LIONS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BEN JOHNSON QUOTE SHEET
January 25, 2024
On the challenges an offense faces going against a defense with two dominant linebackers like the 49ers: “Yeah, it’s – you could argue these two are right up there with Baltimore’s two stacked linebackers. They’re the best in football, in my opinion. Normally, what we try to do on offense is we try to throw some eye candy out there and try to get them off kilter, but I think these guys have played so much football together within this scheme that you can see they diagnose and read their keys very, very well. They’re very instinctive football players. So, it’s going to be a challenge. We’re going to have to be fast. This is a very fast defense, attacking-style defense upfront and then, certainly, at the second level as well. And then on the backend, they’re super feisty. So, we’re going to have to start fast and combat their aggressiveness with play-speed and knowing exactly what we’re doing.”
On Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager Brad Holmes’s ability to silence the outside noise surrounding his Draft decisions: “Yeah, I mean, the process that we go through is so thorough. He spearheads the whole thing, obviously, and it’s a collaborative process where we get feedback early in the offseason about the roster and the coaching staff gets to speak up of where we’re at, strengths and weaknesses and where we would like to improve on, and he hears everything and looks to attack the issues at hand full steam ahead. So, when it comes to the Draft, I know between him and the head coach, they are always very much on the same page and when you fall in love with a player both as a personnel staff and a coaching staff, then I think what we’ve seen over the last three years is he’s willing to go out and get those guys, no matter what the outside noise might say. And so, fortunately, here on offense, I can speak to (Lions RB Jahmyr) Gibbs and (Lions TE Sam) LaPorta, they’ve had an enormous impact on our success this year.”
On how tough it is for an offense to face a dominant interior defensive line with players like 49ers DL Arik Armstead and 49ers DT Javon Kinlaw: “Yeah, no I think – that’s the balance is they’re such great penetrators at the point of attack and they do a great job keeping the blockers off the second level. (Lions Offensive Line) Coach (Hank) Fraley and I were just talking about this a little while ago, what you see on tape from them a year ago, schematically, doesn’t necessarily show up as a great way to attack them this year. And that’s really due to the personnel. They are much stronger in the interior, in my opinion. They’re playing really well. The edge guys, I think we all know about those guys with (49ers DL Nick) Bosa and (49ers DL) Chase Young, but this is a very, very fast, aggressive, physical group across the board that we’re really looking forward to the challenge here this week.”
On how much empowering Lions QB Jared Goff and including his input in the offense has made him a better quarterback: “I think empowering anybody, it doesn’t matter really what position it is, makes them a better player overall because the ownership of it, they tend to want to make that stuff work, either it’s a technique or a specific play. That’s been my experience at least. I do say the mistakes I’ve seen over the years when it comes to offensive football is I’ve seen guys come in and they plop down a playbook and try to change the quarterback and there is a degree of growing the quarterback and challenging the quarterback, but I think it still starts with what that quarterback does best. So, that was always our starting point a couple years ago with Jared, what does he do best and then we’ve looked to grow and develop him from there. And so, it’s been very much a hand-in-hand, step-in-step process and his ideas, as well as shoot, (Lions QB) David Blough had some good ones last night too, third-down night, right? So, all these guys, they throw their two cents in there and we try to come up with a good product on game day.”
On how fun it was to construct a gameplan that was outside of their norm against Tampa Bay and Buccaneers NT Vita Vea’s dominance: “Yeah, no, I think – listen, the guys played really well because that defense had only given up, I think, 30 points twice during the course of the season, us and Houston. So, it’s really kudos to the guys executing the plan. Now, at halftime, I don’t know how great I was feeling at that point. Ten points and I think we had zero explosive plays. To throw that ball that many times in the first half, I really thought that we’d have potentially some catch-and-run opportunities, or some deeper balls just present themselves and it didn’t happen. And so, those guys, I mean, everybody in that locker room, they stuck to their guns, and it’d been easy to try to reverse course or something like that. But we ended up breaking through the barrier there in the second half. I think we had six explosives there in the second half and move the ball much, much better and the run game came along there in the second half as well. So, like you said, it’s a little bit different sometimes. Each week presents itself in a different way and we just felt like, last week that was the way we wanted to get after that defense.”
