HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2023
(On how there can be more defensive takeaways under Defensive Coordinator Mike Caldwell) “Well, it’s
something that we strive for. We started talking about takeaways back when the offseason program
started with the defense. So far this preseason, we’ve had success with some of the takeaways and
creating short fields for our offense. You’re absolutely right though, last half of the season the defense
came up big with some key turnovers and won a football game for us in overtime with a pick-six. It’s
very important that we not only continue to talk about it but put it into practice during games.”
(On if turnover differential is higher when defenses are together longer) “I think so, and you’re right, it
seems like the takeaways come in bunches, they come in waves. The teams that are on the plus side of
it with the takeaway-giveaway ratio obviously have a chance to win more football games because you’re
giving your offense more possessions. It’s something that we continue to talk about it and lean heavily in
that area to make sure our guys understand it. On the other side, ball security, right? We can’t give the
ball away.”
(On the injury updates for the offensive line) “Yes, Josh Wells [OL Josh Wells] injured himself in Detroit.
He’s going to miss a little bit of time here towards the end of camp. Anton Harrison [OL Anton Harrison]
dinged up his shoulder again. We just kept him out of the game for mainly precautionary, he could’ve
played, but I just wanted to not risk further injury there. He’ll be good to go this week. Darryl Williams
[OL Darryl Williams] had a shoulder in the game but stayed in and remained in. He played through it,
he’ll be fine and he’ll be up for Miami this week. Chandler Brewer [OL Chandler Brewer] is in the
[concussion] protocol, he actually got dinged there in the third quarter so he’ll be in the protocol this
week, so we’ll see where he’s at in a couple of days. Who else did you mention? Shatley [OL Tyler
Shatley] is in his last week of that [blood thinners], so he’s still on that. No contact for him, so he’ll be
going through all the individual stuff. Blake Hance [OL Blake Hance] is okay, he’ll be fine, just kind of
monitoring some of his reps during the week but should be good for this game. There’s one more,
Hodges [OL Cooper Hodges]. He had a patella injury in the game and he’s going to miss a little time, not
sure how much time, but he’ll miss the rest of training camp and won’t play in this last preseason
game.”
(On if there’s a need to add more offensive line players due to injuries) “Well, one of the things that I
don’t think we realize is that we get Ben Bartch [OL Ben Bartch] back this week. He started his time last
week, we’re going to increase his reps this week and he’ll have a chance to play in the Miami game and
give us some quality reps there. Looking at the depth, we’re a little thin at the offensive line, it’s
something we’re going to monitor this week but right now, we’re comfortable where we are and some
of the guys that we’re going to get back in the next few days. It doesn’t look like we’re going to add
anybody at this time.”
(On if DT DaVon Hamilton is in the facility with the team) “Not at this time, he’s still being monitored by
the medical professionals in town and just making sure that he’s 100%. I got a text message, just to update you on that, I got a text message this morning that he’s doing much better and feeling better so
he’s definitely on the road to recovery.”
(On fear of DT DaVon Hamilton being out for months due to injury) “Yeah, I don’t know. I haven’t talked
to the doctors; I’m not going to speculate on a timetable with him at this time.”
(On injury updates of DL Folorunso Fatukasi and S Antonio Johnson) “Foley is doing good, we kept him in
a boot for precautionary reasons last week, should hopefully get him out of that boot this week and get
him going again. He will be one of the guys that won’t play against Miami due to the injury and recent
foot. Antonio is still dealing with his hamstring, as you know, hamstrings can be a little funny and he’s
going to miss a little time. He won’t play against Miami this week.”
(On if injuries will impact the starters playing one-to-two quarters in last preseason game) “I’m still in
the same mindset. I can’t really worry too much about who gets hurt and this and that. If I do, then
people get hurt. I just think you practice and play just like you’re getting ready for a regular season game
and our starters need some time together on the field. They’ll get that opportunity this week, and I’ll
monitor it. I’ll be on top of that too, so if I need to pull them out, I’ll pull them out. Right now, it’s still full
steam ahead.”
