a slug? If so, how you do you work through camp day after day?
REID: “We give guys new stuff every day to work on, so (we) try to stay out of that slump.”
Q: On observations of new punter Matt Araiza.
REID: “I like him (Matt Araiza). Just keep working – consistency always as you go. You can see it – I mean he’s booming the thing. (I’ll) be curious to see in games, we’ll see how he does there.”
Q: What have you and (former Head Coach for LV Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) Jon Gruden been talking about on the sideline at camp? What brought him to town?
REID: “He loves football and he and I go way back – 30 years so we’ve known each other a long time. So, it’s good to get him up here. He’s always got good input on things. (He’s) very smart (and) very good football – great football coach, so (I) enjoy having him around (and he has) great energy.”
Q: Do you appreciate when things get a little bit heated? Is that part of the design of the scrimmage? How much do you want that, but not want it to go overboard?
REID: “I’m not into all the fighting – just play, but things happen. (The) guys are getting tired of hitting each other so it happens.”
Q: Do you ever build your team’s identity on Patrick Mahomes’ personality?
REID: “Yeah, absolutely because he (Patrick Mahomes) wants new stuff and so with that you can build a run with his personality there.”
Q: When will you start to get in your head as to what the numbers are going to be?
REID: “Probably by the second preseason game.”
Q: Do you have a playing time plan for Saturday yet in Jacksonville?
REID: “No, not yet. We’ll get it to you though.”
Chiefs Player Quotes
August 5, 2024
DB CHAMARRI CONNER
Q: What is the process like of moving around to different positions throughout training camp?
CONNER: “It’s just been great – a long process. Definitely, learning all the different spots (and) all the different positions. It’s definitely been great. (I’ve) been getting a lot of help from the guys. Even since last year, been getting a lot of help from the older safeties. (I’ve been) training at the nickel spot, so it’s been great.”
Q: How much did last year’s postseason run set you up for this season confidence wise?
CONNER: “Yeah, I definitely needed that. It was a great postseason. I definitely think it helped me a lot being able to get all those plays under my belt and play in those big-time games. It definitely helped me (and) helped my confidence.”
Q: What do you see from Trent McDuffie’s game as a cornerback?
CONNER: “Yeah, he’s a very technical corner. He’s got a lot of different things that he can do. He plays a lot of great man coverage. I love watching him and watching his feet – how calm his feet (are) in his reps, for sure.”
P MATT ARAIZA
Q: Did you anticipate that you would have another opportunity to play in the NFL?
ARAIZA: “There were times that I didn’t and there were times that I did. Honestly it kept going back and forth in my mind. Yeah, there was a lot of moments where I thought it was over. I’m incredibly grateful to be here.”
Q: How has it been working with Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub and his guidance?
ARAIZA: “Great. I have two veteran specialists and two veteran special teams coaches. I can trust everything they say. I feel like they’re doing a great job preparing me (and) going through all the different situations. We’ve had some crazy high-level conversations, and I love it.”
Q: What will the moment of playing in the NFL and potentially getting the chance to show your talents mean to you?
ARAIZA: “It’s going to be pretty surreal. Definitely going to take it all in. Like I said, just grateful for the opportunity and grateful to get back to that moment because that is my favorite thing is being out there in a pressure situation, in a game, with a rush, pads on (and) everything. I think that’s when I’m at my best so I can’t wait to get back out there.”