On if having numerous former NFL players on the coaching staff has helped the game-planning process: “There’s no question. It’s instant credibility with the players. They might not know the coach very well, but the fact that he played at a high level in this League, I do think that speaks volumes for the respect factor early on. I learned from a veteran coach when I was in Miami that you can’t coach what you don’t know and so for guys like me and probably (Lions Special Teams Coordinator) Coach (Dave) Fipp who didn’t play in this League, it’s been a race for growing that library, the volume, what can we learn, what can we be experts on that we can share that knowledge and then our way of teaching that to the players is just – it looks different because you might have (Lions Tight Ends) Coach (Steve) Heiden, or (Lions Wide Receivers Coach) Antwaan Randle El out there demonstrating exactly what they want. It’s going to look a little bit different with me trying to demonstrate those same techniques, OK? But we just have to find a different way to get the same point across at the end of the day. And that’s been the fun part about guys like me and Dave, I think, that there’s still value. There’s a good mix and (Lions Head) Coach (Dan) Campbell said this all along that having not the smartest guys or all former players – it’s just the right mix of guys that we have on this staff, and it’s worked really well this year.”
On how much of an advantage it is for an offensive coordinator to have a player like Lions T Penei Sewell on the edge who you can scheme around: “It’s an enormous luxury, I’ll tell you that right now. He – there’s so much that he’s capable of and he’s still growing. That’s the crazy thing, he’s still learning, he’s still growing and it – when we face a defense like this, I’m not saying that we’re not worried about the edges because we are, we certainly are. But it helps you sleep a little bit better at night knowing that some of their best players are going against some of your best players as well.”
On how much Lions T Penei Sewell has grown since his first-career game against the 49ers: “Yeah, I think the ability’s always been there. It’s been refining technique. I think he’s excellent with both pass-pro and the run game. I don’t know if there’s a better combination of the two at the tackle position in the League right now. But really, where I’ve seen the most growth is the leadership factor. You see guys looking to him now. He is a tone-setter for us here on offense. And really, I would say him for the offensive line and then (Lions WR Amon-Ra) St. Brown at the skill positions. Those two guys with how they play fearless, aggressive mentality, they’re not going to back down to anything. Really, those two guys are what we’re all about on offense.”
On what he thinks the hallmark of the offense is: “Shoot, I’d like to think that it all starts with the fundamentals in technique. I’d say that’s a huge part of it because it’s what we’ve been preaching from the springtime, through training camp and then even now during the season, all those little things. But when you turn on the tape, I would love to think that you see us playing with speed and attitude, speed and attitude. We talk about that from day one and hopefully when you turn it on, that’s what’s showing up each and every week.”
On how much harder it is to execute an explosive pass game when facing a defense that blitzes a lot like the 49ers: “Yeah, I think it’s certainly a challenge. I think, really, where the biggest part of our challenge starts this week is trying to replicate this front for our O-line and tight ends in practice. Limited pads this time of year, so here we are completely different style than really what we’ve seen this year. The Jets, we faced last year, has a similar front in how they get off the ball. So, for the next two days, we’re going to try to replicate that as much as we can in practice to show our guys and simulate the play speed. They get off the ball, I still remember (49ers Defensive Line Coach) Kris Kocurek, I was with him in Miami. I know he went down there from Detroit, and I just remember him vividly sitting there in practice, ‘Get off, get off.’ He’s just screaming, his spit flying all over the place and so he’s, in my opinion, the best in the business at teaching that front. And like you said, when you can generate pressure with just a four-man rush, then there aren’t nearly as many windows there in the backend. So, if we do happen to catch him in man or a fire zone, or something like that, hopefully we can capitalize on it. But we know those opportunities will be limited.”
