INDIANAPOLIS – Thursday marked a return to the scene of a crime in some way.
The last time the Chiefs were in Indianapolis, the Colts knocked them out of the playoffs with a stunning 45-44 win in the second-largest comeback in NFL playoff history.
Feb 20, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid speaks during a press conference during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
“It was a little rough last time, but we’re smoothing that over right now, right?” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of his return to Indianapolis during a Thursday afternoon media session. “We’re working through it. No, that was a rough day the last time we were here. There are some things we can learn from that though, as a young football team and we will learn from it.”
However, reflecting on last year isn’t why the Chiefs are in town.
They join the rest of the league for the annual convergence in Indianapolis for part of the formal draft evaluation process known as the NFL Scouting Combine.
“Another Combine and you enjoy this time of year because you have an opportunity to start adding to your football team, good football players,” Reid said. “This is one of the first steps of that process.”
The evaluations kicked off Wednesday with the arrival of offensive linemen, special teams players and tight ends.
And over the course of the next five days, NFL general managers, coaching staffs and scouting departments will get a first-hand look at draft prospects at every position outside of game film through a series of interviews, medical evaluations and drills.
Still, the Chiefs will have to pay close attention to this upcoming draft given their current salary cap situation.
In a year of not having much wiggle room in free agency, the Chiefs could have to rely on drafted players or what’s on the current roster.
But one thing is for sure; Reid isn’t sharing potential strategy on positions he’s targeting when free agency opens on March 11 or even the draft.
“Well, I can’t — I’m not going to sit here and tell you that,” Reid told a reporter when asked what personnel he’s looking at. “Those are cards that you keep close in pocket there, right?
“But, we look at everybody right now and make sure that you cover all the positions. One of the tricks of the draft is that you take the best players available, if you can stay that disciplined to do so and make yourself a better football team.”
Meanwhile, one area of concern on the Chiefs’ roster is the wide receiver position, but Reid gave it a vote of confidence.
“I thought they did a good job,” Reid said when asked to evaluate the position. “You know Dwayne (Bowe) had his best game the last game.
“So what we take a lot of pride in doing is spreading the ball around to all of the different people that we have, and we don’t really focus in on, necessarily, one person in the throwing game. As a result, that makes defenses have to cover everybody, right? I’m OK with both of those spots, so that’s where I’m at with that.”
Meanwhile, the Chiefs brought aboard two intriguing players in the past two months with wide receiver Weston Dressler and running back Joe McKnight.
Both players are versatile and could contribute on special teams if wide receiver/punt returner Dexter McCluster bolts during free agency.
“They’re skill players that can help us out,” Reid said of Dressler and McKnight. “I want to see what they do in our system, whether it’s at the wide receiver slot position, whether it’s in the running back position and still being able to flex out and do some of the things that we ask our running backs to do. It’s probably too early to tell right this minute until I get them out there.”
Upon the conclusion of Reid’s presser, he addressed members of the Chiefs media in the hallways where he expounded on other subjects.
When a reporter asked a follow-up question to his thoughts on free agency, Reid said he wasn’t “a big free agency guy.”
“My thought on that hasn’t changed,” Reid added. “I’m lucky enough to be with John (Dorsey) where that’s his feeling. I think you kind of plug things here or there, but if you think you’re going to make a team out of free agents, I don’t think that necessarily works.”
Notes: Running back Knile Davis (leg) should be ready for the organized team activities (OTAs), Terez Paylor of The Kansas City Star reports … Chiefs general manager John Dorsey holds his media session Friday at 1:15 p.m. ET.
