KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes talk football and the Jonas Brothers during a Wednesday presser.

HEAD COACH ANDY REID

OPENING STATEMENT: “The guys that won’t practice today are Fish (Eric Fisher), Tyreek (Hill) and Damien Williams. Everybody else will be out at practice. We look forward to the challenge of playing Detroit. We know that they’re a good football team. They’re undefeated right now and doing one heck of a job. My hat goes out to (Lions Head Coach) Matt Patricia. He has really changed that place around, and their personnel department. They have good players. They have good coaches. They’re playing hard, aggressive football. So, our guys are starting today. Getting back in and making sure that we study them and go through the different phases that we need to go through before we play. With that, time’s yours.”

Q: What about what the Lions have done in the past two weeks has impressed you the most?

REID: “They’ve got a good scheme, and then they play hard. They tackle well. They have made a living off of turnovers on defense. Offensively, they’re scoring some points. You have to make sure that you stay on top of that. They’ve got a quarterback that has been around a while and knows the game. They’ve got some skill guys that can also play right in there. Special teams are doing a good job, too.”

Q: Are they making a living off of actually taking the ball away on defense or more so capitalizing on opposing offense’s mistake?

REID: “They tackle the ball, and on a few of those the ball has come out. Fumbles have been one thing. They’ve had a couple of interceptions right in there, that’s also a part of it.”

Q: Matt Patricia is coming from the Bill Belichick tree, similar to your coaching start and learning under Mike Holmgren. How long does it take for a coach to find who they truly are?

REID: “That’s a good question. You develop your own thing. You put your own name on it and you go. You do it as a player. You do it as a coach. Probably do it in any profession that we’re in. It normally starts right away. You can’t help but carry some things over, but if you’re copying somebody then the players read through that – particularly with a player that comes in that was with you somewhere else, then you have a problem. You’ve got to be yourself. (Patricia) has done that. He’s done a nice job. He had a big responsibility with New England, being a coordinator for the number of years that he was. I think he has kind of put his own mark on it.”

Q: How do you feel that the defensive rotation of players has gone thus far through the first three games?

REID: “You try to keep guys fresh and throw fastballs in there. I think it’s been good. It’s been good to get some of these young guys some experience in there, too. That pays off for you down the road. I think they’re playing fast and aggressive. They seem to have a good grasp of the concepts and scheme that we’re trying to do.”

Q: Now that you’ve had him for a few weeks, what is different now with LeSean McCoy’s game compared to the last time that you guys were together?

REID: “Yeah, he’s got a couple of grey hairs (laughter). He still has the vision and the shiftiness. He was never the fastest guy in the world. He’s fast enough, but that’s not his game. His game is the great vision and the ability, with the quick feet, to move. He still has that. He’s got a burst. He can catch. I mean, we’re not asking him to go on every down. We probably did that more in Philadelphia than what we’re doing now. So, I can’t answer that part because he’s in a rotation. The vision and the feet are about the same.”

Q: The only rookie receiver that you’ve had that has had more receiving yards through three games than Mecole Hardman was DeSean Jackson. Is there anything you see that is comparable between those two guys?

REID: “One thing is that they’re all legs. They both have little, short torsos with long legs – which is unique. They don’t weigh a ton. You put them on a scale, they’re going to be like one of our legs (laughter). But they can run and run fast. They both have a good feel for the game. Both of them are smart guys. DeSean is a real smart kid, an innately smart kid. So is Mecole.”

Q: Could you talk about Darrel Williams taking advantage of his opportunity this past Sunday against the Ravens?

REID: “He played for us last year in kind of the same type of role. He’s just Mr. Consistent and tough. He’s a smart kid, so he knows everything protection-wise that’s going on. Patient runner, but when he goes, he’s going to hit you. He brings a lot of weight behind him. He can put his shoulder down and get you a couple of extra yards there.”

Q: Did McCoy do anything above and beyond last week to get himself prepared for the Ravens game?

REID: “I think it’s just a willingness to spend time here. He just stayed and worked. It’s one of those injuries where the more you work it, the better you’re going to get. But it takes a lot of time and effort, and you have to kind of push through some things there. He did. He worked it, and as a result, he was able to play. I think it’s a good example to the guys. There are certain injuries that you can’t do that with. This is one that you can and you’re not going to hurt your career or your future – to not be able to walk or anything like that.”

Q: McCoy hasn’t missed a lot of time over the years. Is he just one of those guys that can push through some stuff?

REID: “That’s a tough position to play. You’re going to take a few hits, now. He’s quick enough, and that vision comes in handy, so he knows when to get down and then when to drop his shoulder and try to get extra yards. He’s been pretty good with that from even when he was young. It limits some of the unnecessary hits that you have to take.”

Q: What do you see from the defense that tells you that this unit can get better?

