| LIONS HEAD COACH MATT PATRICIA QUOTE SHEET Opening statement: “How’s everybody doing? Great. So obviously another big week for us here trying to get ready for a great opponent. Dallas obviously presents a lot of problems, they have a lot of great players, so we have our work cut out for us there from that standpoint. We’re looking for a good practice today, (we’ll) go out and work hard and try to improve and try to get better. As far as practice is concerned, a couple of guys out here that won’t be at practice: Rick Wagner and Ty Johnson are in concussion protocol, so they will not be out there. Da’Shawn Hand, Romeo Okwara and Tracy Walker will not be at practice, so those guys are out from that standpoint. Other than that, obviously, we have a big challenge in front of us here with the Cowboys. I think the biggest thing for us (that’s) kind of staring us in the face would be the run game and trying to stop there run game. Ezekiel Elliott is a phenomenal player, and they have great offensive linemen upfront that really create a lot of holes. (They’re) just phenomenal as far as that’s concerned. I think they’re doing a great job. Dak Prescott’s doing a great job as far as running that offense right now, keeping things moving at the line of scrimmage, so that’ll be a big challenge for us, too. We’re excited to be home from that standpoint and have the crowd and have the fans and have a lot of energy in the building to kind of help us there with that, so at the line of scrimmage it makes it a little bit more difficult for them. Certainly, on the other side of the ball they have some great players on defense, especially up front. So it’ll be a good week of work, and we’ll try to get better and go from there. What do we have?” On Cowboys QB Dak Prescott’s performance this season: “You know I would say, one of the things is – watching him from last year when we played him early to this year – I think he’s doing a great job at the line of scrimmage. He’s changing plays, he’s audibling, he’s making adjustments based on what he sees from the defense. I would say his post-snap read of coverage is a lot better. He’s doing a really good job of kind of deciphering some of the different looks that he’s getting and really taking advantage of the skill players that he has out there with the speed and some of the one-on-one matchups that are being created out there because of the run game, and some of the different things that defenses have to do. He sees that stuff pretty quickly now. I would say, along with his athleticism and his ability to move and get out of trouble and extend plays, one of the things that he’s definitely doing is keeping his eyes downfield in those situations, and I think that’s where some of those big dynamic plays are occurring because he has a strong arm and can get the ball down there. Instead of just maybe taking off and running from that standpoint, he is able to keep his vision down there and get the ball out, which they’ve been very successful at doing that.” On what a team needs to do to win close games consistently and if that separates teams in the NFL: “You know I would say there is some truth to that, from a standpoint of these games have all been really competitive. They’ve been really tough mentally, physically. I think our guys are doing a great job of grinding all the way through that. I think there are a lot of situations where we have seen teams in the past that just mentally can’t do that every single week. I would say for our guys – maybe with the exception of one week this year – even though we fought through every single game, I would say each game is coming down to maybe one or two plays here or there. I think our guys are continually trying to battle through that and trying to find ways to come out on the plus side of it, so are we as coaches. We’re trying to figure out if there are different things that we can do, whether it’s scheme or teaching or situational awareness, anything we can do to just kind of break through that kind of level. I think once we do that the confidence part of it goes up and I think everyone kind of performs a lot better, maybe the situation slows down a little bit. We coach that all the time and try to preach it all the time – make sure you just play this play, don’t make that one play bigger than what it is. Even though maybe the ramifications of it are big, if you start to think that way – I think just the over amounting of things that go through your head kind of distract you from the immediate of what you need to get done. So, we’re trying to learn how to do that, we’re pushing through that and I give our guys credit. Like I’ve said every single week, you said it, we’ve led every single game, we’ve been in every single game. They’re tough games, we grind it out. So we can kind of break through that and get through those couple of plays here or there and win, I think that would be really huge for us.” On Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott’s ability to catch passes: “You know what’s interesting about it to me is that he really doesn’t do it that much, but when he does it’s usually a big play. I think it’s one of those things where you’re so worried about the run game, you’re so worried about him at the line of scrimmage, then all of a sudden whether they get him out of the backfield, they wheel him out from the offset position, whatever it may be, and then he’s fast. We know he’s fast when we watch him run the ball, he’s still fast when he runs routes. He just has that speed and that athleticism to build as he pushes vertical and then he has good enough hands to catch the ball. He’s made some really difficult catches whether it’s over the shoulder or (if) he’s got to reach back and go get them. I think they’re doing a great job – (Cowboys Head Coach