On what he thinks about the collective effort of fans around the country traveling to San Francisco to watch the game: “Yeah, we always felt like, at least my wife and I when we first moved up here, that this whole city was just – they were just waiting, waiting for a moment like this and a season like this that we’ve had. And you’ve seen it all year long with most of our away games, really, have been home games to a degree. We’ve had phenomenal support. I don’t know what it’ll be like here this weekend because I know a lot of people want to go to this game, but the support’s been overwhelming. It’s certainly helped us when we’ve gone on the road. But it’s been special to watch, it really has.”
LIONS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AARON GLENN QUOTE SHEET
January 25, 2024
Opening Statement: “You’ve got to forgive my voice. I’m a little under the weather, a little bit, but I’m fighting through it. So, taking my meds and feel a little energetic right now, so. But I’m glad we’re in the final four. Alright, my mentor told me a long time ago, all we’ve got to do is get in the tournament and win the tournament and we’re still playing. And that’s all that matters. So, we’re looking forward to going out to San Francisco and having a battle with a really, really good team.”
On if he takes IVs when he is sick similar to the players: “No, I’m like a coach. I fight through it. That’s what I do.”
On what it means to have the support of Lions QB Jared Goff and Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell who make sure he gets the acknowledgement he deserves: “Listen, this is how I look at this team in general, is we are a team. And everyone has to pull their weight and we all do everything we can to make sure we do that. And we always support each other. I mean, sometimes things won’t be going right, but we still support each other because we know the work that’s been put in by each person, each coach, each player in this organization. And that’s been a huge change for the most part. And we’re going to continue to do that. So, I’m appreciative, I really am. Man, there’s a lot more work to do and we all understand that, so we’re always fighting to get to the point to where we want to get at and that’s why we’re here right now because of what we we’ve done and what the players have done that we continue to fight. So, listen, any criticism, any – listen, I take it with a grain of salt because here is what I do know, when things are bad, man look at AG when it comes to defense. When things are good, make sure you give the players their credit.”
On Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell saying he is better looking than him: “I am, he knows that.”
On the style of defense they have to play against 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense: “Listen, I coached with him in Cleveland. He was the offensive coordinator there and we had (former Browns QB) Johnny Manziel as our quarterback. And he spends a lot of time of understanding what fronts you’re in and trying to attack the fronts you’re in. He’s one of the best in the League at doing that too, now. I’ve seen that personally on how much time he spends with that. And then I’ve seen him grow as far as his pass concepts, especially in how today’s game works right now. So, it’s going to be a task, especially with the players that they do have. I mean, they have skill players that are some of the best in the League. So, defensively, we’ve got our hands full and we know that, we know that. But the way that I see it, man they’re going to have their hands full too because we are going to go out there and we are going to play our best.”
On what he learned from coaching with 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan: “That he’s a good coach. That’s why that he’s a damn good coach. It’s a reason why he’s won the games that he’s won.”
On what he has seen on film from 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk: “I think it’s always been there, as far as the chemistry. I just think now he’s starting to get – as far as people understanding exactly who he is, that’s going to show up a little bit. I’m going to tell you the one thing about all these guys, including Aiyuk, their run-after-catch is something special, it really is. It’s not like they’re just chucking the ball down the field, 40 and 50-yard gains. It’s, man when they get the ball in their hands and their ability to break tackles. And that’s all of their skill players from (49ers RB Christian) McCaffrey, to (49ers TE George) Kittle to (49ers WR) Deebo (Samuel), to Aiyuk, to all those guys. Alright, they do a really good job of that. And you can tell the coach emphasizes that quite a bit because of how they operate. And this will be the best blocking group of receivers that we’ve went against. We’ve got to be really, really good in that aspect when it comes to the running game also.”
On what it says about the franchise that mid-round Draft picks have been able to contribute at such a high level this season: “Well, you start with our personnel department and (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad Holmes and what they do as far as going to find the players that fit exactly what we’re trying to do. So, you give those guys a lot of credit. And then you give the players credit too for their development. Here’s one thing that we talk about a lot, we need coaches that can teach and develop because it makes your organization sustainable, and our guys try to do that to the best they can. And our coaches make sure that that’s what we want as far as coaches, teachers and developers. And these guys have done a really good job of improving every year and that’s why our defensive numbers have improved every year. Listen, it will never happen overnight. We still have some improving to do, but for the most part, man we’re happy with those guys.”
