Chiefs Training Camp: OV Matt Nagy’s notes and nuggets

The Kansas City Chiefs are going into the 2024 season looking to raise their offense back to the elite production fans are used to. The 2023 Chiefs finished 15th in points scored and ninth in total yards, underwhelming marks for a unit led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

It’s why the Chiefs actively pursued offensive players in free agency and the draft. Now, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is tasked with getting the most of those players to get back to being a high-powered unit. He is focused on that in training camp at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri.

After Thursday’s practice, he met with reporters and talked through a few ways the offense could improve on last year’s performance. He started with how to implement the new receivers:

Finding ways to use all that speed

The Chiefs signed wide receiver Hollywood Brown in free agency, then drafted Xavier Worthy in the first round. Both players’ speed has stood out in offseason practices, but the Chiefs’ defense has taken advantage of full pads. There has been physical coverage to slow down some of the big plays.

That has provided some lessons to be learned for both the rookie and the coaches. Nagy pointed out how important scheme is to get the most of a first-year player.

“He has to understand, at this level, teams try to do everything they can to knock you off your timing,” Nagy noted to reporters. “Timing is so critical and important. We as coaches, that’s some of the fun part: find creative ways for guys to get free releases, especially a guy like him who has all that speed.”

In Year 1, Worthy isn’t expected to be the team’s primary target or even the secondary option. The pass-catching talent in front of him is allowing him time to develop, and Nagy has emphasized that to the exciting rookie.

“I think it’s important for myself to make sure he understands this is not going to be a race to the finish line in a week or two,” Nagy acknowledged. “This is something that is going to happen over time.”

“I’ve used some experiences that I have been in before with younger players that I’ve been able to be with for several years. I’ve been using those as examples to him as, ‘hey listen, in time, be patient. Don’t get frustrated, it’s going to be good for you in the end as long as you can step back and see the big picture.’ His attitude has been phenomenal. We knew the person and the kid is great.”

Teaming up with Brown and second-year wide receiver Rashee Rice, the trio is learning to play off each other, and the coaches are working on the best ways to weaponize them.

“We’re very optimistic knowing we have a lot of speed out there,” Nagy admitted. “It’s important that those three guys get together, and we can move them around like different pieces to the puzzle, then they have to make plays. One thing you see from all three of those guys is they have phenomenal tracking ability of the ball when it’s in the air.”

Left tackle

Last season, veteran left tackle Donovan Smith was the primary starter protecting the blind side of Mahomes. It will be either second-year lineman Wanya Morris or Kingsley Suamataia, a rookie second-round pick this year.

According to Nagy, Suamataia has gotten a larger volume of first-team repetitions, but that is not an indication of the Week 1 starter.

“So far, it’s a healthy competition,” Nagy described. “I think the guys have had great attitudes… Over the next several weeks here, they’re going to get the opportunity to prove who should be that guy at left tackle.”

As fans watch preseason play, it’s important to understand that one play — good or bad — won’t decide the battle.

“It’s incremental, it’s not one play,” Nagy asserted. “So if a guy goes out and has a great play in protection or in the run game, he has to do that over and over again.”

Accepting that neither player will be a finished product in 2024 is also important.

“It’s never going to be perfect, they’re both young and we understand that,” Nagy assured. “We’re all lucky and fortunate that we have a quarterback in Patrick that has phenomenal pocket awareness, especially on the blind side.”

Running back depth

Behind starting running back Isiah Pacheco, second-year undrafted signing Deneric Prince has seen the lion’s share of the second-back snaps during camp.

Veteran Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been absent multiple days, and that may have opened the door for Prince to prove himself. That’s what Nagy is looking for.

“He’s going to get opportunities, which is what the preseason is all about,” Nagy reminded. “When you get an opportunity, what are you going to do with it? He is in that spot right now. He has worked hard to get to that point.”

Physically, Prince has the size to be a strong runner between the tackles. That size could also translate to pass blocking, an important trait for whoever spells Pacheco on third downs.

“Protection is going to be critical,” Nagy declared. “We saw last year, when he came into here, what he could do in the pass game… Now we have to step it up, more than anything, mentally. Are we going to be able to trust you in protection and to make your assignments work?”

Without a veteran like former Chiefs’ running back Jerick McKinnon, the team is seeking the same type of reliability from a younger back looking to prove himself.

Injury report

• Out of practice (due to injury): LB Nick Bolton (elbow since 7/31), S Deon Bush (ankle since 7/31), TE Izaiah Gathings (hamstring since 7/31), CB Nazeeh Johnson (hamstring/knee since 7/28), WR Kadarius Toney (ankle since 7/31), WR Justin Watson (foot since 7/24)
• Non-football injury (NFI) list: S Justin Reid (out with quad since 7/21), DL BJ Thompson (non-football injury since 7/21)
• Physically unable to perform (PUP) list: DT Derrick Nnadi (out with triceps since 7/21), DL Charles Omenihu (out with ACL since 7/21)

Post of the day

Our John Dixon compiled all of Thursday’s posts here. Here is the post of the day:

Quote of the day

Safety Bryan Cook on the Chiefs’ new receiver corps: “They have 4.3, 4.2, 4.3, 4.2, you know what I’m saying? That’s a lot of work on our back end.”

What’s next?

The Chiefs return to practice on Friday for a 10-10-10 workout that begins at 9:15 a.m. Arrowhead Time. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy will address the media following the practice as defensive backs sign autographs.

Here’s the complete 2024 training camp schedule.