REID: “We’re so close. You see it. We’re right there. We’re getting our hands on the ball. But, we’re hesitant in some areas to go get the ball. There are small things. I look at that and I go, ‘Man, you give that a little time, shoot, those things change.’ Some of the guys have been in the league and I’ve seen it before, so you know that’s going to come. You just know it. Remember, things are at like warp speed out there, and it’s happening like right now in real time. It’s one of those things where you have to do it. You have to keep doing it and then it just becomes second nature.”

Q: So the improvement that you’re most likely going to see on the defensive side will mostly be from turnovers?

REID: “No, but that was the one you asked me about. You asked me about turnovers, so I’m saying that in turnovers, you’ll see improvement in that area, if we still have the opportunities like the ones we have had. Or, if we create opportunities like the one’s we’ve had. So, by putting yourself in the right position. But I think overall, the more you play in it, the better you get at it.”

Q: What are some of the challenges for you as an offensive play-caller and game-planner to go against a coach like Matt Patricia that likes to scheme defensively?

REID: “He’s very good at it. You can say, ‘Well, they played man coverage here, but they might come out and play Cover 2 here the next game.’ You don’t know. You make sure that you cover all of the bases with your guys. Like I said, their base scheme is tremendous. And then, they can go in different directions with it. I can tell by how disciplined his guys are, and I know that defense well enough in what they’re asking him to do – and they’re doing those things sound – that it looks like the players trust in it and believe in it.”

Q: From a confidence standpoint, how big was it for Frank Clark to get his first sack of the season last week against Baltimore?

REID: “It was good. That was a good sack. For as much as he’s doubled, and as he keeps fighting through it, I think that’s where I look at it. I’m not into all of the stats stuff and how many sacks he gets. Being around the quarterback and then finally having an opportunity to tackle him, that’s a good thing.”

Q: Defensively, how critical is it going to be to set the run defense tone early against the Lions?

REID: “That’s what you do. I mean, the players want to do it that way and the coaches want to do it that way. You work on it. I’ll always also give credit to the other team for a reason: If they’re good, I’m going to tell you that they’re good. (The Ravens) were the number one offense and the number two defense (in the league) and they’re going to win a lot of games. It was a good football team.”

Q: Do you think that Patrick Mahomes is showing that he is more confident this season by how he is being arguably more animated out on the field this year?

REID: “He’s been that way. He is competitive and he is the leader of that bunch. He’s the one that’s on the field. He wants certain things out of a play. Then as a player, you have to get those things done. That’s where my trust in him and the other coaches’ trust in him comes in. You want to make sure that you’re demanding the right things, obviously. You’re in the game. He is very good with that. That is one of his real strengths. He’s got that natural leadership ability and I think he does a good job with it. I think he weighs it well. If you do it every play, people are just going to turn it off. But I think he has a good feel for it.”

Q: Is there a philosophy behind the trend to start running the ball more in the second half when you have a lead, like in the first three games, compared to the first halves which have been predominantly pass-first, or is it more situational?

REID: “I’d probably tell you situational. Every game is different. I don’t go in with that in mind. I just kind of go off of feel there.”

 

CHIEFS QUARTERBACK PATRICK MAHOMES

Q:  Is there a tangible difference in playing in a dome?

MAHOMES: “I think other than if it’s raining or snowing outside, I don’t think it makes too big of a difference. I know when you get out there you still have to play football and make the throws. I’ve played in it a couple times and it feels like any other football game.”

Q: You’ve played with Darrel Williams for a few years, is there anything you learned from him this weekend?

MAHOMES: “I don’t think I necessarily learned; I already knew that he’s a playmaker. He’s a guy that when he gets his opportunity, he makes play. You saw it a little bit at the end of last season where he got in the game and was ready to go after not playing really the whole season until then, and then now him getting in. He’s always prepared and makes sure he’s ready to go, and when he gets the opportunity, he makes the most of it.”

Q: On the play with Mecole Hardman being wide open, it seemed as if you anticipated that, can you talk through that?

MAHOMES: “Not necessarily. I actually was thinking about throwing to Sammy (Watkins) over the middle and that was my first read, and as I went to throw it to him, I saw the safety jump him so I just shot over to Mecole. That just goes through the progression of the read. You know where you’re thinking before the snap, but you have to play it out when the snap goes and take what the defense gives you.”

Q: What has LeSean McCoy meant to the team both on and off the field since he has gotten here?

MAHOMES: “He fit in perfectly first off. His mentality, his attitude, he’s a guy that loves this game. He loves playing football with guys that love playing it with him, so for him he’s added that veteran leadership, of course, being here. He knows how to go out there and have success, but he’s added another guy in the locker room that you can really gel with and have a lot of success with.”

Q: Is there any difference from this year to last year on when you watch film on defenses and can read their schemes on similar opponents?