On the biggest challenge in facing dynamic tight ends like 49ers TE George Kittle: “Just matchups, matchups for the most part. Because for a linebacker to cover him, that’s where the speed and agility come into play. And when a safety has to cover him, that’s when a size factor comes into play. So, the thing is we have versatile players on our end too, alright, that can do a good job of covering that player. But listen, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. They just know they’ve got to be on their P’s and Q’s to get ready to cover that player, so he’s one of the best in the League. He’s an elite player. What he does that’s different from most tight ends is his ability to block. I think he’s tough, he’s gritty, he’s physical and he has the receiving skills to beat you in a number of different ways. So, man I like that player a lot. He’s one of the better ones in the League.”
On the confidence he has in his players to produce in high-pressure situations and how much they have grown: “Listen, this is one thing that we stress here more than anything is just the competitive nature of each player, and then what players are able to handle pressure situations and those guys continue to show us that. And we put those players in those situations in practice also. Sometimes, we let them make the calls. ‘Alright, (Lions LB) Alex (Anzalone), you make the call on the defense, man you’ve got to win the game right here. What are you going to be in?’ Those guys have come through. And that’s a credit to our head coach of doing that week in and week out of putting those players in those situations.”
On how close Lions LB James Houston was to playing last week after being added to the active roster: “Yeah, I think he’s very close. The thing that we want to do, we want to protect that player from himself for the most part. Listen, I do not take injuries lightly, especially making sure we listen to the medical department to make sure we bring that player along exactly how he needs to come along. So, he’s doing a really good job in practice. You can tell he’s getting back to form to where he was. And hopefully, we’ll get a chance to put that player on the field, so he can make some plays for us.”
On one of Lions LB James Houston’s greatest assets being his bend and how it is returning throughout his rehab: “Absolutely, he’s very unique when it comes to being a pass rusher. Well, here’s the good thing about Houston this whole offseason, he’s learned different moves other than just being able to just bend around the corner on guys. So, I think we’re all looking forward to seeing the different techniques he has as far as being a pass rusher.”
On the secret sauce to 49ers QB Brock Purdy’s success: “Listen, I wish I knew that. But I would say this, just from watching the tape, he’s highly competitive. He understands the offense. He understands that it’s not about him, it’s about the masses of the whole team. He understands he has really good players surrounding him. So, his job is to deliver the ball to those good players and he’s doing that at a very, very high level. You see, once he hits his back foot, that ball is out. So, he understands timing. So, when you have that, and listen, I’m not comparing him to (former 49ers QB) Joe Montana, but you kind of see those traits as far as putting his – once he hits his back foot, the ball is out. You see it – I think a lot of offensive coordinators, quarterback coaches like that because of the timing of the offense. So, I think he fits that system very, very well. And he’s doing a really good job at it.”
On how Lions CB Cam Sutton has handled facing dominant receivers these past few weeks and if he has to ‘uplift his spirits’ after he gives up big plays: “Welcome to the NFL. Welcome to the NFL and being a corner, that’s just what it is. And that’s what I like about Cam because he doesn’t let a lot of outside noise really affect him. Listen, we all know these guys have had some good games, we got it. But Cam has done a good job for us, I will say that. It’s a reason why we’re winning. It’s a reason why we’re holding teams to certain amount of points every week. And Cam’s been a big part of that. So, I’m going to continue to support Cam and it’s not easy. For the things that we ask him to do, it’s not easy. So, I don’t see us changing who we are. Obviously, there’s going to be some adjustments when we go along, as far as the games are concerned. But listen, I’m 100 percent behind Cam for the most part.”
