Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are known for having a strong offense, but this year’s training camp offers a chance for them to improve even more.
Mahomes now faces a defense that was ranked higher than the Chiefs’ offense last season.
“Going against one of, if not the best defense in the National Football League with (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) and them — I felt like guys have done a great job of building,” Mahomes said. “And we’ll continue to get better and better with building chemistry as camp goes on.”
Last season, Kansas City won its third Super Bowl in five years with a well-balanced team. Mahomes’ offense was ranked ninth in the NFL, while Spagnuolo’s defense was ranked second.
It was the first time since coach Andy Reid joined the Chiefs in 2013 that the team ranked in the top 10 for both offense and defense.
The Chiefs aim to keep up that balance this season.
“We need to get better, just strive to get better, coaches and players,” Reid said. “If you can just keep the hammer down and keep working and detailing your work and not worrying about what’s going on a play down the way here, just focus on what your job is and get it down, I think you have a chance to get better.”
Reid, who is in charge of the offense, stated that he will keep making changes.
“We’ve added some new things,” Reid said, “and the coaches are working on detailing all that and the players are working hard to this point.”
For the Chiefs’ defensive players, practicing against Mahomes every day and receiving his praise motivates them.
“That’s definitely a great thing for someone like him to give us praise and show us some, not just respect, but also show us some love, on the back end,” safety Bryan Cook said. “Obviously, this is an offense-driven league, but having our quarterback being who he is and to still give us our props day in and day out.
