LIONS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BEN JOHNSON QUOTE SHEET
November 16, 2023
Opening Statement: “Fun game to be a part of there last week. Those guys were playing so hard across the board, each position group, it made my job really easy. It felt like almost anything on that sheet was going to work, so that’s really a credit to the guys. It’s less the plays, it’s more the style of play. Those guys played hard from play one all the way until the end and were able to put up some yards and some points, which was great, and we kind of talked last week that some guys were going to be unhappy because we’ve got so many mouths to feed and, fortunately we were able to feed quite a few of them. So, good thing to happen and that’s just one week out of the bye week. Hopefully we can continue that momentum, that’s what good teams do is consistency and so that’s really our challenge here this week is to put a similar formula out there and have the same results, but really good group that we’re about to face, the Chicago Bears.”
On the inspiration behind the different run formations he uses: “That’s hard to say. I think we’ve got a lot of really smart, creative coaches up on that second floor that come up with some good ideas. Young guys that have been in the college game that have seen some things that maybe you haven’t seen in the NFL and then some guys that – we talk about (Lions Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs) Scottie Montgomery, (Lions Tight Ends Coach) Steve Heiden, that weren’t here with us last year, that bring good ideas to the table each and every week, so it’s a collaboration. I know (Lions Head) Coach (Dan) Campbell likes to get a little crazy as well and really, when you have a head coach that’s like that, it gives us the green light to go ahead and push the limits a little bit.”
On if it was part of the gameplan to use more pitches than handoffs against the Chargers: “Yeah, there’s a number of reasons that – really don’t want to divulge why we did that, but that was a comment (Lions T) Taylor Decker made early in the week. He was like, ‘Man, it feels like we’re tossing a lot of things this week,’ and yeah. But yeah, there were some reasons behind it and the technique that our guys blocked with, combined with that, helped to create some running lanes.”
On how advantageous it is for a play-caller to be able to leave Lions Ts Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell out on islands and what it allows the offense to do: “Anything. No, really, I mean, we – you kind of take it granted a little bit. I think a lot of teams have to mask their tackles or help their tackles at times and our guys are not that way. They’re excellent in pass protection and then very multiple when it comes to our running game, what they’re able to do. Get on the perimeter, pull, things of that nature that makes them very unique. And, honestly, that’s why our offense can be a little bit unique as well because of what they are able to do.”
On what went into the decision to play Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez at fullback: “When we drafted him last year, we were in the OTAs and I think it was John Morton at the time, was with us, and he said, ‘Golly, that guy looks just like a fullback.’ And so, we’ve kind of had our eyes on him. We mentioned something to (Lions Head) Coach (Dan Campbell) back then and he said, ‘No, no, no, he’s a linebacker, he’s a linebacker.’ But the injury to (Lions FB Jason) Cabinda, him being out, kind of opened the door a little bit to kind of guide him down that road and he’s done a great job so far. He’s a physical player, instinctive, smart, which makes the learning curve a lot better for us and I think we’ve had some production when he’s been out on the field.”
On how much time Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez spends in offensive, defensive and special teams meetings: “It’s a mix. We’re fighting (Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn) AG to get him during walkthrough just now, so it’s like one period he’ll be with us and then the remainder, he’s with them, so he’s a dual-threat in that regard and looking forward to seeing what he continues to bring to the table.”
On if Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez’s wrestling background helps him be effective at fullback: “Yeah, I mean he plays low, he comes out of his stance well and he is not afraid of contact, drives his feet on contact. Some things are just completely natural to him. I think Baltimore was the first game that we tried that with him and there were some things that you tell people to run your feet on contact, but you have to do it a few times to figure it out. That was not the case with him.”
On if they have used the play the official gave him during training camp: “Not yet, not yet. It’s in the docket though. No, I mean (Lions Special Assistant to President/CEO and Chairperson) Chris Spielman he’s – early in the week, he’s looking at some college prospects and it’s every week, he’ll give me these index cards, he’s probably got 10 to 12 index cards every week of plays that just pop to him as he’s watching college tapes, so we’ve got a big library right now of good thoughts that we like to cycle through.”