(On if he thinks the starters need preseason playing time) “I do, you can’t substitute game reps and the
feeling of a little bit of pressure and heat from execution. In practice, it’s okay to make a mistake
because we can correct it on film. In the game, it gets magnified. We just need those guys to play
together, if they can play two quarters, I’d love to get a two-minute drive if we could. Those are all
things that are hard to simulate in practice. We’d love to get the defense in a two-minute scenario in
there as well. We’ll see how it goes, but they need the time in a game setting and being a home game
too makes it a little easier that way.”
(On if OL Josh Wells is suffering from a groin injury) “Yeah, it’s his adductor, so it’s kind of in that same
area, yes.”
(On if he likes having to cut down to a 53-man roster on one day versus multiple days) “I like it because
we get a chance to get through this week in preparation for our final preseason game. There’s still going
to be some opportunities for our young players to play potentially here in the second half and there’s
still some ongoing battles and competition that we need to see these guys in real games. It is beneficial
for everybody to practice, it gives us one more week here of seven or eight days to evaluate this team.”
(On any concerns of physicality during joint practices) “Yeah, it’s always a concern that players will be
too physical. It’s one of the things that I can’t control the other team, obviously, but whoever the team
is, Dan Campbell [Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell] and I had great conversations leading up to our joint
practices. You have a lot of respect for Coach Campbell, and that’s why you do it. You do it with teams
that you know are going to do things the right way. Listen, everybody is going to chip just a little bit, it’s
football. It’s competition, it’s hot, you got pads on. I enjoy it, I enjoy for us to get out of the heat for a
little while and get into the cool weather up north. It just depends, too, on who you do it with and how
you just message your football team. It’s all about communication and the understanding that we’re
going there to just get better as a football team. We’re not trying to get into a fight or anything like that.
We’re just trying to get better and improve as a group.”
(On having joint practices only when the teams will face in each other in a game) “I wouldn’t do it, I
would only do it if we were playing that team that week. It makes sense, especially if you’re traveling to
stay in that city like we did in Detroit, Atlanta in the year before, and play that team. It makes sense to
do it with somebody on your preseason schedule.”
(On performance of OL Walker Little at LG and OL Cam Robinson at LT) “I thought Walker did a nice job
at left guard. He looked comfortable in there, he’s a big body, he moved well. We wanted to see him, so
we set up a couple of runs where he could pull just a little bit. We wanted to see that and loved his
physicality in there. Cam, probably not his best game. I thought he was on the ground a little bit too
much and beat a little bit. For somebody his caliber, he should play better. He knows that and he
understands that. The guys come in today get a chance to watch the tape with the coaches and make
those corrections. It was good to see both of those guys together though, and see the communication
and dialogue that those two had during the game. Hopefully that sets us up for things to come here in
the near future.”
(On what players can step up in replace of DT DaVon Hamilton) “Obviously, Jeremiah Ledbetter [DL
Jeremiah Ledbetter] and Adam Gotsis [DL Adam Gotsis] are two guys that we have as role players and as
backup guys. I think Tyler Lacy [DL Tyler Lacy] is another one that has really emerged. He played well in
the game, he continues to get better right there. We got a couple of guys that are on the roster that can
give us some really good time in DaVon’s absence, however long that’s going to be. But those guys
played well, played consistent down the line. Raymond [DL Raymond Vohasek] did some nice things
there late in the game, but I think Ledbetter and Gotsis, the combination of those two and possibly Tyler
Lacy is a good combination to fill in.”
(On what kind of preseason CB Gregory Junior has had) “Yeah, he’s really embraced his opportunity. He
knew coming in here he was in a little bit of a battle at the nickel spot, and he’s done a nice job. He did a
nice job the other day in the game as well so, he just continues to improve. He’s got another big week
coming up against Miami and I like where he’s at right now. He and Tre Herndon [CB Tre Herndon] have
a nice thing going. Really, I like the fact that he’s really embraced his opportunity. That’s what young
guys need to do and they need to see that. I’ve been really pleased with that.”
(On the nature of the injury to OL Blake Hance) “Gosh, I don’t have my injury report in front of me. We’ll
get that information to you. It was somewhere on his body.”
(On if the second half plan is to split time between QB C.J. Beathard and QB Nathan Rourke) “Not sure
yet, typically that’s the way it would go in this last preseason game, to give both guys another
opportunity. But I haven’t had that conversation yet with Press [Offensive Coordinator Press Taylor] or
Mike [Defensive Coordinator Mike Caldwell] so it’s hard to tell you right now.”
