Reid says now is not the time for him to share his assessment of Chiefs

Published Oct. 28, 2013 2:39 p.m. ET

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It's the halfway point of the season and the Chiefs are cruising along at 8-0, but coach Andy Reid isn't about to publicly address specifics of what he has liked and disliked about his team so far.

Asked if he might indulge us just a little, Reid shook his head and laughed.

"It's like me at a buffet line," he said Monday. "If there's liver, I'm probably not going to indulge.

"Those are things I'll probably look more at during the bye week."

Pressed a little more about evaluating his team's specific areas that need improvement, Reid again was hesitant.

"Listen, we can improve at all three phases," he said. "You give me every phase and I will tell you it needs to get better. I've said this before, it's like being a farmer. Your work is never, ever done.

"It's a good question, but it's a loaded question. I can't stand up here and tell you what specifically we need to do because that's for us to know and the other coach to try and find out. It's like an artist -- the artist knows where all the mistakes are and you don't because you look at it from a non-artistic person's eye."

Reid would concede, though, that this Chiefs team probably has one of the best attitudes collectively of any team he has been around.

"I appreciate their camaraderie and togetherness," he said. "Since the off-season program, they have come to work and get better. I know at this time of year they are sore and banged up. I got it. But they keep bringing energy. I'm sure you guys feel that when you watch practice and talk to them.

"I can tell you that it's not that way everywhere. It's just not."

As the victories pile up each week, Reid said he also is not concerned that this group will get complacent, knowing that just a few more wins will secure a playoff spot.

"You can't do that," he said. "I mean, you can do that and go there. But that's not how we roll. It starts with me and analyzing how we can get better at calling plays. If you're on offense and you go to each player, you look at ways they should get better. Bob (Sutton) does the same thing on defense.

"Listen, in the National Football League, you look at each win and you treasure it. There are no style points or any of that. But there is room to improve and I take that to heart. Those aren't empty words I'm throwing at you."

The correct attitude often is a byproduct of excellent leadership, and that starts with linebacker Derrick Johnson on defense and quarterback Alex Smith on offense.

"Derrick is one of those guys who has been in the league a number of years but still comes out every day with the same enthusiasm and energy," Reid said. "I marvel at those types of guys, and he falls into that category."

The players, too, know they can't take their foot off the pedal at 8-0.

"We're going to continue to get everyone's best shot," Smith said after Sunday's game. "Not that anyone sneaks up on anybody in this league, but we're the only undefeated team and teams recognize that.

"To be honest, I think we love it, getting everyone's best shot. Coach Reid talks about it all the time, that you should want to get the other team's best shot. You want the stages to get bigger each week. That's why you put all the work in during the off-season and in training camp. You want the opportunities and you want the honor. I think it's a great thing."

Bring it on, seems to be the united message the Chiefs have for their opponents.

"We have confidence," safety Kendrick Lewis said. "No matter what is pitched at us and no matter what is thrown at us, we'll be ready. We always feel like we can withstand the blow."

You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.