On if he goes back and watches the tapes of plays that Lions Special Assistant to President/CEO and Chairperson Chris Spielman gives him: “Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, it’s good, it’s good stuff.”
On the value of Lions WRs Kalif Raymond and Josh Reynolds in critical game situations: “Yeah, the consistent players that know what to do and you know are going to perform when their number’s called. Kalif’s one of those guys, Josh Reynolds, absolutely. I mean, we saw (Lions TE) Brock Wright come through with a big play with us on Sunday as well, so those guys are scattered all across our roster here on offense. Shoot, we’ve got some on the practice squad that haven’t had an opportunity yet that I know, just by watching how they practice and what they do, that if they get a chance to play on game day, they’ll come through as well. So, a lot of comfort there and that’s them working their tails off through the week and then it’s our coaches, they are as detailed and thorough in terms of teaching the gameplan as I’ve been around. And so, the combination of the two allows us to count on them when the time calls for, it’s good.”
On what he has seen from the Bears defense against the run game this season: “This is a dangerous defense. These guys are very good. They have not been healthy until recently and it’s almost like they’ve taken off the training wheels, scheme-wise. Last year was very vanilla, this year is not the case. They played on Thursday, so they’ve had a little extra time to prepare. I have a feeling he’s going to throw some stuff at us that we haven’t seen on tape, which that’ll be good, with some in-game adjustments for us to deal with, but personnel-wise, was upgraded significantly on all three levels. The DBs are playing really well there. A lot of them are second-year players that are showing up or – they’ve got a rookie and they’ve got (Bears DB Jaylon) Johnson, I mean they’ve got guys, talent across the board here, so we have to be very sound in what we do. I know – I’ve had a lot of respect for this head coach. I remember when he was in Indy and I was in Miami and we played them. And it might’ve been his first year there and you could tell those guys were playing with technique and fundamentals and it shows up again on this tape right now. So, it’s a good unit, they’re talented and a tough scheme to attack.”
On his mentality going into the Bears game knowing it will be a strength-versus-strength matchup in the run game: “I think every week, for us, we’re always going to look for the best ways to run the football. That doesn’t change. I don’t know – it’s a good question, I don’t know that we’ll necessarily lean one way or the other. It’s kind of the feel of the game once we get into it, but during the course of the week, we come out, ‘Hey, we feel like this is the best way to attack them in the run game, this is our complements off of it in the passing game,’ and it marries together here towards the end of the week. I probably have not fully formed that vision in my mind yet, until I see it on practice.”
On how important time on task has been for Lions WR Jameson Williams’s development: “He’s doing a phenomenal job. Really, since he’s come back, it’s meetings, he’s attentive, he asks good questions, walkthroughs, he’s on his stuff. And then in practice, he’s practicing really hard. We’re still working to get on the same page in some ways in the passing game, but we see improvement each and every day, each and every week, so far. And I think the more reps he continues to get in games, it’s only going to accelerate his progress.”
On what went into the decision to go for a fourth-and-5 downplay against the Chargers: “Did you like the call? You liked the results, right? Yeah, yeah, that’s trusting our players to get the job done. (Lions RB) David Montgomery, I think he’s a little bit short of the sticks, but he kept churning his legs and you saw the rest of the unit join the party, as well. So, we are willing to run it whenever we want to. That’s how we feel.”
On what the fourth-and-5 downplay does to a defense: “I don’t know, I don’t know. I could only imagine. It’s good.”
