Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke to the media on Sunday along with a number of players. We heard from Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and WR Sammy Watkins. We also heard from rookie CB L’Jarius Sneed for the first time since the draft. There was a lot to be said as the Chiefs’ players enter the gradual ramp-up period of training camp.
Here’s a look at six things we learned during the course of the media availability:
Chiefs players aren’t behind compared to a normal offseason
“Because they gave us a couple extra practices in pads, we’re going to be okay. We have four practices here without pads on, and we should be okay. We should be able to cover all the situations that we normally cover, which is important in this day and age of football. Situational football, because of margins between wins and losses, is very important. So, we’re focusing in on that, making sure we’re getting that taken care of, but at the same time getting the guys in football condition where they can sustain four quarters. You’re probably behind by reps that you’ve had in the offseason, but other than that, we should be able to catch up on some of that.” – Chiefs HC Andy Reid
While the Chiefs are behind in terms of the reps that they’d normally have by now, Reid is under the impression that they’ll be able to make it up in the time they’ve been allotted. You also have to remember that with 10 fewer players on the offseason roster, there are more reps to go around.
There has also been an emphasis on situational football, which is important. If they hadn’t placed such an emphasis on that in the past, perhaps they wouldn’t have been able to accomplish those comeback wins on their way to a Super Bowl victory last year.
No excuses for the Chiefs in 2020
“Yeah, first off, I think the biggest thing you have to do with all 2020 is just try to make you accept every challenge of the next day. You just really – every morning you wake up knowing you’re going to have to go in with an open mind, prepared for whatever comes your way. For me, I mean that’s kind of how an athlete has to prepare for every single day, every practice, every meeting whatever it is, and so I’m going to do that, I’m going to continue to do that. Every single day I wake up it’s a blank slate, I’m going to go out there, attack it, be the best person, athlete or whatever it is that day and hopefully we keep going good as far as a football facility and as a nation we try to progress and get to the other side of this.” – Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
A lot of players and coaches in the Chiefs’ locker room have echoed a similar sentiment to Mahomes here. They’re not going to use COVID-19 and this strange offseason as an excuse for failure. They’re still going to meet the challenges head-on and prepare as they normally would for a successful, winning season.
Rookies are adjusting well to NFL life
“When we’re eating, we study together. When we’re walking around, we’re asking each other questions about things. Every day we challenge each other.” – Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed
Similarly, the rookies are taking this offseason in stride. They’re not getting the normal rookie experience, but it’s alright because they’re still getting the work in. For rookie CB L’Jarius Sneed, he doesn’t feel behind at all after missing out on OTAs and minicamp. Sneed says that all the rookies are working together to make sure that they’re prepared, but also challenged each and every day.
Sammy Watkins isn’t starting World War III in Kansas City
“I think any player or receiver wants to go out there and do well. You want to score touchdowns, catch the ball as much as you can, and get as many yards as possible. As myself, I want those type of things. Do I have to be mad at the guys also going out and getting it? No. I love my guys. I love to see guys be out there balling. It’s my duty to serve them as well as they serve me. As a receiver, of course I want more balls, but that’s not my focus. My focus is in the win and going out there and having fun.” – Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins
Remember Watkins’ Bleacher Report feature that was published earlier this offseason? The one where he promised “World War III” if the Chiefs didn’t do right by him and get him the ball. Yeah, well, that’s all in the past now. The 2020 version of Watkins is focused on winning and having fun. Watkins does want to get the ball more often. But as Andy Reid implied, what great player doesn’t want the ball more often? It’s not something that will be a problem and that’s a relief.
Juan Thornhill and Martinas Rankin are making good progress but…
“I’d say the same thing, they’re all making good progress, it’s just a matter of when they can come back. As the trainers ramp them up we’ll see, but neither one of them are ready to go right now. ” – Chiefs HC Andy Reid
These two former starters from the 2019 season aren’t ready to go yet. Both players were placed on the PUP list and Andy Reid has no timetable for their return. Thornhill, who started 17 games for the Chiefs in 2019, doesn’t seem to be particularly close to returning given Reid’s description of the work he’s yet to do with the training staff. It makes that much more sense why Kansas City brought in Tedric Thompson. This is something to monitor with just a month to go until the season opener.
No lazy days for Chiefs players this offseason
“I know the thing with where we are now versus last year, I feel like a lot of guys are still physically the shape they were in or in even better shape. I think guys really took it upon themselves during this quarantine time to keep their bodies in shape and so that was I don’t want to say it was surprising to see, but that was good to see, exciting to see when you come into camp and everybody is right where we left off at.” – Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
It seems like strength and conditioning coach Barry Rubin did a good job with his program that he enacted during the virtual offseason. Mahomes claims that no one showed up to camp out of shape. He believes that the players might even be in better shape than they were when they reported to camp last year. That’ll certainly give the team an advantage from a fitness standpoint when the season begins. It’ll also allow them to work that much harder when they are out on the field getting reps in ahead of the season.
