Chiefs RT Jawaan Taylor focusing on cleaning up penalties | KCSN Daily 9.21
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Kansas City Chiefs RT Jawaan Taylor has been practically perfect as a pass protector. In 130 snaps, he’s allowed just two total pressures and no sacks. The biggest problem for Taylor so far has been his struggles with penalties.
In two games this season Taylor has amassed six total penalties. He knows it’s an area that he’s going to need to continue working on moving forward, and after the Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, it’s a point of emphasis.
“A lot of highs and lows definitely, but overall, I feel like my performance wasn’t too bad,” Taylor said. “But the penalties definitely have to be cleaned up.”
Chiefs OC Matt Nagy agreed that the penalties are something that needs working on, but also explained that they need to go about it the right way.
“Again, we talked Week 1 about some of the drops with the wideouts, emphasizing it, but yet not making it such a huge deal to where it impacts him (Jawaan Taylor) again this week,” Nagy said. “Jawaan is a really really good football player, he’s a great person, he wants to be better. The only thing you can possibly do is just continue to just keep practicing with the cadence, whether it’s verbal or nonverbal which we were more nonverbal there in Jacksonville. So, just keep working on it and if there's times in practice where it happens, why did it happen and how do we fix it? We know that officials and other teams are looking for it, he knows that. We know that, so we just have to keep working at it. That’s the only thing you can do.”
Taylor has already been working on ways that he can adjust this week during practice and credits the coaching staff for their part in helping him fix the issues with false starts and illegal formation penalties.
“Definitely just been working on it this week to clean it up,” Taylor explained. “(I) definitely know that’s a problem that needs to be fixed. (It’s a) good thing I have a great group of coaches around me to help me fix it. Just staying poised throughout the game, staying even-keeled not letting it get the best of me. (I’m) definitely working to fix it. That’s pretty much it.”
We’ve got BEEF of the week:
Dave Toub on return specialists:
The Chiefs appear to be looking for a new option at both the kick and punt returner position with Richie James suffering an MCL injury. Dave Toub doesn’t know how long it’ll take James to get back, but what he’s looking for in his next return specialist is something that many on the 53-man roster don’t have a lot of.
“NFL experience preferably,” Toub said. “There’s a big difference between college and NFL catching punts and kickoffs and guys coming down the field, the type of ball, hang times and different stuff you’re going to get. I’d rather have a guy that’s done it in a game, so he has that experience. We have guys who have done it and done it at a high level, so we’ll be okay. We just need 17 (Richie James) to get back healthy again.”
Outside of James, the Chiefs’ most experienced return specialist is actually on the practice squad. Montrell Washington had 32 punt returns for 271 yards and 18 kick returns for 340 yards for the Broncos last season.
The Process - How the Chiefs can move on from offense struggles:
Former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Shawn Barber sits down with former Mizzou tight end Chase Coffman to talk about the Chiefs start to the season, how they can get over their early struggles, and their matchup with the Chicago Bears.
Transactions:
9/19 - Practice squad contract terminated - DT Danny Shelton
9/19 - Signed to practice squad - CB Darius Rush
Thursday injury report:
Chiefs:
Bears:
Quick Hits:
The Athletic’s Nate Taylor took a look at what Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo is doing to get the most out of his young defense.
Patrick Mahomes was interviewed by Yankees legend Derek Jeter.
Former Chiefs OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif announced his retirement from football.
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Important Dates Ahead:
Sept. 24: Chiefs vs. Bears - Regular Season Week 3
Oct. 1: Chiefs at Jets - Regular Season Week 4
Sept. 29, Oct. 2-3: PUP list / NFI list players can begin their practice window
