Twitter Q&A: Weather outside is frightful, but the Chiefs’ offense is so delightful
Earlier this week we chatted with Arizona head coach Steve Wilks on a conference call. The first question asked of him was if his team was ready to play in colder weather.
It was a good question, and a valid question, considering it’ll be 47 degrees in Kansas City and 75 in Phoenix on Sunday.
Wilks was having none of it.
“Yes we are,” Wilks said.
And that was that.
I have news for Wilks, though. It’s REAL cold in Kansas City. Like snow still on the ground on the practice field cold. Like random Friday afternoon snow flurries cold when snow isn’t even in the forecast. Folks, it’s Nov. 9 as I type this and snow is swirling outside the Chiefs’ practice facility. I know I’m new around here and all, but It’s not supposed to be this cold this right now. And yet, I’m fully into my December-January sweater rotation.
However, it appears not everyone is as affected by the cold weather as I am. Both Travis Kelce and Mitchell Schwartz showed that the cold never bothered them anyway Friday afternoon at practice. Schwartz wore shorts while Kelce just wore his jersey without a sweatshirt underneath it. Props to them, because I was fully zipped up in a down jacket with the hood up and was still shivering. And then I went to get chili and coffee afterward to warm up.
Anyway, you didn’t come here to read about how cold it is outside. You want some answers, and I did my best to provide them this week.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I hate asking injury questions, but 5 weeks coming up for Mitch Morse & his concussion?? <br>Also, where’s Nate Orchard??</p>— LordChiefRocka (@JordanTribe_) <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanTribe_/status/1059975772839051266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Mitch Morse has been in the concussion protocol since leaving the game against New England early. I don’t have a medical degree, but knowing that he has a history with concussions, it’s concerning that he’s still having symptoms. The good news for the Chiefs from a football perspective is that the O-line is still playing really well without him. As for Nate Orchard, he was released to make room for Dan Sorensen.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Why hasnt anyone questioned managment as to why Berry hasnt been on IR since week 1?</p>— Kyle Bagrie (@KBagrie) <a href="https://twitter.com/KBagrie/status/1059917580025163777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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From my understanding, team management never expected him to be out this long. All along, they’ve thought he was close to coming back or coming back earlier in the season. Therefore, they didn’t think it was necessary to put him on IR.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When will Eric Berry actually play football again? And will it be with the <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chiefs</a>?</p>— The Sports Guru (@TheSportsGuru5) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSportsGuru5/status/1059913993060601856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Yes. I think it happens this month.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">At what point does one of the reporters try to press Andy on Berry? I know it's probably a losing proposition, but are you collectively letting him off the hook w/ the day-to-day line? Why can't Berry be made available to the press?</p>— 3PETE (@cpete918) <a href="https://twitter.com/cpete918/status/1060283404560805888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Believe me, we’ve pressed as much as we can. Andy Reid isn’t a guy to go into details with the press about many things, and he’s definitely not elaborating on Eric Berry, even if we come up with new ways to ask about him weekly (which we do). And we’d love to talk to Berry, but it’s the Chiefs’ policy to keep players who are on the injury report and aren’t practicing from talking to the media.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In San Diego on Sunday. Where is the best bar to watch the Chiefs? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chiefskingdom?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#chiefskingdom</a></p>— KG Krostue (@kgkrost) <a href="https://twitter.com/kgkrost/status/1059929428824858625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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I’ve spent about three hours in San Diego and 2.5 of them were in the airport. Find a Buffalo Wild Wings.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What would it cost to sign Bruce Irvin? Could we use him? Who would we release?</p>— Wade Daggett (@WadeDaggett) <a href="https://twitter.com/WadeDaggett/status/1059928675330727937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He signed with the Falcons, so that ship has sailed.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How far is Justin Houston from returning</p>— ASAPKenny (@ASAPKennyG) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASAPKennyG/status/1059928440290324480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He’s been a limited participant in practice this week, so I’d expect to see him play Sunday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chargers are getting a lot of love from the national media. Are they actually a contender or a decent team with a weak schedule?</p>— Levi Hinson (@Hinson799) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hinson799/status/1059923041843580928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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I tend to lean more toward them being a decent team with a weak schedule. Although, they were just a couple drops away from making the game against the Chiefs a lot closer. There’s no doubt that they’ve looked a lot better in the weeks since then, but it’s come against teams that aren’t exactly juggernauts in the league. None of their wins have come against teams with winning records. Looking at the rest of their schedule, they won’t truly be tested until taking on the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Dec. 2. That game should go a long way to determining if the Chargers are legit ahead of their rematch with the Chiefs on Dec. 13 at Arrowhead.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What defense could the Chiefs possibly face for the rest of the season that could hold the Chiefs to under 28 points?</p>— Nick Bendian (@NBendian) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBendian/status/1059921609933418504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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At one point I would’ve said the Ravens. They lead the league in average yards allowed per game at 305, and they’re holding opponents to an average of 17.8 points per game, good for second-lowest in the NFL. But the Ravens are in the midst of a slump and have given up 23, 36 and 24 points in a three-game losing streak. If the Ravens can’t hold the Chiefs to less than 28 points, I don’t know that there’s a team left on the schedule who can do that.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Safety packing order? Dan,murray,lucas,parker( who's going to bench)</p>— Daniel Hosier (@HosierDaniel) <a href="https://twitter.com/HosierDaniel/status/1059918989084803073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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I think Jordan Lucas is going to lose the most playing time with Dan Sorensen’s return. His playing time has already decreased over the last two games, while Eric Murray’s has gone up as he comes off an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for a game. Against the Browns, Lucas played just 12 defensive snaps, significantly down from the 24 and 50 played against the Broncos and the Bengals. With Sorensen in the mix, it seems like it’s only going to go down more with Sorensen in the mix. Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said as much when he talked with the media on Thursday.
“He may get a more limited role based on the number of people coming back,” Sutton said. “But I think he’s still going to be a factor for us in there.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">With Sorensen being active.... Can we expect him to play this week? And if so, how much?</p>— Zack Winther (@WintherZack) <a href="https://twitter.com/WintherZack/status/1059914793665077249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He’ll play this week, but I don’t think we’ll see a ton of him. Not sure what his snap count will be, but I’m guessing less than half of the defensive snaps.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shouldn't a team go for it on 4th down versus Chiefs regardless of where they are on the field knowing they probably cant stop the offense?</p>— Jason St. John (@Stjohn31) <a href="https://twitter.com/Stjohn31/status/1059914448897359872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Checks out to me. The Browns did a good job of this, but then they gambled a little too much when they kept going for the 2-point conversions.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What do you reckon the chiefs will need in the draft, position wise?</p>— Paul Foster (@Fosterbear1981) <a href="https://twitter.com/Fosterbear1981/status/1059914393654362113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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I reckon they’ll go after DBs and pass rush guys. This draft doesn’t have a ton of offensive talent, but there are a lot of elite defensive guys. That works out well for the Chiefs. With Justin Houston getting older and Eric Berry’s status still up in the air, I’d think they’ll target either a safety or an edge rusher with the first pick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How can I get myself through my <a href="https://twitter.com/dustincolquitt2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dustincolquitt2</a> withdrawals?</p>— Chad Wilcox (@chadwil) <a href="https://twitter.com/chadwil/status/1059913869844508674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Listen to Rocky Top on repeat.
Brooke Pryor
Brooke Pryor covers the Kansas City Chiefs and NFL for The Star.