Jason) Garrett and (Cowboys Offensive Coordinator) Kellen Moore are doing a great job of kind of dialing up those plays when they need them, and they’re converting those situations into big plays, so you can’t fall asleep on that at all.” On how Cowboys WR Michael Gallup has become an X-factor: “This guy’s fast. This guy’s vertical, and I think obviously, with (Amari) Cooper on the other side there’s going to be a lot of attention that’s going to need to be paid to him because he’s such a great receiver and runs really good routes, and his double moves, and everything that he does downfield. I think Gallup has really capitalized on those opportunities to take advantage of maybe some of the coverage shifts or the space and some of the different looks of what he’s seeing from that aspect of it. I think that’s someone that’s extremely dangerous and if you maybe over help to one side in particular – even with (Randall) Cobb, because Cobb, you’re going to have to address him, get some attention over there, too. I think the vertical aspect of Gallup and what he’s been able to do is phenomenal.” On if the team will have a presence at QB Colin Kaepernick’s workout: “We as an organization, we always do our due diligence on all players that are available. I know Bob (Quinn, Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) and his staff will have someone down there to watch the workout, and we’ll see where that goes. But, I was really pleased with Jeff (Driskel) and the way that he played in the game. I thought, again, the poise for him to be able to go in and do what he did, I thought was really good. His understanding of what we needed to do in the game plan, so I think that’s where we are as a team. But, I know we always do our due diligence with that stuff, yes.” On what he remembers about QB Colin Kaepernick when playing against him: “Yeah, it was a really long time ago. Gosh, I don’t even know how many years it’s been. I know this: Couple different phases, times that we’ve played against him, just thought he was very athletic, especially the first time we played against him. I think that would be the biggest thing that kind of stands out to me from there.” On if he thinks QB Colin Kaepernick can still play in the NFL: “I’m just really focused on the Cowboys right now.” On giving QB Matthew Stafford the option to dress even if he might not play when he has said in the past how important all game day roster spots are: “I addressed that all the other day I think in detail. I don’t want to really rehash any of that, but I will reiterate this: We actually had a lot of injuries that week on the injury report, and then some guys that maybe were in a situation that we were going to dress that weren’t 100 percent healthy anyway. So, that was the answer for that.” On the number of injuries on the defensive line and if they have been able to be multiple: “Up front, specifically defensively. Actually, the depth has worked out pretty well for us on the offensive line so far in most weeks. Defensive has been the one place with the defensive line where it’s probably been the most inconsistent as far as the bodies we’ve had out there, and the different amount of variations we’ve been able to use because of that. I would say that is true. I think part of that is, when those guys aren’t out there there’s a lot of time on task that’s lost. I think all that affects it. The continuity of the front is definitely affected from that aspect of it. Hopefully we can have some stability here and just kind of keep getting the guys out there. I think at this point we’re seeing a lot of different combinations of guys that are active for the game or healthy for the game from that standpoint – maybe a little bit more familiarity with each other just because we do have some repetitions out there with a couple of those guys. I definitely think it does affect your team when you have those situations, certainly.” On Cowboys S Jeff Heath: “You watch the tape right now and, this guy’s an aggressive, physical football player. This guy is very instinctual, does a good job at the safety position. They play a lot of single-high zone, they’ll mix in the man. He does a great job kind of in the underneath coverage stuff, where he can kind of play high to low, decipher the routes, pattern match, and then if the ball is out short – if it’s a quick throw or a screen or something like that, his ability to drive, break, the speed in which he can close – it’s pretty impressive. There are some hits that he makes that are – they’re big time hits, so you really have to be aware of where he’s at. I think he’s done a really good job.” On if the Lions have enough defensive playmakers: “Who’s on our team is who’s on our team right now. We’re trying to do the best we can to put those guys in great positions to make plays. For us, that’s the only thing that matters right now, is trying to – if we have to scheme up stuff, we’ll try to scheme it up. If we can sit in some certain looks or certain coverages, we’ll do that, but we try to do what we can every single week to give ourselves a chance to win and hopefully give ourselves a chance to make some plays on defense.” LIONS QB JEFF DRISKEL QUOTE SHEET On the difference in game preparation from last week to this week: “Preparing – it’s been the same. You get here first thing in the morning. You kind of figure out what the plan is for the week. I’d say the biggest difference for me is all you guys standing around my locker. It’s kind of the biggest difference for me right now. It’s business as normal. Take in as much information as you can, go practice it, look at it after practice, take it home, look at it some more, and be ready for tomorrow – third down day.” On if the extra first-team practice repetitions help: “Repetitions always help. I’ve