Reid preaches fundamentals for struggling Chiefs

Nov 23, 2017 - 3:35 AM KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With adversity surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Andy Reid reverted to the basics, preaching fundamentals and execution.

In his mind, that is the way forward for a team reeling from four loses in their last five games and contemplating what went wrong in a mystifying loss last week to the struggling New York Giants.

"It's one thing here or there that's off and you get everybody dancing the same dance," Reid said. "The best way to do it is to go back to your fundamentals and what you believe in and put a little more focus on it. Whether you're a coach or a player, it's the same deal."

After opening the season with five straight wins and averaging 32.8 points per game, the Chiefs have averaged just 19.6 points in their last five games. But while fans may cry for wholesale changes involving personnel and play-calling, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy agreed with Reid for the need to eliminate mistakes.

"None of this is because of effort," Nagy said. "Everyone's playing hard, there's a lot of effort out there. There's just some mistakes right now that are going on. But there were mistakes going on when we were winning too; it just gets masked."

Reid believes timing to be a key issue with the offense's faulty performance. Much of his West Coast offense playbook remains predicated on well-timed execution between quarterback and receiver as well as between runners and blockers.

One example of the team's failed execution and timing was exhibited on quarterback Alex Smith's first of two interceptions against the Giants.

The Chiefs have deployed a run-pass option shovel pass to great results this season, with many other teams copying the design. On Sunday, however, poor blocking allowed Jason Pierre-Paul to grab the short shovel pass to tight end Travis Kelce.

"The margin between winning and losing is small because of the parity in the league," Reid said. "You've got to bring your A-game every week and be prepared. We got to make sure we're doing that. We're lucky enough where we have another game here. That's what we're going to focus on and fix the problems we had and get working on Buffalo."

The Chiefs hope the potential return of wide receiver Albert Wilson can inject life into the offense this week. Wilson missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. Nagy explained that Wilson's experience in the Chiefs' offense brings leadership and trust to the team's young receiving group.

"He's been here now for five years and those younger receivers look up to him," Nagy said. "So when you're out there in the field and something goes wrong or you're on the bench, he's there to pick guys up, and so we're really looking forward to getting him back."

Reid said the losing streak certainly grinds on the players and coaches alike, but said he senses no problems in the team's locker room.

"But at the same time, you have another game to get ready for and if you don't put all your energy into that you have a problem," Reid said. "That's where we're at right now. Good locker room, they're doing that, and the coaches are doing it and so we get back out here and get to work this afternoon."

SERIES HISTORY: 45th regular-season meeting. Bills lead series, 23-20-1. The Chiefs-Bills rivalry dates back to the days of the American Football League. Buffalo holds the edge over the long haul, but the Chiefs own a three-game winning streak in the series, with all three wins coming under head coach Andy Reid. The Chiefs won 30-22 in the last meeting between the two clubs in 2015. Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw for 291 yards and tossed three touchdown passes, yet the Chiefs prevailed behind Jeremy Maclin's 160 yards receiving and Spencer Ware's 114 yards rushing.

--Sunday's game between the Chiefs and the Bills features a matchup between a mentor and his protege with Kansas City head coach Andy Reid facing his former assistant Sean McDermott, who will be on the Buffalo sideline.

"He's been a huge mentor of mine professionally since the time that he and I spent together in Philadelphia and he continues to be that," McDermott said. "He's a great man and a great football coach."

McDermott joined Reid in his first season as Eagles head coach. McDermott started as a scouting coordinator and later as Reid's assistant before climbing the coaching ladder, eventually holding the defensive coordinator position in the 2009-10 seasons.

Reid said McDermott's work ethic and intelligence sold him on McDermott as future head coaching material.

"All-state wrestler, all-state football player," Reid said, delivering his pitch for McDermott. "Smart, goes to Willian and Mary. You've got to have some aptitude to go to that school. And so I was able to get him on board as my administrative assistant and he showed those traits there and just kind of worked his way up through the ranks there."

Just as Reid built his Chiefs organization with many coaches who worked with him in Philadelphia, McDermott also built his staff with contacts from the Reid tree. McDermott's staff includes four coaches connected to Reid, including former Chiefs assistant head coach and wide receivers coach David Culley, who now coaches the Bills' quarterbacks.

Despite the many friendships between the two staffs, McDermott says everyone understands the competition takes over Sunday afternoon.

"At the end of the day we're still competing," McDermott said. "That's what we do. We go out to win. I'm sure Andy feels the same way, in fact I know he does. We'll say hi before the game and I'm sure he's looking to kick our tail and we've got to do the same."

NOTES: LB Dee Ford did not practice Wednesday, creating the likelihood that he will miss his fifth game this season with a back injury. Ford last played Oct. 30 against the Denver Broncos, when his back issue limited him to just 28 snaps. ... B Terrance Smith remains in the league's concussion protocol after sustaining a concussion during a block on New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie during last Sunday's game. The timeline for Smith's return remains uncertain. ... --WR Tyreek Hill practiced in full on Wednesday after suffering a glute injury against the Giants. Hill briefly left the game but returned to the field and made a leaping grab of a Alex Smith pass for 38 yards. ... WR Albert Wilson was listed as a limited participant in practice Wednesday as he returns from a hamstring injury. Wilson did not practice last week, and has missed the team's last two games. ... DE Allen Bailey returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday. That marked his first on-field work since suffering a sprained knee against Dallas Nov. 5. ... LB Tamba Hali returned to practice in a limited role Wednesday. He did not practice last week, and played just 23 snaps in his season debut against the Cowboys in Week 9. The club indicated Hali battled swelling in his knee following the game against Dallas. ... CB Kenneth Acker was a full practice participant Wednesday despite an elbow injury. Acker started two games as the team's right cornerback until CB Phillip Gaines started in that role Sunday against the Giants.