The Kansas City Chiefs had its first presser since their 19-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raider on Black Friday. Head Coach Andy Reid spoke to the media Monday morning and addressed several areas concerning the Chiefs even as they sit atop the AFC with an 11-1 record.
Reid touched on the Chiefs’ left tackle situation along with their defensive back rotations as pertained to the last game and moving forward. He also spoke about player development for the younger guys that the Chiefs have just drafted, and for the young guys that have only been with the team for a few years.
While going through all of this, Reid showed no sign of giving up on anyone, rather he remained optimistic acknowledging that despite the record the play on the field has not been what they had hoped, but these challenges in the long run he believes will only pay dividends to everyone’s confidence and play on the field.
Andy Reid On Left Tackle D.J. Humphries
The Kansas City Chiefs signed former Arizona Cardinals Left Tackle D.J. Humphries before their game against the Raiders, with hopes he would be their solution to their left tackle woes. Reid provided an update on what this week would look like for Humphries as he continues to get integrated with the team. “We’ll work him in and see how he feels,” Reid said. “That’s the main thing, because he hasn’t played in a while, so we just want to make sure he’s in a good position.”
Reid emphasized caution with Humphries’ return to action, due to him coming off an ACL injury he suffered in Week 17 of last year. However, this week the coaching staff does plan on evaluating his conditioning before making any kind of commitment to him playing this week. “We’ll play it by ear,” Reid said, reiterating that they’ll take a careful approach to his practice load this week.
Without question, the Chiefs’ biggest concern this season has been their left tackle position, making Humphries’ arrival timely. Reid understands this better than anyone but has decided to not commit to naming him the starter for their next game. This only further points to his confidence in the guys they already have in the room. It also stresses the point that he wants to make sure Humphries is as close as too 100% as he can be, so once is ready to go it will be for the long term.
Evaluating the Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Line’s Development
Reid has addressed the challenges with the Chiefs’ offensive line throughout the season, specifically their tackles. Not shying away from the fact that his younger players have gotten the better taken of them. “We’ve got young guys that we’re working in there,” Reid said. “They’re going against good players, and the good ones have probably gotten the better of us.”
Despite this reality, Reid will always have his players’ back and he believes they can turn things around with the continued development of rookie Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris. Reid also mentioned that while their performances have been up to what he would liked, the experiences they’ve gained will benefit them and the team moving forward. “This is something they can bank for the future to get themselves better,” Reid said.
Reid spoke specifically on Morris’ performance against the Raiders on Friday. “He started off pretty good, then it went from there,” Reid said. “That happens to young guys, and nobody wants that, but it’s a great learning experience for him.” Once again understands that his guys are not playing to his or their desired level, but he believes in trusting the progress and the development of his ball club, and moving forward this will get corrected.
Defensive Back Adjustments
Defensively, the Chiefs in the last few weeks have fallen off from their dominant form in the first half of the season. Specifically at the cornerback position, which Reid discussed in his presser, it has been becoming more and more worrisome in recent weeks. The Chiefs initially started Nazeeh Johnson alongside Trent McDuffie on Friday but ended up benching Johnson in favor of Joshua Williams. Reid made it clear that the team remains confident in both players.
“I’m glad we have both of them,” Reid said. “I think both of them can still work in there and do some things.” He reiterated that the decision to rotate players is not a reflection of giving up on Johnson. “We haven’t given up on Nazeeh or anything of that sort,” Reid added, reaffirming that both players will continue to have opportunities.
Reid remains confident in his team’s secondary depth but also acknowledges their recent struggles. Moving forward he plans on maintaining flexibility in personnel decisions. “As we go forward, we can use both of them, I’m sure,” Reid said.
Final Thoughts
Reid’s comments from his first presser of the week reflected a measured approach to the Chiefs’ struggles. This should come as no surprise to anyone if they have followed this team or know of Reid’s coaching history. Panicking or pointing blame will fix nothing, but instead acknowledge the issues that plague this team; left tackle and the cornerback positions, and Reid continues to remain steadfast in his belief that these experiences will lead to improvement.
This week, as the Chiefs prepare to host the Los Angeles Chargers. Head Coach Andy Reid’s focus remains on player development on his guys in-house and getting everyone that has recently joined the team‘ on the same page. With veteran additions like D.J. Humphries and young players gaining valuable experience, the Chiefs are working to position themselves for continued success.
