The opportunity to improve is one of the many elements that makes training camp important for players after a long offseason, and the Kansas City Chiefs are looking to implement new strategies to develop their young talent in St. Joseph.
The team has been thrilled with the progress of guard Trey Smith since drafting him in 2021 after seeing him become a mainstay on their offensive line. Smith’s physicality and attention to detail made him one of the biggest steals of his draft class, and his presence immediately furthered their goal of revamping the team’s front five to better protect Patrick Mahomes and improve their running game.
Now that Smith is established in the league, the last piece of the equation to better his game will be finding consistency over the course of the season. He spoke to the media after practice on Friday, sharing his thoughts on improvement to that end, and explaining the standards he sets for himself.
“[The] measure my gameplay and who I am as a player ultimately depends on how well I do day in and day out,” Smith said. “The feedback I get from my coaches are obviously a ‘Good job’ or ‘Hey you have to do this better.’ But ultimately, I think the best way for me to measure this year is consistency. How consistent can I [be]; how effective can I be at getting my job done on a consistent basis. That’s what I’m looking for out of myself, way more consistency this year.”
Smith’s desire for self-improvement is a great sign for the Chiefs as they look to continue their constant improvement while training camp rolls on at Missouri Western State University. Watch for Smith to elevate his game with each practice, and with any luck, for him to become one of Kansas City’s steadiest presences on the offensive line during the 2023 season.
