In the search for an edge against Patriots, Chiefs find one with this assistant coach
In his weekly procedure of shaping and implementing an NFL game plan, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is simply looking for an edge. Maybe it derives from film. Maybe it’s tucked into the statistics.
Or maybe it comes from his own staff.
This week, as the Chiefs turned toward preparation for New England, Spagnuolo turned toward an assistant coach — Brendan Daly joined the defensive coaching staff this offseason after a five-year stint with the Patriots.
“I’ve asked Brendan a lot of questions this week,” Spagnuolo said. “But I’ve been doing that since the spring — more so because I’ve got a great deal of respect for what (the Patriots) do.
“He has been helpful and kind of has an idea or what they may or may not do.”
On Sunday, as the Chiefs take the field in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Daly expects to have some memories “flood back.” Maybe some emotions, too, whether he tries to silence them or not. But for now, in the midst of the grind, he’s tried his best to treat it like any other week.
Even if it’s not.
Daly won three Super Bowls with New England, where he held the same position under head coach Bill Belichick that he does in Kansas City: defensive line coach.
“I haven’t gone there,” Daly said when asked about the emotions of playing against a former team. “My focus has been on the preparation and what needs to be done. I’m dealing with our team and our situation and trying to get my group best ready to go and win a game against a really good football team.”
The X’s and O’s will be structured at least in part based on experience. Daly knows some of the Patriots’ tendencies, though he tried to conceal any advantage that might provide. So did one of his players.
When asked about the details of Daly’s wisdom this week, Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones said, “I can’t disclose that.” He followed with a smirk.
There are certainly some advantages to having a coach who has spent time in the other meeting room, even if things have changed in a year. And they have. The Patriots’ offense isn’t playing at its customary high level, at least statistically speaking. They rank 14th in the league in yards per game after residing in the top-five in each of the previous three seasons.
“You enjoy the challenge. As a coach, as a competitor, I certainly do. It’s why you do it,” Daly said. “It’s interesting. That’s what’s so unique about this game — things change so much year to year. And there is some familiarity with their personnel, but there are a lot of changes there, too.
”To be honest, my focus has been about New England’s offense and the issues they present, which are numerous, obviously.”
Daly didn’t spend much time in the Patriots’ offensive meeting rooms, as he pointed out. He’s more familiar with the Patriots’ defensive scheme.
Kind of. As Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes illustrated Wednesday, the Patriots are well-known for their “unscouted looks” — the ability to implement a new coverage or run or pass-rush stunt on the fly.
So, yes, institutional knowledge is enough of an edge for Spagnuolo to ask Daly for clues and for players like Jones to keep such details secret.
But perhaps not to the degree of what might be gleaned elsewhere.
“I’ve been digging in on that and trying to understand how they’re trying to play, what they may or may not do,” Daly said. “They do a great job changing week to week. That’s really where my focus has been.”