LIONS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AARON GLENN QUOTE SHEET
November 16, 2023
Opening Statement: “Nail-biter, wasn’t it? Yeah, those games are tough, but they’re also exciting. And, man I’m happy we came out with a victory, alright. That was a – and those games happen in this League. Sometimes you need your offense to go out there and pull you through and then there’s other games when you need your defense to go out there and pull you through and those were one of those games. So, man I’m happy to sit here at 7-2 going into this next week against another good opponent, and man they’re really playing well on tape, I’m just telling you. I wouldn’t say their record really is a true measure of who this team is. I think they have some good pieces and we’re going to have our work cut out for us.”
On what went through his mind when the defense started off strong against the Chargers but started to struggle later in the game: “Yeah, well the first thing that comes to my mind is I knew this quarterback was good, but damn, he’s really good. And I think everybody in the League wants one. Everybody in the League looks for one. And that’s no surprise to us, shouldn’t be any surprise to you guys because that’s something that we talked about before. And, man he got into a rhythm and he got hot and they have some pieces there as far as skill positions, and to try to take (Chargers WR) Keenan Allen out, try to take (Chargers RB Austin) Ekeler out, that’s a tough duty and it’s a reason why they’re one of the top offenses in this League. So, man, you’ve got to try to hold on as best you can and the guys have to go up there and they have to make plays too. So, it’s a combination of everybody and I’m always going to say that. For me, the coaching staff and the players, and man it was one of those offenses that – where they came out there and they’ll test you.”
On the defense’s motivation to perform well on Sunday coming off a tough defensive game against the Chargers: “Well, the players are always highly motivated, I would say that. And, listen, we know who we are. Man, last year we were the last-ranked defense and I think we’re a top 10 ranked defense this year. So, that’s a really, really huge improvement, so as far as knowing who we are, we know that and we know we have the capabilities to go out there and play really, really good ball. There’s no secret to why we’re ranked up there pretty high and that’s in third down and that’s in other categories too, so, man we’ve just got to out there and continue to play. That’s just what it is. I think so many people get caught up in, ‘I mean, this what happened against this game, against a really good quarterback.’ And, I mean, all hell breaks loose, well no it didn’t. Guys, we’re still a pretty damn good defense. We’ve played some good defense this year, and man get that out your head from everything that you’ve seen, every – what you read, just understand what we’ve done and what we’re doing and focus on that.”
On if the defense’s performance against the Chargers was an anomaly: “This is the NFL, that’s what that is and it happens. I mean, no one thought Cleveland to put 30-something points on Baltimore, but it did. And again, this is not peewee football, fellas. This is the NFL, so things happen, and man you fight your ass off every week to make sure it doesn’t and our guys do a damn good job of that.”
On what he saw from Chicago’s offense when Bears QB Justin Fields was out due to injury and what the offense will look like if he plays on Sunday: “Well, listen, we know what he brings to the table. I mean, he’s one of those guys that, man if it’s there, he’s out and listen, you can have him corralled, you can – I mean, he’s strong as I don’t know what and he can break tackles, so man we’ve got to do a really good job of containing this quarterback because he gets in his mode and he wants to run it, he can cause some issues and he’s done it all through his career. That’s something that we’ve got to do a good job of and make sure we contain this guy.”
On what he learned about Bears QB Justin Fields’s run game from their two games against him last season where he rushed for a total of 279 yards: “Yeah, don’t let him do that. I mean, that’s simple. Again, listen, we talk about it as much as we can, and listen, our guys, they fight their butts off to make sure he doesn’t, but this guy is an elite, elite athlete. And listen, it doesn’t matter who you are, the thing is that we have to do a good job of making sure we have population to the ball. Alright, that’s something that we’ve got to do a really good job of. And our guys know that and they try everything they can and I’ve got to continue to try to put guys in positions to be able to do that also.”
On if he thinks the defense has enough personnel and talent to perform well: “We play football. We play football. And it’s not like you’re going to go out and get Deion Sanders right now. That’s just what it is. Listen, the guys that we have, have put us in a position – we’re a top 10 defense. So, listen, I don’t even look into that. I think that’s one of the stupidest things you can think about. So, listen, we have great guys, but our guys go out there and play hard, that’s what they’re going to do.”