On the importance of altering the timing and mindset of 49ers QB Brock Purdy who is comfortable in the pocket: “Here is what you see with this player, a lot – you really don’t get to him a lot because of the timing of the offense and him getting the ball out. So, the one thing I preach to the D-line, ‘Man, you’ve got to get your hands up,’ because he’s a smaller-statured player. And he does a really good job of knowing exactly where he’s going to go with the ball. So, the rush plan, for the most part, man four-man rush, you’ve got to win. They have to. Because sometimes you could send six and you would never get there and the ball’s going to get out. You just put your guys in man coverage and the ball’s going to get out. So, we have to do a really good job of really changing it up. Sometimes, we’ll send that, sometimes we’ll send four, right, and have max droppers in the backend.”
On one word he would use to describe his defense and why: “That’s a good question. Well, we talk about gritty. That’s who we are. Listen, we know exactly who we are. Are we the fastest? Are we the most talented? No, but we’ll bite somebody’s face off when we go play them.”
On if they are not just settling for ‘biting off kneecaps’: “We’ll bite a kneecap too, if we have to.”
On where Lions LB Alex Anzalone has grown the most throughout his career: “His leadership is outstanding, as far as getting the guys to understand exactly how I’m trying to call the game and the direction I’m trying to go when it comes to the game. And he does a good job of explaining that to them because a lot of times when they’re in a meeting, they’re by themselves watching the game with a call sheet. He says, ‘Listen, I know AG’s going to make this call this situation.’ Alright, so he does a good job of actually educating the other guys exactly how I’m going to call how I see it because he’s been with me for so long. The other way is his ability to play more violent than he did when he was in New Orleans and I give a lot of credit to (Lions Linebackers Coach Kelvin Sheppard) Shep, his linebacker coach in that situation because he knows, as a linebacker, the way that we play, he has to be like that. In New Orleans, we used him more in coverage. But here, man you have to be a really good tackler, violent, physical. And he’s done a really good job with that. It’s not like he didn’t have that, it’s just the fact that we brought that out of him to be able to do that because of what we acquired to him (to do) in New Orleans. So, man there’s a number of ways that he’s grown. I love that player. He’s helped us at the defense. I just love everything about Alex.”
LIONS SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE FIPP QUOTE SHEET
January 25, 2024
On playing outside for the first time in a while this weekend: “Yeah, we’re excited for that. Wind’s light and variable, east, northeast. Let’s see, we’ve got 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Should be nice. Should be gorgeous. It’ll be a great night. I’ve told you before, I enjoy playing outside just as much as inside. Both teams will be out there in the same stuff. It’ll be good. Should be a nice day.”
On what stands out about San Francisco’s special teams unit: “Yeah, these guys do a good job. They’ve got some good players. Their returner, (49ers WR) Ray-Ray McCloud (III) does a nice job. He’s bounced around the League a few different spots, but he’s a great competitor. He’s going to try to compete and make something happen every time he’s back there. Their gunners, they played with a bunch of different gunners for them really the last game. (49ers WR Chris Conley) 84, (49ers RB Jordan Mason) 24, (49ers WR Ronnie Bell) 10’s been out there, (49ers CB Samuel Womack III) 0’s been out there. They do a nice job. They’ve got speed. They’ve got a good roster. Their linebackers, they have the (49ers LB) Oren Burks kid who was in Green Bay. We played against him a bunch who I think’s a good player. (49ers LB Fred Warner) 54, (49ers LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles) 45, another good player for them. And let’s see, (49ers S George) Odum, number 30, great player. I mean he’s as good as any guy that we’ve played against all year long. And they’ve just got him back. He was kind of a missing piece for them, but they get him back. So, we’ve got a good challenge. They’re well coached, very good fundamentally. We’ve got a good challenge with these guys. And I do know this, our guys are excited for it. We can’t wait. So, it should be fun.”
