The Kansas City Chiefs are beginning their 2nd year under Coach Andy Reid. Fullback Anthony Sherman and Linebacker Joe Mays were able to speak to the media on Tuesday. Some of the topics were regarding some of the changes between year one and year two. Anthony comments on how some of the draft picks stood out so far, while Mays speaks on how is it with some of the coaches this year, specifically defensive coordinator Bob Sutton.
Sherman was asked now that he’s going into year two of the offense, if he’s getting a better handle on it. Sherman said, “Absolutely, everyone is a lot further along in the playbook than we were last year at this time. We’re much improved from last year.” Regarding a bigger role, Sherman said, “I was fine with last year. I’d love to expand it. Whatever Coach Reid wants us to do in the offense, and Doug (Pederson) and all those guys. They’ll put us in the right position to be successful.”
Sherman was then asked about if there is really such thing as an offseason and how does he spend his free time off. “Yeah, absolutely, this is absolutely a lot less pounding and taxing on the body right now just because you don’t have pads on, but other than that, if you want a job, there’s no offseason”, said Sherman. He also said that he spends the offseason working out so he can be in the best shape possible going into training camp.
When asked if any of the draft picks or free agents had shown him anything he likes so far, Sherman responded, “Absolutely, everyone looks great right now. Everyone is working hard. We’re trying to be better as a unit and as a team with one goal and that’s to win a championship. That’s what we’re doing right now and everyone looks great.” Sherman definitely has high hopes for the offensive side of the ball for the Chiefs this year.
Now switching to the defensive side of the ball, LB Joe Mays was asked how this year’s OTAs have been different from the previous ones he has been through. Mays stated, “I think we get a lot more reps in these OTAs. Coach Reid likes to get in and get out fast, get a lot of plays in. I think that’s the only difference there’s been, but the intensity’s been great out here. The guys have been great coming out, working hard, and we’re definitely getting better.”
Mays thinks this is a very talented roster across the board, but he made a point to single out QB Alex Smith when talking about this year’s roster. “You have a defense that was top five last year and very talented guys from front to back. On offense, we have a quarterback that’s definitely destined to do great things for us. He knows how to win. He knows what it takes. It also starts with our head coach. He knows what it takes to get to the big game and he knows what it takes to win each and every day that we play. We listen to him, follow his direction, come out, play hard and play fast to try and get the job done”, said Mays.
Mays says the game as slowed down to him as he’s become more of a veteran, saying that players like Brian Dawkins, Omar Gaither, Stewart Bradley, and Akeem Jordan all helped him out early in his career. So he was asked how he shares that experience with the younger guys. Mays replied, “We always talk. Just make sure as soon as you get the play, you know what you’re doing and then just try to categorize every single play that we have, try to break it into different segments. Am I blitzing? Am I dropping? I just try to do the small things like that and it’ll definitely help you during game time and make you a better player.”
Mays said the defense personality is hungry and attack oriented. The main point is getting to the ball, having 11 guys always getting to the ball, just wanting to create more turnovers and get takeaways. It’s a defense that is led by Bob Sutton, when asked about him, Mays said, “He’s been awesome. He just tries to break down everything so that we know what we are doing out there on the field and tries to make it as easy as possible. So far, he’s been great. The whole coaching staff has been great and have been breaking things down for us to go out there and play fast.”
Speaking of fast, Dee Ford was the next topic and he was asked his impressions on him. “That guy is explosive. He’s quick off the ball. He kind of reminds me of Von Miller with the way that he gets off the ball and gets around the offensive linemen. He’s a freak. He knows how to work angles and uses his hands real well. He can bend and do all types of stuff you don’t see in the everyday pass rushers. Definitely as-advertised”, says Mays.
Playing alongside other great players usually makes your job a bit easier in the league, so Mays was asked about playing alongside LB Derrick Johnson. Mays responded, “It’s great. That’s a guy that goes out there and sees the game faster than most guys. He’s able to tell you what he is looking at. He’s going to make me a better player. I try to do something to help him, but overall, him and (Dontari) Poe, and EB (Eric Berry) are going to make me a better player out here. I just try to learn a little bit with all of those guys and try to gel as fast as we can.”
Lastly Mays was asked if there were some drills that were more enjoyable at camp, Mays said, “I think our coaching style makes it enjoyable too. We try to make it as competitive as we can so that each and every guy is going to show up to practice each and every day to work as hard as they can and that kind of makes it fun too. There’s nothing like coming out and being competitive and trying to make more plays than your partners right next to you. I’ve had a ball so far and just am trying to take this from the practice field to the playing field.”
If Sherman, Mays, and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs can transfer the energy they have no from the practice field to the playing field, Coach Andy Reid may have another conference championship game in his future, something that the Chief’s fans would love to see.
