Chiefs’ current vibe reminiscent of chemistry that buoyed KC Royals to magical run
Just before a handful of players gravitated toward the basketball hoop at the nucleus of the living, breathing organism that is the Chiefs’ locker room, defensive linemen Chris Jones and Frank Clark on Friday were dancing to the music of H.E.R. in the sort of scene you might see any given time in here.
Because this as engaging and appealing a team within as it appears on the field.
“I’m the vibe and the energy; Chris is like the best hype man you could ever have for yourself,” Clark said, laughing and adding, “You can have your own party with us, man.”
Sitting quietly at his locker near the entrance, ever-pensive receiver Sammy Watkins laughed as he considered the mirthful way of this room and the meaningful bonding that comes within, and with regular off-field gatherings such as the tentative plan that night for receivers to go bowling together.
“Oh, the vibes are crazy; the energy here now is insane. Because everybody’s flowing (and) growing,” he said, noting the impact his teammates have had on him since he came to Kansas City in 2018 after three years in Buffalo and one with the Rams. “I hadn’t laughed in a long time before coming here. I was just so ‘business, business,’ and when I got here it kind of made me open up a little bit. …
“I was just too serious. And you can’t be too serious. This thing passes by so quick.”
The day before, at the extreme catty-corner perch of the room from Jones and Clark, guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif pondered a question about the sustaining power of this compelling group dynamic.
He glanced down the way and thought about what he gets out of just lifting his head up to look around in here. Or lingering to talk to teammates in the cafeteria.
And everything else that comes with being conscious of a common cause bigger than yourself that is entirely dependent on all elements collaborating.
“Just creating that synergy and that energy, it really helps you, especially at this time of the year,” he said as the Chiefs (11-4) prepared for their regular-season finale against the Chargers (5-10) Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. “You feel that you can sometimes give energy to somebody who needs it, or you feed off of somebody else.”
From chilly to sizzling
By definition, an intangible has no distinct physical presence, can’t be touched or grasped. The notion of chemistry is about as vaguely complex, perhaps something sensed more than seen.
Moreover, there is some chicken-and-egg to this sort of apparent mojo. All this juice wasn’t percolating when the Chiefs were losing four of six, Watkins noted, and having won five in a row and standing on the verge of heading into the playoffs red-hot has a power of its own.
Winning football also always will be less about this touchy-feely stuff than it is about actual blocking and tackling and guts and strategy. And sports history has shown that teams can win with chemistry gone afoul and lose with it thriving.
Be that as it may, it’s also true that the culture of this group has been actively cultivated by coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach — “Kudos to those guys,” Jones said.
And equally so that it’s about the sum, not merely the parts.
And that all teams ultimately assume a collective identity, with the Chiefs and their vastly improved defense now aspiring to make good on what to an outsider is reminiscent of the pulse of the Royals’ World Series teams in 2014 and 2015.
It’s something they are extolling as “championship swagger” — a notion loosely defined by safety Tyrann Mathieu as having “an idea of where we want to go and everything that it takes to get there.”
To him, that includes setting a tempo and demonstrating a work ethic and what he called “commitment to the process,” such as film study. And, heck, even body language: “Like Deion (Sanders) used to say, you look good, you play good,” he said, smiling.
But then there’s this:
“You can’t not have chemistry and then go out on the field and kind of try to put it together,” said the charismatic Mathieu, who routinely has teammates over on Thursday nights and seeks to galvanize the room.“ I think having that chemistry, trusting each other, trusting the calls, it allows you to play harder and faster.
“I think a lot of it has to do with chemistry. And cliche that it sounds, just believing in the guy next to you.”
Follow the leaders
That notion holds up better, of course, the more someone next to you is someone you truly can believe in.
But it bears mention that attaining that is an ever-evolving story in itself in any group — and that any group is elevated when its best players also are its best examples and among their hardest workers, as the Chiefs have in Mathieu and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, among others.
For a case in point about how the elements might positively affect each other, Mathieu’s encouragement and example has uplifted rookie safety Juan Thornhill and infused confidence in cornerback Charvarius Ward, the youngsters will tell you.
Heck, Mathieu’s aura even resonates diagonally across the room from Watkins.
“He affects everyone around him; he’s that type of person,” Watkins said. “Before a game, he gets us right. It’s something that you can feel. It’s something that’s not fake.
“It’s just something he’s been called to do. I can feel his energy everywhere.”
Along the same lines, contemplate how Mahomes influences his teammates not just with his transcendent talent but a welcoming way that radiates around the room. He brings to it a “kid atmosphere” and remains “not too big for himself,” Watkins says. And that sets a tone of togetherness that Duvernay-Tardif also appreciated in Alex Smith, Mahomes’ predecessor, and knows could be otherwise.
“Sometimes guys come in here and talk about how there were some cliques and little groups (on their former teams),” he said. “And I feel like here, I never really witnessed that. So it’s hard for me to picture what it would be like.”
Similarly, just because you can’t picture this chemistry doesn’t mean it’s not there or doesn’t have enormous meaning.
Offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski should know.
Playing on his fourth NFL team over nine seasons, he’s experienced the entire spectrum of highs and lows: The Raiders went 19-45 in his four years in Oakland. He played on a Jacksonville team that went 5-11. But he also played on a Super Bowl winner with Philadelphia.
Speaking generally, he said, the “big problem” with a lot of bad teams in the league is bad chemistry, something he believes is directly connected to selfish attitudes prevailing.
“It matters 100 percent. It’s very underrated, to be honest,” he said. “I think a lot of people — I’m just speaking generally — when they’re building a team, they just think about talent and what does this guy do on the football field.
“But having, I think, high character guys who are just kind of willing to work together with their teammates and have good attitudes generally, I think it’s very important.”
All for one, one for all
Which brings us to a through line here.
Chicken-and-egg factor notwithstanding, Watkins says the last few weeks have included “the best practices that I’ve ever been a part of.”
“Pat just leading the way, Pat throwing crazy balls, and he’s giving us that energy,” Watkins said. “And everything is kind of reciprocated.”
Along those lines, Watkins believes the attitude of all wanting the best for others and not dwelling on their own statistics is a constant.
Starting in the meeting rooms and locker room, at least in the symbolic sense of where this team is rooted.
“I think that’s what it’s all about,” Watkins said. “That energy leads straight to the field.”
And to wherever this season is headed.
“Everything just seems so right,” Watkins said, “at the right time.”
This story was originally published December 29, 2019 at 5:00 AM.