MAHOMES: “I think just seeing stuff that they’ve done to us in the past or as you said, similar opponents, it helps me just knowing I’ve seen those looks before and I understand what the defense is trying to get you to do in order to make a mistake. Just being able to eliminate those before you even hit the field is something I feel like I’ve picked up faster this season.”

Q: What do you see in the Lions defense after they played the Eagles?

MAHOMES: “They played physical football. They play a lot of man coverage. They got up in his face and they stopped the run game for the most part. I think the biggest thing they did against the Eagles was that they capitalized on turnovers and I think that’s a big thing they focus on, trying to get the ball out whether its interceptions or they’re trying to strip the ball out of guys running with it. I think that’s a big thing they capitalize on, so we’re going to try to protect the ball and move it down the field.”

Q: Mecole Hardman has had two really big games, how have you seen him evolve?

MAHOMES: “He’s getting more and more comfortable every single week and that’s what happens when you’re in this offense. Coach Reid throws a lot at you and so for a while you’re trying to figure it out and play, but he’s picking up stuff fast and not making the same mistakes. I think the more he picks it up the faster he can play on the field.”

Q: What’s it like studying for a team you haven’t played before, whereas the other teams you’ve faced you played last year?

MAHOMES: “Not necessarily. The thing with playing this opponent is we’ve played the Patriots a couple times and (Matt) Patricia was there my rookie season with the Patriots, so you’re able to look back at stuff they did against us then all the way to the stuff they do now versus the teams that play similar offenses that we have. I think just preparing that way. Obviously, when you get to the field it will be a little different not playing a team you’ve played before, but I’m still preparing for myself to have success whenever I get out there.”

Q: Looking back at the tape, it seemed like you were a little more animated with some of the offensive teammates, is that a comfort thing or where did that come from?

MAHOMES: “You just want to have success on every single play and that’s something I think we have as a team, is we hold each other accountable. It’s not just me saying stuff to those guys, they’ll say stuff to me if I do something wrong. If you have that type of chemistry and talk to each other in that way and still respect each other and still love each other, you will get the best out of each other.”

Q: You referred to Mecole Hardman’s touchdown as the “Tyreek effect” so when you threw the ball you knew that was six?

MAHOMES: “Yeah, once he got it in his hands I knew there was a pretty good chance it was getting in there. He’s a fast guy, he plays really good when he gets the ball in his hands. Just trying to get the ball to all those guys and usually when they break it, it’s pretty much all over.”

Q: The Lions have a guy you had an issue with playing against in college (Quandre Diggs), do you think there will be an issue on Sunday?

MAHOMES: “I don’t know if it was an issue, but he just kind of knocked me out. He’s a great player, Quandre, and I’m actually friends with him now and it’s something where in the heat of the moment there might have been an issue, but its football and we’re still guys coming from Texas who love playing the game.”

Q: Seems like there was some stuff on Twitter after that?

MAHOMES: “That’s just the rivalry. That’s Texas versus Texas Tech, we beat them every now and then, so when we do we like to puff our chest out a little bit (laughing).”

Q: Is there anything you’ll change in preparation for the game since it is not outside?

MAHOMES: “Not at all. We practice inside and I’ve played a few games inside before and we played in the preseason last year, so you just prepare like it’s any other football game. I think that’s what you do regardless if it’s in a dome or if it’s snowing outside or raining, you just make sure you’re ready to have success whatever the elements or circumstances are.”

Q: Do you see any difference from your receivers on turf?

MAHOMES: “They’re always fast. They might be a little bit faster, but it’s hard to beat the speed they already have.”

Q: What do you remember from five years ago when you got drafted by the Tigers, you tweeted you were going to Lubbock, what was that night like?

MAHOMES: “I was actually already in Lubbock when I got drafted. They called me and congratulated me and they pretty much knew I was going to play football at that point, but it was still an awesome opportunity to get that accomplishment of having that, wanting it my whole entire life, and I appreciate them giving me that chance.”

Q: How was the concert experience Sunday night?

MAHOMES: “It was cool. I had been in touch with those guys (Jonas Brothers) before, so to see them in concert, it was awesome. They were going hard the whole time. I probably couldn’t hear for the whole next day I guess because it was so loud. Those guys have had a lot of success for a long time now, so I was glad to be a part of that.”

Q: How hard is it to do that after a game, were you pretty wiped out?

MAHOMES: “Yeah, but it’s a little bit better when you win. I probably wouldn’t have made it there if we would’ve lost the game, but since we won, I was in a good mood (laughing).”

Q: If you started a boy band with some of your teammates, who would it be and why?

MAHOMES: “Obviously Travis (Kelce), he’s the lead singer. He’s the guy that gets everybody going. I don’t know, Bashaud Breeland, maybe someone like that.”

—CHIEFS—