On Lions P Jack Fox and the coverage unit’s performance the past two games: “Yeah, I think you don’t really know what these games come down to until the game’s over and the bottom line is, you’ve got to be ready on all really six, seven, eight phases for us if you include field goal, field goal block, onside kick, hands. You’ve got to be ready on all eight phases for us and the game’s going to come down to probably some of those or one of those. And you don’t know if it’s going to be a game where maybe the wind holds up the ball on a kickoff and there’s going to be more returns than we’ve had or more coverages than we’ve had. Maybe we kick with it more, they kick against it more or vice versa. So, one of those phases plays out more for you. The bottom line is, in these games, but really in every game, you just have to be prepared in all phases and ready to go. And that’s what’s great about this time of year is it’s the final exam. I said that a couple weeks ago, but all season you’re preparing, you’re going through the scenarios, you go through there’s one second on the clock, you just took the lead, it’s the fourth quarter and you’re kicking off, what are you going to do in that situation? What’s it going to look like? What are they going to do? And you’ve got to cover it. And you prepare on all those things throughout the course of the year and now it’s like, ‘OK, man, here we go. That’s what we did it all for.’ And it’s really time to just cut it loose and go out there and play, and it’s an opportunity to show what you’ve done all year long.”
On how tough it was for Lions P Jack Fox to pin the last punt of the Tampa Bay game inside the 10-yardline despite being in positive territory: “Yeah, I think it’s an area where we’ve talked about in here, I think, through the years of that I thought he could improve in. And I feel like down the stretch, I mean he’s been playing his best football and he’s been big in the biggest moments. And that’s the thing we love about Fox. He’s a clutch player, man. He thrives in these conditions. And I think really our whole football team really thrives in this stuff. I mean this is what we want. So, it’ll be fun. Field position will be important in this one certainly.”
On being one of the few coaches on staff without NFL playing experience: “Yeah, I love that you just said that. It just puts a chip on my shoulder. That’s something more to prove, you know what I mean? But no, I think – I mean that’s worth something but at the end of the day, coaching in this League is about teaching players and getting players to – motivating players and teaching them and getting them to play and making sure that they go out there and execute. That’s why I think I tell you guys all the time, my favorite part about the job is being with the players. And it’s maximizing each one of them, it’s maximizing the 11 that are out there on the field together. And I love it. As far as ex-player, did play, didn’t play, all that stuff, I really don’t have the answer for it because I didn’t play, or not in the NFL. But I do know this, I don’t think it really matters at the end of the day. It’s going to come down to, are you a good teacher? And schematically, do you know what to do? And do you have answers for problems? Can you fix problems? And then, can you motivate the guys to go out there and play at a real high level?”
On his time spent coaching in the Bay Area and how important his first job in the NFL with the 49ers was to getting him to where he is now: “Yeah, I do appreciate you asking the question because for me, it is going home and there’s always something special about that. I grew up in Southern California obviously, but I did coach in the Bay Area for a long time. I really went back out there to coach at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo which is in between L.A. and the Bay. And then, I was there three years and then I went to Nevada, Reno which is just outside the Bay Area for another year. And then San Jose State for three. And then we went right from San Jose to the 49ers. I would just tell you, I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to go to the 49ers and I owe that to the organization. Every time I see (49ers Chief Executive Officer) Jed York, I thank him for the opportunity. If it wasn’t for them and Mike Nolan – Mike Nolan gave me my first shot. He was the head coach at the time. I wouldn’t be here today, I definitely know that. And then, I’ll try to make this as quick as I can. I know I’m good with stories, or I don’t know if I’m good, but I have them. So, here’s what happened, I’m working at the University of Arizona and I’m a graduate assistant at the time Dick Tomey steps down or got fired, however you want to say it or see it. And then John Mackovic comes in. Well, I was an alum, my buddy, Brent Brennan, he was also on the staff. He’s a great friend of mine who just took the head job at the University of Arizona. And we’re both there and John Mackovic calls us in – he was the offensive GA and he’s like, ‘Hey, here’s the deal, I already have a defensive GA. I’m going to bring this guy in. This guy’s name is Jeff Rodgers.’ So, John Mackovic’s talking to both of us and he says, ‘Hey, so I’ve got a defensive GA.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, I’m out.’ And he’s like, ‘But I might make you the offensive GA.’ And I’m like, ‘Hey, Coach, this guy’s a hell of a coach. You need to keep him. I’ll figure it out.’ And the next day, Rich Ellerson who’s on the staff takes the head job at Cal Poly. So, I go to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Well, fast forward and now I’m coaching at Cal Poly and the phone rings, it’s Jeff Rodgers. It’s the guy who took my job at Arizona and he says to me, ‘Hey, I’ve got a question. I’m working for Duane Akina.’ And that’s the guy I worked underneath and played under. And he’s like, ‘You did these forms or something with the video. Can you help out with it?’ I’m kind of like, ‘Help you out? You just took my job.’ And then I’m like, hey, it isn’t his fault, just do the right thing. And so I said, ‘Hey, no worries.’ Anyways and then we go on and now I’m coaching at San Jose State, well Jeff Rodgers is the assistant special teams coach at the 49ers. He leaves to go take the job at Kansas State. He calls me up and he says, ‘Hey, man, I just want to give you a heads up, I gave your name to the head coach and the special teams coordinator.’ And sure enough, that’s how I got the job, through Jeff Rodgers. So, I try to say to everybody, especially my kids, they don’t listen, but don’t burn bridges. You just never know when it’s going to come back. So, for me, the chance to go back there is incredible. I’m super grateful for it and obviously, the best way that I can show them that is by playing well for us on special teams.”
On if he is still close with Cardinals Special Teams Coordinator Jeff Rodgers: “Yeah, so Jeff is now – he’s the special teams coordinator with the Cardinals and yeah, we’ve been close ever since. We both worked for the same guy, special teams coordinator in San Fran, and that guy’s name was Al Everest. And truth be told, in terms of special teams play, had the biggest influence on me for sure. And I know him and watching how those guys play too.”
On going against Michigan native 49ers K Jake Moody and if they can do anything differently going against a kicker who has had some recent misses: “Well, the first thing I’ll say is we thought Moody’s a great player coming out. I had him as my top player coming out that year and really liked him. I think he’s going to be a great player in this League. He’s like a lot of young kickers, they have their ups and downs, but San Fran’s been smart and they’ve hung with him. And I really think he’s going to have a great career and I wish him the best for sure. That being said, in terms, is there anything you can do? I think our field goal block has done a great job of putting pressure on really most of the teams that we’ve played and certainly the last five or six weeks. I think (Lions DL John) Cominsky feels like he tipped the first ball in that last game a little bit. I know we’ve gotten a lot of pressure and I think that’s probably the biggest thing you could do to affect those guys going into the next game is just the pressure you’ve put in previous or in the prior games because they see all that stuff. So, anyways, I wish him the best. I’ve always said that, I mean before the game. You want the other team to play at a high level and play their very, very best and then you want to play better than them ultimately at the end of the day. I would never wish poorly on anybody.”
On his perspective of Bills K Tyler Bass missing a game-tying field goal late in the game against Kansas City: “Yeah, you hate to see that for him. It’s hard because everybody’s going to write that that’s what the game came down to, but the way I see those things is funny because really San Francisco gave up a huge kickoff return. They had a blocked field goal in that game, and they still won the game. So, nobody’s saying, ‘Well, that’s what’ – well, because they won. And you can win and overcome that stuff and teams do that all the time. Baltimore had a punt return for a touchdown against them, their punt team and Baltimore won the game. Both of those happened last week. So, ultimately, you can overcome – it’s the team that can overcome the most or make the fewest mistakes that win the game. Now, when you look back on it, everyone blames it on the field goal or whatever, but it’s like well, how many times did you punt? So, you didn’t get a first down every time on offense, you didn’t score every time. They don’t say, ‘Well, they didn’t get the first down. Oh, they don’t always make every first down.’ Well, you don’t make every kick either. So, ultimately, I know you hear it all the time that it doesn’t come down to one play, but it really is the truth. These games don’t come down to one play, but oftentimes we put more of a blame on one play or the other because it’s human nature and it’s easier for us to do that. We’ve got to find something to blame. But yeah, I feel for him. I think he’s a great player too.” | |