On what Lions DL Bruce Irvin can add to the defense: “Well, I mean, obviously, he’s been around for a long time. Now we know he has and he’s a good pass-rusher, so we’re going to utilize that. We’re going to utilize the brain, we’re going to utilize the pass rush as much as we can. Thing is, we just have to get him in shape and get him ready to go.”
On if Lions DL Bruce Irvin’s attitude will add an edge to the defense’s attitude: “Well, we have an edge too. I mean, you don’t become a top run defense without an edge. So, listen, he brings an added edge, but to be a top run defense, you better have an edge and that’s what our guys have.”
On what his coaching style has been like going into the game coming off a tough defensive performance against the Chargers: “I’m always on them, that’s never going to change, alright. But man, we keep going. This is – listen, that’s a good quarterback that got hot. The thing that we’ve got to do is make sure that we don’t allow that to happen again. And every week, that’s our mode. And me getting on them, man that’s just – I’m a demanding coach and that’s never going to change. So, the one thing I do know, I’m realistic of not just being a player, but also being a coach and understanding how these things happen and I think that’s one of the things the guys appreciate, more or less, about my mentality is I get it and I understand. And man, I wish we can go out there and be the ’85 Bears and just shut everybody down, but for some odd reason in people’s head, they think that really just continues to go on, it doesn’t. I can recall when I was with the Jets, I think it was 2000 when we played the Ravens and, shoot we put 500 yards on the Ravens. You think those guys batted an eye? No, they didn’t. They kept on playing and that’s our mentality.”
On the new element Bears WR DJ Moore brings to their offense: “Man, yes he has, yes he has. And listen, I’ve went against that player when I was in New Orleans and he was in Carolina, so I am well aware of what he brings to the table, strong, fast, can break tackles. Those are some of the things that people really don’t realize about this player because he’s built different from your typical receiver, so – and we’ve talked about that quite a bit, like you just can’t arm tackle this guy. You have to wrap him up, be strong and again, population to the ball with that player too, so the things I’ve looked at is how these guys are getting him the ball and the way that he’s breaking tackles and making plays and, man I showed a clip of that to all our guys and they’re well aware of how this player plays.”
On what he envisions Lions DL Bruce Irvin’s role to be in the pass rush when he gets into ‘football shape’: “You know what? We’ll build different packages for him and we’ve been having him watch some of the edge guys that we have and how they’re operating and he’ll be able to do that for us. Also, in base, he operates the SAM linebacker for us.”
On what stands out to him about the Bears run game: “They always run the ball well. We know (Bears RB D’Onta) Foreman, big, strong, physical back, downhill runner. Want to see if (Bears RB Khalil) Herbert comes back, alright, 24. He’s a what we call stretch-to-puncture-type. He does a really good job of setting up his blocks and putting his foot in the ground and getting downhill. And then, obviously, the quarterback makes a huge difference in their run game, also. So, it’s going to be a challenge for us and we know that. Alright, we know what Foreman brings to the table. We know what Herbert brings to the table and we damn sure know what the quarterback brings to the table, so we’ve just got to be good in those areas.”
On if the Bears’ deep-ball game is similar to the Ravens with their use of the quarterback’s mobility: “Well, the thing that they do a good job of, that we have to do a good job of, is winning our one-on-ones in man coverage. And when you get a quarterback like that and then you surround him with the athletes that they have, it makes it really, really tough. And in every game, listen, somebody’s going to have to have the tough hat and we know that and that’s every play, somebody has to have that. And when you have that tough hat, you have to win and we expect our guys to do that. But you’re right, he does bring that added element to where, defensively, man, you’re going to have to be in some man coverage.”
On how Lions S Kerby Joseph’s game has matured in these past few games with the two interceptions he has recorded: “Well, he’s here to do a lot more than that. So, that’s just a part of his game that he’s really good at. And listen, sometimes those things take time and it just clicks and that’s – you guys asked me that question, I think a couple of weeks ago, about why he hasn’t gotten them. Now he’s getting them and now, it’s how this game is. And usually, when they happen like that, they do come in bunches. And I’m hoping that his bunches (continue) as we go into this next game.”
