Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes evaluate 2023 training camp and talk about remainder of preseason
Craig McMullen
The Chiefs wrapped up the 2023 training camp in St. Joseph, MO Thursday morning.
This years training camp has had it’s up and downs on both sides of the ball. Andy Reid said that this is where it starts and that you start building up from here to become a better team.
“You’ve established, you build and started this foundation.” Reid said “This is where it starts. You’re building this thing as it goes up every week. Every day is different in this thing but you’ve accomplished some things here that’s going to help carry you though the season. Then we take it one day at a time from there.”
Patrick Mahomes evaluated the performance of the offensive line and defense throughout training camp.
“I think the offensive line did a great job throughout camp,” Mahomes said. “There’s been some long days and I thought they did a good job of keeping that mentality throughout practice. I thought the defensive backs were moving around everywhere. Spags is really testing them and they did a great job responding to that. There were some days when the offense got the defense and the defense got the offense and these what you want to see in a camp, really competitive and everyday guys going out there and competing.”
Mahomes said that he has seen a vast improvement from wide receivers Justyn Ross and Rashee Rice in their first training camps with the Chiefs.
“The wide receiver position and that DB position is the hardest place to be during training camp, Mahomes said. “Just how much running that we do. I thought those guys got better and better and learned how to finished and how to keep that mentality throughout an entire practice.”
Mahomes finished his seventh training camp in the dorms and said that living in the dorms at Missouri Western State University has allowed team building with the defensive guys.
“I really have a fun time with meeting people. Mahomes said . “A lot of the time you are in the building with the offense and even though you have some team meetings, you don’t get to see those defensive guys expect for traveling on game day. So to be able to eat lunch with different guys that you are not around all year long allows you to build those relationship and build a bond that you have whenever times get tough during the regular season.”
The Chiefs will head back to Kansas City to continue the preparation for the regular season opener against the Detroit Lions.
Two more preseason game are still ahead of the Chiefs. The next preseason game will be a return to the Arizona to play the Cardinals Aug. 19 and Aug. 26 against the Cleveland Browns at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes said that he will not be distracted when stepping back in the stadium where the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII.
“After the ring ceremony, that was it,” Mahomes said. “We’re trying to move on and go back and get another one. When I first step on the field, I will be looking around and saying it was a great time last time we were here but we got a job to do and that’s to get better playing a Cardinals team that played a really good first preseason game.”
