Steve Spagnuolo Praises Unique 'Positive' of Justin Reid's Surprise Injury
By Joe Summers
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo hopes to turn lemons into lemonade with Justin Reid's surprise training camp injury, pointing to a unique positive when speaking with the media following Monday's practice.
Reid is one of the leaders of this defense, and he has a multifaceted role as both the safety and kickoff man, though it appears unlikely he'll participate at camp. His injury could extend into the regular season, giving someone like Louis Rees-Zammit extra opportunities to showcase his versatility.
However, Spagnuolo praised Reid's mental acumen and discipline while he's on the sidelines.
Steve Spagnuolo Finds Positive in Justin Reid's Injury
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on Justin Reid: "I told him, 'We can use this as a positive.' Just have him dig deeper into the playbook. Not just learn his position, learn the others. He does that, anyway. You guys know J-Reid is a pretty sharp dude. But he's going…
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) July 22, 2024
Kansas City's defense mastermind said he told Reid that they "can use this as a positive," pointing out this is a chance to "dive deeper into the playbook" and know every position on the defense rather than just his own.
Considering Reid's growth as a vocal leader defensively, that could be a massive benefit. Talking about both Reid and cornerback Jaylen Watson, Spagnuolo continued, "When we're doing a walkthrough, they're back there physically in their mind and moving around into it. That's really important."
Not only is there an inherent advantage to knowing where everyone on the defense is supposed to be, but Spagnuolo's defense also utilizes confusing coverages designed to trick the offense. In those situations, players could perform different tasks not typically associated with their respective positions.
We've seen Reid be used as a blitzer or in pass coverage in various ways, and he could become an even more dangerous weapon should he learn more of the defense. I'd guess his knowledge base is already quite high, but Spagnuolo didn't say give that quote for nothing.
Once Reid is back in the fold, he could be fully unleashed as he tries to earn a huge payday this offseason. If he becomes Spagnuolo's secret weapon, it just might come from the Chiefs.
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