Here's why Chiefs HC Andy Reid's long-drive drills are so beneficial
The Kansas City Chiefs lay the foundation for their success during training camp each year. Veterans tell rookies that Andy Reid's training camps will be hell for a reason. Each practice at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri is notorious for testing players and pushing them to their limits, both mentally and physically. They'll […]
The Kansas City Chiefs lay the foundation for their success during training camp each year.
Veterans tell rookies that Andy Reid's training camps will be hell for a reason. Each practice at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri is notorious for testing players and pushing them to their limits, both mentally and physically. They'll get some reprieve during his patented 10-10-10 practices, but those only come a few times during the course of camp.
One specific aspect of Reid's training camp practices seems to be among the most beneficial come the regular season. In the final 11-on-11 team drills at practice, when players are tired and drained, Reid enacts his long-drive period.
What does that period of practice entail? Well, it's exactly as it sounds. The offense starts on their own goal line with the objective of matriculating the ball down the field and scoring. Sometimes they get the desired results, and sometimes the defense wins. In that case, they'll either have to start over or move on to the second and third teams.
What's certain is that the successful long-drive drills will always be extended drives, with play-calling that fits the bill.
“Yeah, it’s something (Head) Coach (Andy Reid) has done for a bunch of years now," Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy explained to reporters. "We call it our ‘Long-Drive Drill’ and what it does is it simulates to these guys being mentally strong while they’re tired, simulating some drives while they’re out there. One of those long-extended drives that makes them kind of think a little bit, it’s run, it’s pass, it’s everything. A lot of the guys that are new to it at first, they are like ‘Man, what’s going on?’ But then we get a lot of new players that come in, and when they get to the end of the season, they really appreciate it because it helps them from the very beginning.”
Not only does this portion of practice help the team simulate key in-game situations, but it also gets the young players battle-tested for the physical and mental anguish they'll run into late in games.
“It’s very challenging," Chiefs LB Nick Bolton said of long-drive drills in 2021. "It’s kind of unique to (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid’s camp. I kind of like it though. You go on the long drives; it simulates the fourth quarter. We got to dig down deep and find a way to get stops. So, I think it’s beneficial for us. I’m excited as we keep building, they keep getting longer. Again, it’s one of those things that I kind of like about this camp.”
Even the veteran players who have been in the building for many years look back now and understand that long-drive drills keep the team going in those tight, close games where the margins of victory are increasingly slim.
"It's just. . . you want that in practice," Chiefs TE Travis Kelce said in 2019. "I've kind of understood Andy (Reid's) and the coaching staff's mentality of how we want to attack this and how we're going to get better. And, 18-play drives, 20-play drives at the end of practices. Man, those are the ones that you find out who has got the gut for it and who has got the grit for it and who has got the focus to get through everything mentally and still do the right things and still make the plays."
Right now, the Chiefs are in the midst of learning which members of their 2023 squad have the guts, grit, and focus to help them in their quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions. With just five training camp practices left as of Tuesday, Aug. 8, players will look to make the most of the long-drive drills in each practice to prove themselves worthy.
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Featured image via Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
