In an effort to maneuver previous the workforce’s powerful loss to the Buffalo Payments in Week 11, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is emphasizing the significance of execution throughout all phases of the offense as they put together for Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Carolina Panthers.
From shoring up safety alongside the offensive line to fostering higher rhythm with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Nagy believes the workforce has the instruments to bounce again, observing that in its ultimate landing drive in opposition to Buffalo, the offense confirmed “a way of urgency.”
“You noticed what occurred,” Nagy reminded reporters on Thursday. “We moved the ball slightly bit, there was a tempo out and in. We’ve had these this yr — and we’ve additionally had plenty of lengthy drives the place there [have been] 18-19 performs and scored touchdowns… Let’s get that rhythm going — and we’ve obtained the blokes to do it. I believe the blokes have understood the place we’re at. We need to get again on monitor.”
For the Chiefs, that begins with the offensive line. The unit has surrendered 10 sacks of their final three video games after permitting simply 12 within the first seven. In response to Nagy, its success begins with constant communication — particularly in hostile highway environments like Buffalo.
“Safety smart, I at all times begin off with the communication half,” he famous. “Are we getting the communication half down in recreation? So [when] you go on the highway final week in Buffalo, it’s loud. It’s at all times going to be that method on the highway. I believe our communication has been fairly good for probably the most half.”
Nonetheless, the stress obtained to Mahomes all through the afternoon. The Payments sacked him twice. On his first cross of the sport, Buffalo’s stress pressured him to make a throw whereas being tackled. That led to an interception — which Nagy sees as a studying alternative for each the offensive line and his quarterback.
“There are plenty of occasions when [we] drop again in observe and it’s all on time and in rhythm,” he defined. “We observe plenty of that. We nonetheless at all times observe off to the facet engaged on [his] toes and ensuring that [he’s] working completely different angles and actions.
“However [when] you get within the recreation, it’s at all times so completely different; it’s laborious to duplicate that. So it’s by no means excellent [and] it’s by no means simple. And I believe that’s the place Pat has actually grown over his profession: with the ability to use his toes to seek out completely different ranges to throw the soccer.”
That consolation within the pocket is very crucial for unlocking the Chiefs’ explosive performs. Simply the identical, the connection between Mahomes and rookie huge receiver Xavier Worthy stays a piece in progress. That was demonstrated by a deep cross in Buffalo the place a slight overthrow made it troublesome for Worthy to get two toes inbounds on the catch. Nagy acknowledges these moments are a part of the method — but additionally is aware of bettering them is a key to the offense reaching its full potential.
“Patrick at all times begins with himself,” remarked Nagy. “[He asks,] ‘Might I’ve gotten the ball out earlier?’ Xavier [also] begins with himself: ‘Ought to I’ve had extra consciousness to attempt to toe-tap and catch that ball?’ We [coaches] begin with ourselves: ‘Are we establishing the play the precise method?’
“They know that it’s part of the deal. It’s a recreation of inches — that actually was part of that — however we need to get these. We have to get these massive chunk performs.”
