09-05-2021 Ravens Preview - Flipbook - Page 20
NFL2021
20
KANSAS CITY
CHIEFS
COACH
Andy Reid (9th season with team, 98-43)
LAST SEASON
14-2 (1st in AFC West; lost in Super Bowl)
Record since 2011: 100-60 (7-6 in playoffs)
2020 TEAM STATISTICAL LEAGUE RANKINGS
2020 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL LEADERS
SCORING OFFENSE
6th of 32 (29.6 ppg)
RUSHING
Clyde Edwards-Helaire: 181 carries, 803 yards, 4 TDs, 61.8 ypg
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SCORING DEFENSE
10th of 32 (22.6 ppg)
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RUSHING OFFENSE
16th of 32 (112.4 ypg)
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PASSING OFFENSE
1st of 32 (303.4 ypg)
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PASSING
PatrickMahomes:390-588,4,740yards,38TDs,6ints,336.5ypg
SCORING
Harrison Butker, PK: 123 points (25 FGs, 48 PAT, 7.7 ppg)
Stats from pro-football-reference.com
Leadership growth
Changes to Chiefs coaching staff could reap big rewards
By Dave Skretta
Associated Press
T
he Kansas City Chiefs have been
required to make changes to their
coaching staff over the years, the natural byproduct of success, as top assistants such
asDougPedersonandMattNagygothiredaway
forbetterjobselsewhere.
Thispastoffseason,though,AndyReidmade
some changes that seemed unnecessary at first
glance.
It began when running backs coach Deland
McCullough left for a job as the associate head
coach at Indiana, opening up a job once held
by current Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric
Bieniemy. Rather than simply hire someone to
replaceMcCullough,Reiddecidedtomovewide
receiverscoachGregLewisintotherole—even
though his work with Tyreek Hill and the rest
oftheChiefs’pass-catchingcrewhasbeenabig
reasonfortheiroffensivesuccess.
Thatbeganagameofmusicalchairs.
JoeBleymaiermovedfromthequarterbacks
room,wherehewashelpingPatrickMahomes
become one of the league’s best players, to
handlethewidereceivers.DavidGirardimoved
into that role as assistant quarterbacks coach,
andhisspotwastakenbyConnorEmbree,who
wasworkingonthedefensiveside.
SowhydidReidagreetosomuchmaneuvering on a staff returning from back-to-back AFC
titlesrelativelyintact?
“Iwantguystohavetheopportunitytogrow,”
Reidsaid.
“Gregactuallycametomeaboutwantingthe
challenge of coaching the running backs,” he
continued, “and as you guys know about how
I feel about Greg, he’s very, very intelligent, has
a great feel for the game, did a phenomenal job
with the wide receivers. And now he’s able to
learn that other side — the protection side and
all that goes into coaching the running backs
andtherungame,andstillgivethemtipsinthe
passgametomakethemevenbetterthanwhat
theyarenow.”
It’sapositionthatthe41-year-oldLewis,who
spent eight years playing wide receiver in the
NFL,hasnevercoachedbefore,andhe’staking
on the job for a team that once again has Super
Bowlaspirations.
Nopressurethere.
Yetthechangecouldcomeattheperfecttime.
Severalwidereceivers,suchasDemarcusRobinsonandMecoleHardman,appearedtostagnate
intheirdevelopmentthepastcoupleofseasons.
And with the departure of Sammy Watkins in
free agency, the Chiefs are desperate for someone to establish themselves as the No. 2 wide
receiver.
Just maybe, Bleymaier will be able to pull
somethingoutofthem.
“It’s a little unique with Greg still being here,
Coach Lewis being just down the hall,” Bleymaier said. “I go to him daily for questions,
advice, our guys go to him. I’m the new wide
receiver coach, but we kind of just gained
an extra receiver coach because Greg is still
there, and the guys feel free to go talk to him
as well. So it’s been seamless at least for me.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes reacts before the start of a preseason game against the
Cardinals on Aug. 20 in Glendale, Ariz. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY
2021 SCHEDULE WEEK 12 BYE
WEEK 1
Sept. 12
WEEK 2
Sept. 19
CLE
@BAL
4:25 p.m. 8:20 p.m.
CBS
NBC
WEEK 3
Sept. 26
WEEK 4
Oct. 3
WEEK 5
Oct. 10
WEEK 6
Oct. 17
WEEK 7
Oct. 24
WEEK 8
Nov. 1
LAC
1 p.m.
CBS
@PHI
1 p.m.
CBS
BUF
8:20 p.m.
NBC
@WFT
1 p.m.
CBS
@TEN
1 p.m.
CBS
NYG
8:15 p.m.
ESPN
WEEK 9
Nov. 7
WEEK 10
Nov. 14
WEEK 11
Nov. 21
GB
@LVR
DAL
4:25 p.m. 8:20 p.m. 4:25 p.m.
FOX
NBC
FOX
WEEK 13
Dec. 5
WEEK 14
Dec. 12
DEN
1 p.m.
CBS
LVR
1 p.m.
CBS
WEEK 15
Dec. 16
WEEK 16
Dec. 26
@LAC
PIT
8:20 p.m. 4:25 p.m.
FOX
CBS
WEEK 17
Jan. 2
WEEK 18
Jan. 9
@CIN
1 p.m.
CBS
@DEN
4:25 p.m.
CBS
Note: This section was printed before final roster cuts, so personnel are subject to change; all times are Eastern and subject to change