Chiefs quotables: Eric Bieniemy jokes that Travis Kelce ‘married up,’ coaches talk Dolphins
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
There was plenty of football talk at the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice facility Thursday.
There was also a marriage joke, a haircut celebration, a little self-criticism and some colorful descriptions of what the Chiefs are seeing on the field.
As Kansas City gets ready for its first road game of the season against the Miami Dolphins, here are some of the more interesting quotes from Thursday’s press conferences.
Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy on Rashee Rice doing the dirty work
Rice’s role in the Chiefs offense has included plenty of work without the football, particularly as a blocker.
Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy likes what he’s seeing.
“Rashee is a football player, so he’s done a great job of just embracing whatever role that you want him to assume. We communicate in our own form of way every single day. I mean, it’s good, sometimes it’s competitive, sometimes it’s interactive, sometimes I just want him to go out there and do the right damn thing. But I will say this, he’s done a hell of a job.”
Bieniemy said Rice’s approach has been just as important.
“He’s doing a great job of blocking; he’s doing a great job of working to get open. But the thing that I love more than anything, it’s his attitude and his approach.”
Bieniemy on Travis Kelce: ‘I think he married up’
Bieniemy coached Kelce for years before leaving Kansas City and eventually returning this season.
So, has Kelce changed?
Not much, according to Bieniemy.
“Trav has always been Trav to me. Even when I was away, I was watching everything that they were doing. He’s always put the consistent behavior on tape. I love his attitude. I love his approach. He’s just Trav, and I know he’s become this big-time megastar.”
Then came the punchline.
“Well, I think he married up, but he’s always remained the same.”
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo: Chiefs won, but there’s a ‘big but’
Kansas City escaped with a 33-30 overtime win against Indianapolis.
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo isn’t allowing the victory to cover up the problems he saw from his defense.
“I don’t think it’s lost on our guys in the defensive room that we didn’t play well. I don’t think we’re going to get clouded by the fact that we ended up winning.”
Spagnuolo said the feeling remained when the defense returned to work Tuesday.
“I think there was a feeling in there that, ‘No, that’s not what we’re looking for,’ yeah, we won the game, but there was a big ‘but’ there. It was a good win, ‘but,’ for us anyway.”
Chad O’Shea on Jalen Royals: First touchdown, then a haircut
Wide receiver Jalen Royals caught his first NFL touchdown against the Colts.
Apparently, that wasn’t his only big development.
“He goes and gets his hair cut, and he comes back, he gets his first touchdown. He comes with great energy.”
Wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea said the combination has become a running joke in the receivers room.
“It’s been a lot of fun to be around, and I know it’s really energized our guys. It’s contagious. I really believe that, and Rashee and the guys have really had fun with him in the room as far as, hey, you get your first touchdown, you get a haircut, and now you’ve got some energy and juice about yourself.”
DeMarco Murray knows Kenneth Walker wants the football
Running backs coach DeMarco Murray doesn’t have to wonder whether Kenneth Walker III wants another carry.
“I know he probably wants to be in every play.”
Murray said Walker’s conditioning has put him in position to handle a significant workload throughout a game.
“We pride ourselves on obviously finishing strong just as much as we start the game. So, again, he’s put himself in a great position with his work ethic to carry the load.”
Then Murray summed up the relationship between a running back and the football pretty simply.
“And, again, he’s a running back, so he likes the ball a lot and I like giving it to him.”
Andy Heck on Kahlil Benson: ‘He’s fighting his tail off’
Rookie tackle Kahlil Benson’s quick rise has earned the attention of offensive line coach Andy Heck.
Heck said Benson isn’t a finished product, but there’s one quality that’s helped earn the Chiefs’ trust.
“He loves football. He’s a competitor, and so it jumps out that he may not be perfect. We’ve all got stuff to work on. He’s got his things to work on. But, man, he’s competing, and he’s fighting his tail off.”
“And so, you love to see that at any position, but especially in your offensive line.”
Joe Cullen: When the quarterback holds it, ‘you’ve got to get home’
The Chiefs have generated pressure through two games, but defensive line coach Joe Cullen wants his group finishing those opportunities.
“It’s not always going to be a sack, but we’ve put pressure on the quarterback in a lot of different ways.”
But there’s a point where pressure isn’t enough.
“You’ve got to get home at the quarterback’s patting that ball for over three seconds. You’ve got to get home.”
If the football comes out quickly, Cullen wants his defensive linemen adjusting.
“Ball gets out quick. You may have to change your rush and get your hand up to knock a slant down. The slant’s getting out in 2.2 seconds. When you make the quarterback clutch it, you got to get home.”
Chris Jones on Miami’s offense
The Dolphins are 0-2, but Chris Jones isn’t dismissing what Kansas City’s defense will see Sunday.
“Achane is definitely a pillar of the Miami offense.”
Jones also expects some familiar faces on the other sideline to have a little extra motivation, including former Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay.
“I think they kind of started off rocky, but that’s a good offense and they’re young, they’re very young. They have a couple familiar Chiefs faces over there, so I know those guys are going to be eager to play. It’s going to be a competitive game.”
Bieniemy isn’t falling for the 0-2 record
Bieniemy also isn’t spending much time thinking about Miami’s record.
“This is their home opener. This is the NFL. They’re going to come out there and give us everything that they have.”
His message for the Chiefs is simple.
“Our concern is not to be concerned about what is taking place with Miami. Our job is to make sure that we go out there and play against the NFL team that we’re expecting to see on Sunday, and that’s a hard-playing team that’s going to give us everything that they have.”