been putting myself in position all year mentally to be ready when called upon, and getting a few extra repetitions here and there definitely helps. Getting in and out of the huddle with these guys, calling the plays, everything helps the more you do it. So, yeah, I think for sure.” On the conversations he has with teammates knowing that he’s preparing for Sunday: “Like I said, it’s good to get in the huddle with those guys. We’re taking everything day-to-day. Everybody is just out there trying to get better. So, that’s what I’m focusing on this week is cleaning some things up from last week and just preparing my tail off and going out there and being ready on Sunday for whatever happens.” On the advice that QB Matthew Stafford gives him: “He’s just a great teammate. A great professional. He’s been doing it for a long time. He’s played a lot of ball, he’s seen a lot of different things. I think the biggest thing you can take away from him is just go out there and play. I thought he did a great job helping me out a lot on Sunday, but it just goes down to him being a great teammate, great guy and great competitor. So, happy that he’s on our side.” On how much the offense is more tailored to him now: “It’s our stuff, you know what I mean. It was same deal as last week. I have to be ready for the plays that are called like I’ve been doing all year. Staying within the offense, so it’s nothing crazy. Nothing mind blowing for sure.” On how he critiqued himself after the game at Chicago: “There were good things, bad things, just like pretty much every game. There are some things to build on, and there are some things where you‘d like to have back. But you take everything as learning experience, and you try to get better and move forward. I think obviously, every time you get out there it’s valuable experience, and a couple of the procedure penalties I think could definitely, easily be cleaned up. So, that’s something I really took away from that and took to heart. Just the procedure penalties and things that we can handle ourselves.” On if his time with the Bengals makes his experience with the Lions easier for him: “Yeah, I think so. Anytime that you’ve done something before, it’s not your first time doing it. It always makes you a little bit more comfortable. I’ve been in the League four years now, so done a lot of these things. Doing it with these guys, last week, was the first time, but got that under my belt now. I’ll be ready to go. That’s my job is to prepare and be ready to go when called upon.” On what he sees from the Cowboys: “They’re a really good team. Starts with their front for sure. Good players in their back end and really good, young linebackers. I mean, it’s a good crew all around. We have our hands full, and I think we have a good plan so far. Just looking forward to getting the rest of the plan the rest of this week.” On what this opportunity may mean for his future as a quarterback in the NFL: “I think everybody wants to be out on the field and playing and competing. That’s kind of how we all got here, is our competitive nature. But like you said, that’s what I’m worried about right now, it’s the Cowboys. We have to take things week-to-week. If you don’t, you can really get caught up in this league. Each week is hard enough. So, you have to put everything you can into one week and try to get a win this week. We have to do everything we can to get back on track.” On if he is ready for this opportunity at this point in his career: “My job is to be ready each and every week. That’s what I plan on doing. That’s what I’ve been doing since I got in the League and got here, is being ready to go. Like I said, the season (is) long, but you have to really treat each week like it’s a one-game season.” On how rusty he felt against the Bears and how he feels he will play this week: “I don’t think I felt too rusty. Missed a couple there and had a couple procedure penalties, but definitely made some plays, and there’s thing to build on. But the more repetitions you get, the more comfortable you’ll get. So, I’ll be ready to go.” On if “procedure penalties” means getting the snap too soon with motion, etc.: “Yeah, we had that, we had delay of game. Just getting in and out of the huddle. Setting the tempo of the game really helps out and gets things going. So, there’s a couple things I can clean up which I’ve emphasized, and we’re working on this week in practice.” On being sore on a Monday morning: “It’s real out there. It’s real out there. It’s definitely – it was a shock to the body, but it’s a good sore to get back out there and compete. Have to turn back around and get things going again this week. Not much time to think about last week, so we’re all moving forward.” COWBOYS HEAD COACH JASON GARRETT CONFERENCE CALL QUOTE SHEET (WITH DETROIT MEDIA) On how different the Lions offense looked without QB Matthew Stafford: “Well, it was just the one game last week, and honestly each of those guys are really talented. Matt has been such an established player in this league for a number of years, and really an elite quarterback. (Jeff) Driskel has not played as much, but he’s a really talented guy. We had him at the Senior Bowl when he was coming out and was just really impressed with him as a guy, impressed with him as a quarterback and as an athlete. I think you saw all of that in the game last week against Chicago.” On if there was something specific at the 2016 Senior Bowl that he saw in Lions QB Jeff Driskel that showed he could play in the NFL: “He’s a really talented guy. He’s big, he’s athletic, he can throw it. He played a lot of football in college and just seemed like a really smart guy who understood the game and just needed an opportunity. So, it doesn’t surprise us one bit that he’s playing.” On how