Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke to the media on Monday — the first day of the offseason program.
One of the hot-button items this offseason is how the Chiefs plan to address and shake up the offensive line after the unit failed to live up to expectations during Super Bowl LIX.
Fixing the offensive line all hinges on filling the gaping hole at left tackle that the Chiefs had last season. To do this, general manager Brett Veach signed former San Francisco 49ers left tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million contract in free agency.
When Reid was asked about Moore, he said that the team liked the way he performed last season, given limited opportunities in San Francisco, when he filled in for starting left tackle Trent Williams, who missed time due to injury.
“First of all, he was backing up a pretty good player in San Francisco, arguably the best to ever play the game,” said Reid, explaining why Moore hadn’t gotten on the field prior to Williams’ injury. “Then, when he got his opportunity, he took full advantage of it.”
Reid and the Chiefs’ familiarity with Moore goes beyond the handful of games he played last year. The club scouted Moore when he played at Western Michigan with teammate Mike Caliendo.
“He played next to Caliendo for three years; he was a good football player there,” said Reid, referring to Moore’s college film. “We thought that he would be a nice addition to our offensive line as we continue to work that.”
One of the primary reasons the Chiefs’ left tackle position was such a point of contention last season was the poor play of second-year offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia, who the Chiefs attempted to start at left tackle as a rookie. Kansas City’s now-sophomore lineman was overmatched out of the gate and never got his footing.
That considered, the Chiefs are still high on his athletic profile and are giving him a chance to earn the starting spot at left guard that was vacated when the Chiefs traded Joe Thuney earlier this year.
“When we brought him in, we knew he had that flexibility,” said Reid of Suamataia. “We just felt that way athletically. He is a very good athlete. He can run and pass block and do all the things that he needs to do.”
Reid explained that it’s sometimes easier for a guy to start out playing on the inside and then, as he grows, look to move him back outside to one of the tackle positions.
“I thought he felt more comfortable in there as a young guy, so we stuck him in there [at guard], and he did a nice job against Denver. That was one of the bright spots in a game that didn’t have many,” said Reid, referring to the Chiefs’ 38-0 Week 18 loss to Denver.
Reid also gave one more tidbit of knowledge about the line, adding at the end of his comments, saying, Suamataia and Caliendo will both get opportunities at left guard.
“They’ll compete for that spot.”
