Chiefs S Justin Reid discusses the secret sauce that enabled two rookies to record their first interceptions
You don't always see two rookies record their first career interceptions on the same day, but that was the case for the Kansas City Chiefs' Week 7 game against the San Francisco 49ers. Chiefs rookie DB Chris Roland-Wallace got the party started when he intercepted 49ers QB Brock Purdy in the third quarter. It came when […]
You don't always see two rookies record their first career interceptions on the same day, but that was the case for the Kansas City Chiefs' Week 7 game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Chiefs rookie DB Chris Roland-Wallace got the party started when he intercepted 49ers QB Brock Purdy in the third quarter. It came when the score was 14-12 when it really felt like momentum was shifting and Kansas City needed a big play. The play kicked off a 13-play 79-yard scoring drive that would put the Chiefs up 21-12 heading into the fourth quarter.
Later, Chiefs rookie DB Jaden Hicks would pick off Purdy in the end zone in the fourth quarter with under 10 minutes left in the game. The play eventually led to a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive and an insurmountable lead over San Francisco. Both plays were career-first interceptions for the UDFA in Roland-Wallace and the draft pick in Hicks.
Chiefs veteran S Justin Reid, who recorded an interception of his own in the first quarter, spoke about the plays made by each rookie after the game.
"They never know when the number is going to be called, but they're always ready to go," Reid told reporters after the game. "And they got to make two big-time plays, and we need them to. We're going to need them down the stretch even more, and they're going to show up more for us, more confident in that. CRW (Christian Roland-Wallace) getting that, you know, the toe trap swag on the sideline and then Jaden Hicks, a pick in the end zone, two big-time plays."
Asked about what coaching points from Steve Spagnuolo and Dave Merritt enable the rookies to make such plays, Reid explained that this runs deeper than that.
"No, it's, a unity that we have, not just in our room, but across the whole defense, like we have a team that truly prepares the next man," Reid said. "We're all in. We communicate daily. We talk about, what if this happens, what if that happens? The next man up — we take time after practice that we meet up on our own time. We still talk coverage, and it works, and guys are confident out there, and we pride ourselves on our physicality. You know, across the board, DBs, we tackle, we're physical, and we're going to play press coverage, and we're going to make it tough on you. You've got to find ways to beat us."
That extra effort that everyone has taken to ensure the preparedness of every player will be further tested on the defensive side of the ball after Week 7. The Chiefs aren't expecting good news on CB Jaylen Watson's ankle injury. The cohesiveness and unity in the secondary will need to be on point as they again rely on the next-man-up mentality.
Unsung Chiefs offensive weapon had a career day during Week 7 win over San Francisco 49ers
He’s been an important contributor.