Cowboys Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore and Quarterbacks Coach Jon Kitna have grown in their new positions this season: “They’re doing great. They really are, and we were fortunate after they were in Detroit, they were here playing for us, so I got to know them well when they were playing. They were kind of guys that you want to target to bring on your staff once you get into coaching, and we were able to do that with Kellen last year as our quarterbacks coach and now he’s our coordinator. Then the opportunity to bring Jon back as our quarterbacks coach has been really good. Those guys have helped the quarterbacks really play at a very high level, and I think they’re working well together. They’re a really positive impact on our offense and on our team.” On what made him reach out to Cowboys Quarterbacks Coach Jon Kitna this offseason: “Yeah, you know Jon and I have stayed in touch. He was a high school coach up in Washington where he went to school and then he was a high school coach down here in Texas at Waxahachie for a few years, and then he went out last year to coach in Arizona. So we’ve been in touch, and he used to bring his staff out to visit us in the offseason and spend some time together. He’s been someone that I’ve been close to, and we had the opportunity to bring him onboard and, we wanted to do so. Again, he’s done a really good job for us.” On what Cowboys S Jeff Heath has meant to the defense and to the culture of the team: “Yeah, Jeff has done a fantastic job for us. He’s one of those guys that you use as an example of the NFL being a meritocracy – it doesn’t matter where you come from, it matters what you do once you get here. He’s one of those guys right from the start that just made such a favorable impression on everybody. First it was as a special teams player, and then whenever he got a chance to play on defense, he just always seemed to do positive things. Eventually, he got himself to a point where he was competing for the starting job and then became an established starter. This year he was named one of our captains, so he just goes about it the right way. He loves the game, he’s a real professional, and he’s a great example to the rest of his teammates, as well as being a pretty darn good football player.” On the maturation of Lions WR Kenny Golladay and how he has scored eight touchdowns this season: “(He’s) just a really good player. They obviously love to throw him the ball, they do so a lot, and it’s easy to see why because he’s typically productive on the other end. You mention the eight touchdown passes – he’s just one of those guys who seems to make a lot of plays for them. Quarterbacks clearly love throwing to him, and he makes a ton of plays for them. Certainly, he’ll be one of the many challenges that we’ll have this weekend.” On having Pro Bowl caliber players in QB Dak Prescott, WR Amari Cooper, and RB Ezekiel Elliott: “We feel great about each of those guys. Dak has been a starter for us since his rookie year and done a great job for us. He’s a fantastic leader, and he’s been a very productive player for us. He continues to get better and better and better. His approach is outstanding and gives him a chance to improve with every opportunity he gets, and again for us, a great example to his teammates about how to go about it. Amari Cooper has been a great addition for us. We traded for him in the middle of last year. He’s just been a really productive guy. Just made a ton of plays for us – little plays, big plays. He’s just been very impactful. He and Dak work really well together. Then obviously, ‘Zeke’ has been someone who’s been a full component of our offense since his rookie year. He’s a really productive runner, a very good receiver and one of those guys who carries a big burden but always seems to come through. Again, those guys all love to play ball. They love being part of our team, and they go about it the right way. We’re lucky to have them.” On offensive line injuries and the struggles they present: “Just that. We’ve had some guys that had to fight through some things at different times over the course of the year, but they’re all really tough guys. If there’s any chance they can play, they’re going to find a way to get out there and practice and play each week. A few guys have been dealing with some things, but they work their way through it. Again, they’re playing at a fairly high level for us. We love those guys. They give us a chance to let that skill go to work. We talked about the quarterback, the receiver, the running back, the other weapons we have, but it starts up front, and those guys are the engine behind our whole offense.” On the Lions defense: “When we watch the tape, you have great respect for their group. Big, strong, talented guys on that defensive line. They use a lot of resources to get those guys in place. Edge rushers are talented, linebackers are active, both as run defenders and pass defenders. They’re also good blitzers and play makers on the back end. Corners can cover, safety (are) active, so that’s what we see when we put the tape on. They’re doing a good job against some good offenses throughout the year.” On a solution to scoring early: “Just keep banging away. Obviously, you want to execute up on the first drive and go down and score a touchdown and do the same thing on the second drive and keep it coming throughout the ball game. But, sometimes those things don’t happen, and you have to play through some of that early adversity just like you would if you scored the first touchdown. Just have to keep playing. I think our team has done a good job of that. They understand the game is 60 minutes. We certainly want to get off to better starts. We’ll keep trying to work on that, but the biggest thing is to just keep playing throughout the ball game.” |