LIONS SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE FIPP QUOTE SHEET
November 16, 2023
On how valuable it was to have Lions LS Jake McQuaide come in and perform in the Chargers game after Lions LS Scott Daly recently went on the Reserve/Injured List: “Yeah, huge. And I will say, I know I didn’t get asked about it last week, but Daly, he had done a tremendous job for us. I mean his game had really improved a lot and was super happy with him and the direction it was going and all that stuff. So, obviously, losing him was devastating and then – but to have McQuaide come in, it was great for us. And I said it a couple times during the course of the week with (Lions Head) Coach (Dan Campbell) before the game and then obviously it ended up being big in the game, but man, there’s just – it’s very comforting to know we’ve got a veteran player who’s been in big games, he’s played a lot of plays, and you’re not teaching him how to protect and the protection and all that stuff, and the snap, you’re just teaching, ‘Hey, this is what we do.’ And I thought that all those guys, the punt team guys, the field goal guys, obviously (Lions P Jack) Fox on the hold and (Lions K) Riley (Patterson) on the kicks. But I thought all those guys collectively did a great job, not just on game day, obviously we all saw that, but during the course of the week, really working hard to get up to speed and get on the same page. And they all just did a great job of coming together during the week and then obviously it paid off for those guys in the game.”
On if the decision to have Lions DL Benito Jones on the field goal protection team is due to his size: “Yeah, it’s close to pretty much just that, big, not-moveable man. Yeah, it really is a lot of that. I think a lot of teams kind of have a – a lot of teams have one guy who’s on the defense, some teams two, but a guy on the defense who’s filling in one of those spots there. And some of that is like (Lions C Frank) Ragnow doesn’t play on that unit for us. You don’t really want to put the short snapper center in that position necessarily. But anyway, so yeah, he’s done a great job for us. He’s obviously big. He eats up a lot of space. And the best thing about him which I really appreciate because the truth is, the field goal job description’s not that glamorous right now and it’s basically stand up, you’ve got to take it on the chin, these guys are teeing off on you, some of them are rushing to try to block a kick, there’s other guys that are just rushing to just make you pay a price for attempting a kick, and the field goals team is really to stand in there and take it. And so, the one thing that I really appreciate with Benito is he does that, but he does it with a smile on his face and he’s got an energy about it. And it’s not like, ‘Oh, man, why me?’ He’s embraced it and I respect that because at the end of the day, obviously you need those plays and games come down to those plays and you’ve got an operator to be able to handle those things efficiently. And he’s done a great job for us.”
On if Lions DL Benito Jones mentioned last year that field goal protection was something he could do: “I don’t know if he went and volunteered, but he – no, but when I said it, yeah, he actually kind of did say, ‘Oh, yeah. I’ll do it.’ And he’s taken great pride, and he plays in field goal and field goal block for us. So, yeah, he’s been great.”
On if Chargers S Derwin James Jr.’s play at the end of the Chargers game was a legal play attempting to block the game-winning field goal: “Yeah, I feel like – it’s kind of in those situations in a game, I feel like it was fine. We talked about – it’s funny because I knew it was going to come up because we had talked about the jumper in here and I was like, ‘Yeah, well a lot of people can jump over the top, but it’s jumping over the top, getting enough penetration, reelevating in order to actually block the kick,’ which is what they couldn’t do, but it was a good effort. But the one thing that happens is you’re kicking a game-winner with the ball on the 21-yard line or whatever, it’s kind of like what happened to Houston or Houston did a couple weeks ago. I mean you’re rolling the dice and guys trying to jump the count, come off the edge, and if he’s offsides, move it up five and redo it. But if he times it up perfect and he blocks it, well then great. Same thing with going over the top, if they call it leveraging because his hand pushes too much, well then leveraging, rewind it, do it again. If they don’t call it leveraging and you block it, then you win the game or you tie the game, and it goes into overtime. So, it’s kind of a no-risk situation I think on the field block team. On the field goal team, it’s obviously you’ve got to try to sit in there and execute and get the job done.”
