During the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 4 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the CBS broadcast showed quarterback Patrick Mahomes passionately conversating with a stoic Eric Bieniemy, the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator.
Sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson asked Reid about that moment at halftime, and he described it as “frustration and competitiveness,“ according to Wolfson.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Nate Taylor
asked about the conversation during Bieniemy’s time at the podium. His answer offered insight into the coach-player relationship in Kansas City, between Bieniemy and Mahomes, or whoever else on the Chiefs’ offense.
“I’m the one doing all the complaining for the most part,” Bieniemy said with a smile. “But I have no problems with guys venting their frustrations because I want them to; that’s part of the dynamics of the relationships that we have.
“Sometimes, you’re going to agree with things, and sometimes you’re going to disagree with things, but if there’s something that has taken place out on the field, they may have a better point of view than what we do off the field, so I want them to feel comfortable coming to share that stuff with me,” Bieniemy said.
The short video made it clear that Bieniemy was listening to Mahomes and making an effort to hear him out. It’s part of his coaching style and his overall mentality as a former player.
“There is no issue of communication,” Bieniemy clarified. “We play in the arena; it’s all about survival… You’re inviting all of that because I’d rather him come and vent his frustrations at me than to vent it in a different place where it’s not going to be taken the right way.”
The discussion occurred during the first half, before the team put up 20 points in the fourth quarter and put away a motivated Raiders team. Conversations like that can make the difference between a win and a loss.
The Chiefs didn’t make it easy on themselves in Las Vegas or in the Week 3 win over the Miami Dolphins. The biggest factor toward that on offense has been the lack of short-yardage success. Bieniemy alluded to that when describing Kansas City’s offense so far this season.
“We’re still working on establishing our foundation; we’re still working on establishing who we are as an offense,” Bieniemy shared. “I know that we’ve done some good things, but there have been some things that we’ve done extremely shitty that we need to improve upon.”
The Chiefs rank ninth in third-down conversion rate and 12th on fourth downs, but the few failures have come at inopportune times. In Week 1, running back Kenneth Walker found a 60-yard touchdown run on fourth and short; in the last two weeks, the backfield hasn’t navigated the trenches as well.
“One thing I always tell the backs is this: regardless [of whether] we block anyone, it’s our duty and our responsibility to find a way to move the ball, to find a way to move the chains,” Bieniemy said.
“There are offensive linemen, tight ends, everyone is involved,” Bieniemy elaborated. “Right now, we’re just doing okay in short yardage. We have to be better collectively as a group.”
Moving forward, the team should have left guard Kingsley Suamataia helping make room for the backs and possibly left tackle Josh Simmons as well. He is back on the practice field this week.
Rookie left tackle Kahlil Benson has done an admirable job filling in; if he moves to the bench at some point, don’t be surprised if he’s still used to move the chains on third and fourth downs.
