Andy Reid said Monday that he will make the offensive play calls himself this season and the Kansas City Chiefs will continue to use a 3-4 defense.
Reid said he will call the offense for the Chiefs instead of new offensive coordinator Doug Pederson. He credited Pederson, who was the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach for Reid in Philadelphia, for being “a sharp kid.”
“Doug is a good student. I’ve watched his leadership on the field. I’ve watched his ability to teach. I’ve watched the respect the players have for him. All of those things checked out. He’s a creative guy. He knows this offense like the back of his hand. He knows protections, he knows situational calls,” Reid said, according to the Kansas City Star.
Meanwhile, there was speculation Reid might switch the Chiefs to the 4-3 defensive front that he mainly employed as coach of the Eagles. However, he said he hired new defensive coordinator Bob Sutton, who was the Jets’ linebackers coach, with the 3-4 in mind.
“There’s been time invested in the 3-4 here,” Reid said, according to the newspaper. “The 3-4 gives you some flexibility. I’ve run both (defensive systems). I’ve been involved in both so I understand how they were. The 4-3 is good if you have the right coaches in place and the team is invested in it. But this team here is invested in the 3-4, so let’s continue to build it and get better at it.”
Reid said Sutton “knows the 3-4 and he knows it well,” according to the newspaper.
Reid also confirmed an ESPN report that former Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano was interviewed to become the Chiefs’ offensive line coach.
He said Sparano’s interview “went well.”
The Chiefs also hired Bears assistant Dave Toub to direct special teams on Tuesday, and announced that he’s retaining linebackers coach Gary Gibbs and defensive backs coach Emmitt Thomas from the previous staff.
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