On if a player is allowed one step within the line of scrimmage trying to block a field goal: “So, you’re allowed to be within a yard of the line of scrimmage, or you have to be within a yard of the line of scrimmage. When you go over the top, you can’t land on anybody or use anybody to, what they call leverage, which is to help you elevate over the top. And I would – I mean – in my course of whatever, 16 years in this League, what’s actually called has been different throughout the times that I’ve been in there. So, I’ve seen times where they’ve said, ‘Hey, the guy’s foot brushed his back, so you’re not allowed to touch anyone when you go over the top. It’s a penalty.’ And then I’ve heard them come back five years later and say, ‘Well, he just brushed his back, he didn’t use it to leverage, and he didn’t really come down on him forcibly,’ and then they say, ‘So, it shouldn’t be a penalty.’ So, it’s just kind of where they’re at, but I’ve got no problem with the play. I thought those guys did a good job putting pressure on us. I said a week ago that I thought our field goal protection could be better, and I put that on my shoulders. And I thought those guys really did a great job throughout the course of the game. I don’t think it’s ever perfect or it’s ever been perfect to my liking, but probably no plays have. So anyway, but it was – those guys did a great job. There’s some things we can do better to help that play even more.I’ll give you a good story, so – not that you guys like my stories, I know. You’re like, ‘Oh, man. He’s going to use up the whole five minutes.’ You don’t have any more questions anyway, right? Yeah, so I grew up in a household you guys know my dad was in the military and he was a pilot. And he would always tell us when we were kids growing up, the story of kind of like what are your standards? And so the way he told the story was this, he said he was flying – he was learning to become a pilot in the Navy and he was out with an officer, and it was a training flight, and he was in the front, the guy was in the back. And he said the guy says, ‘Climb and maintain 3,000 feet.’ And he said, ‘Climb and maintain 3,000, sir.’ The guy said, ‘Turn right heading 3-6-0.’ He said, ‘Alright, right heading 3-6-0, sir.’ The guy says, ‘Descend and maintain 2,000 feet.’ He said, ‘Descend and maintain 2,000, sir.’ And then the guy says, ‘I said descend and maintain 2,000.’ He said, ‘We’re level at 2,000, sir.’ The guy says, ‘You’re 2,050 feet.’ He said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He said, ‘Get us down 50 feet.’ And the way he told the story was, ‘God, you’re in this jet aircraft, it’s very sensitive, you just push a little forward, a little back it’s going to jump 100 feet just like that.’ He said he got down, got out of the plane and the guy said, ‘God, that was hell of a flight, man. You did a great job, but I’m going to tell you something, if you accept that 50 feet today, you’ll accept it the rest of your life.’ And he said, ‘Ultimately, it’s going to come down to what are your standards?’ And so that was the story. So, ultimately for me, it’s like ‘Ah, there’s 50 feet everywhere in everything we do. Nothing’s perfect.’ But anyway, I think the guys have done a great job, they’re playing hard. We’ve got a lot of room for improvement. We say that every week, but I think we’re on the right track.”
On if Chargers S Derwin James Jr. did clear the line and did not elevate to attempt to block the field goal: “Yeah, I love the rush they did. I thought they did a good job of executing it. I’ve got no problem with it.”
On the technique needed to prevent a defender from jumping over the line to block a kick: “Yeah, I’m not going to get into all that for, but – sorry. But yeah, I think it’s hard to go over the top. I think there’s probably been – there’s one that was blocked, you guys pointed that out, but there’s probably been, I don’t know, 10-plus where guys go over, and they get close. There’s a lot of ways to get close, but to get the job done is different.”
On what the Salute to Service game means to him being that his dad served in the military: “Well, I will say this, you bring that up, I mean it’s obviously humbling to be where we are today or in these shoes for me personally for sure. I’m sure for all of us because ultimately, we’re in a great spot and there’s a lot of people that we owe that too. And I’ll just tell you, when we were in L.A. – I was about to say San Diego, but I grew up in San Diego with the Chargers. We’re in L.A. and at halftime, coming out of halftime, they’re doing a recognizing of some families I think who made the ultimate sacrifice in their family and just to see that, it’s just humbling because there’s a lot of people that put an awful lot on the line for us to be here today. And ultimately, for us, we play a game, and I was thinking about that coming out of the half, ‘Here I am, I’m down on this field, brand new stadium that’s beautiful and playing against the team that I grew up watching, or coaching against the team I grew up watching. I’m coaching a game that I love and that’s been great to me and my family and has really give us a lot. But ultimately, I’m also sitting there watching these people pay the real price.’ And so, I’m just incredibly grateful for all the men and women who serve in all the different ways that they do for us and it is very humbling for me to be here today because I know I talk about Luke Combs, but it is like the song, ‘Five Leaf Clover’ I think it is of his. I don’t really deserve this. There’s a lot of people who deserve a lot of great things, but I’ve been fortunate to be here. So, if you’re asking me about what that means to me, it’s kind of – that hits home.”
On if he said anything to the military families being honored on the field at the Chargers game: “No, I didn’t. I thought about it, and I just felt like, ‘Man, I really don’t –’ Yeah, it’s just humbling, but it’s definitely touching for me and I definitely appreciate all the men and women out there who’ve made – and families and made those sacrifices.”
On the technique needed to prevent a defender from jumping over the line to block a field goal: “Well the bottom line is we’ve got to play a little bit higher and it’s a fine line because you start playing too high, they start moving you out of there and then all of a sudden, they’re getting penetration, they’re getting their hands up. Kind of like what happened to Baltimore against Cleveland last week, and (Ravens K Justin) Tucker gets his kick blocked by just a guy pushing through and getting a hand up. So, there’s a lot of ways to get it done. Ultimately, Tucker’s block was also kind of a low kick. (Lions K) Riley (Patterson) hit a perfect kick and sometimes when you hit a low kick, they’re going to block it and there’s a lot of different rushes that would block it. But anyway – so, our technique will be a little bit higher and that will take care of that.”
On which players are potential options to return punts if Lions WR Kalif Raymond is unable to due to injury: “Yeah, good question and really it’s probably applicable to right now because provided if (Lions WR) Donovan Peoples-Jones were active, he would definitely be an option. And that’s new for us, but obviously he was doing that earlier this year, speaking of Cleveland, with Cleveland. So anyway, that would be an option. (Lions WR Amon-Ra) St. Brown’s always been a great option for us back there in multiple games. He’s kind of been an emergency plan, great ball fielder for us. So, those would be two of them. (Lions CB Khalil) Dorsey’s got some experience. We’ve got a number of guys who could go back there, but those would be kind of at the tops of the list.”
On Lions K Riley Patterson: “Yeah, I think one of the biggest things we’ve always said about a kicker – and in order to be a really good kicker in this League and I think he’s on the journey to kind of write his story or his book, but ultimately for him, and for all of us, you’ve got to make big kicks and he’s really done that in his career when the moments have been big towards the end of games and clutch situations, he’s come through. He came through for us and I do give him a lot of credit. I think during the week actually, last week, we put some pressure on him a little bit to be honest with you just to performing – it’s like when you’re in our shoes, or a coach’s shoes, sometimes it’s like being a parent probably. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is tell your son or your daughter something constructive, but that’s also what they need to hear, and it helps make them better. And so, we put some pressure on him last week during the week and ultimately, he stepped up and responded and did a great job. So, happy for him. I’m proud of him and yeah, he was great.” |
