| August 1, 2022 Opening Statement: “So, this will be our first day in pads, so now the evaluation can begin.” On what he looks for the most on the first day of practice with pads on: “Yeah, I mean no different than any other day in pads, just we certainly want to see them stand on their feet. We don’t want people on the ground just because we’re in pads. But now, you want to see these guys use their fundamentals, and we want to see the guys that are willing to finish through on their blocks. Shedding the blocks on defense, striking, violent – all those things, just the physical nature. Man, it’s a great chance to get our linebackers playing downhill and seeing how they play the run, the run-action, things of that nature. It’s just stuff that can’t be duplicated until you get in pads, so it’s just good to finally be in it.” On if they will do one-on-ones at today’s practice: “We will. Both groups, we’ll have one-on-one receivers and DBs when we’re in 9-on-7 and then flip it on 7-on-7. O-Line, D-Line will be doing one-on-ones.” On what he looks for when evaluating players during one-on-one drills: “(Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes) actually calls it ‘the putting greens,’ particularly for the receivers, DBs, because it’s – it’s not always – you can argue that the offense should win every time because they got the whole field. I mean he can just run – we try to limit that. But really, it’s just a chance to – ‘Hey man, focus on – it’s man-to-man, your first step, your hand placement, you’re running into the hip.’ If I’m a receiver at the top of the break, body lean, all those things it just – it gives you a chance to really, really focus on that stuff. I do think it’s a harder drill obviously for a defender than it is offensive player, but it’s good to do. Then, we’ll do – like tomorrow, we’ll do in our one-on-one, we’ll do like two-on-two stacks, so it’s man-to-man, but you’ve got to work your stacks. That’s really more I think beneficial because now they’re having to play off of that stuff, but yet still play man-to-man, so. But at least we’ll get it implemented. Now I’ll say this, one-on-one with your tight ends, halfbacks, linebackers, safeties, like that’s big because we can get some protection work one-on-ones, then you get right into the routes which is good.” On if it means more to see the rookies practice in pads for the first time: “Yeah, I would say yes, absolutely because that’s – we’ve had them since spring and we’ve seen these guys grow a little bit and it’s almost like, ‘OK, they’re growing, but they’re growing about as far as they grow anymore until we get into pads.’ So, just to see where some of these guys have gone, like I can’t wait to see (Lions LB James) Houston today, James Houston in pads, (Lions LB Malcolm) Rodriguez in pads. It’ll be good to see them. I’m not worried about (Lions DL Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch, I think Hutch will be just fine, I really do.” On how going one-on-one against the talented offensive line in practice will help Lions DL Aidan Hutchinson: “Yeah, I just think that stuff is big because like to me that’s a chance to really – for example (Lions Defensive Line Coach Todd) Wash is giving him the – he’s giving him all the technique work, ‘Here’s what you need to think about,’ so he gets out there and he gets beat on the first rep, he kind of coaches off of it and he memory banks that, and now he comes back with – once he gets the foundation of what we’re trying to do with him. Then, you – to me, one-on-ones is a good chance for you to – it doesn’t mean you’re freelancing, but take what the coach has given you and now you kind of make it your own a little bit. So, now the player can start to figure out what they can get away with, what they can do, what kind of moves they can make against these type of players, and so I just think you begin to grow and just you memory bank it, and you learn and you move on to the next rep.” On Lions DL Aidan Hutchinson’s temperament away from the field: “He’s quiet, but a lot of that is because he’s a rookie, he knows. He’s very self-aware, he is. He’s not – he’s not coming in here being loud and talking a bunch of trash or doing anything like that, he knows he’s got to earn his right. Just because he was a first-round pick doesn’t mean that he’s automatically got the respect of everybody in there. He’s got to earn that, and he understands it. And so, he goes out there and he just works his ass off in practice and then in meetings, he keeps his mouth shut until he’s asked a question, and so that’s exactly what you want in a rookie. He’s going to earn their respect. Now, you guys will see, we had – he had the – OK, two nights ago he had the song. He let us – it was the first one, we got him up there and his name and school, signing bonus and – I will say this, it was outstanding. He took a big step in respect of his teammates because it was a hell of a performance, just saying. ‘Billie Jean,’ right? Well, what’s the matter with that? Yeah, you’ll see it. He’s good, he’s really good.” On if he sees a competition at cornerback between Lions CB Jeff Okudah and Lions CB Will Harris playing out through training camp: “Yes, we do. Yes, we do. We think Will Harris is very much in play out there, and he’s getting a chance. He’s going to get a chance to compete for that, he and Okudah both. And so, it’s – may the best man win and let them go after it, and then see what we’ve got. I mean we – we’ll figure that out once we get to the season. You’d rather not be in a timeshare-type thing, but yet man, if they’re both guys we need to have out there, we’ll find a way to get them out there and use them.” On if Lions T Taylor Decker will be practicing today: “Yeah, he’s good. He’s going today, so we’re just trying to be smart with Deck.” On how he has seen Lions CB Mark Gilbert develop from year one to year two: “Yeah, I think probably the greatest attribute that Gilly’s got is right here. Man, he is not afraid. When the lights are on and it’s time to go out there and try to make a play he will – he is not afraid to challenge. He will challenge you on the perimeter. He’s not worried about getting beat. When you’re a DB, I think that – it’s got to start there. Forget all the other things, you’ve got great feet, you’ve got this speed, you’ve got whatever, man, if you don’t have it here outside, you’re going to struggle, and he’s got that. He’s very competitive, he’s very confident and (Lions Defensive Backs/Pass Game Coordinator Aubrey Pleasant) AP’s done a hell of a job with him, just fundamentally. So, we like where he’s at and he does make plays, and he’s pretty crafty, he’s pretty smart. So yeah, we’re glad he’s out there with us. We see this kid really competing out there. I mean look, all those guys, there’s – nothing’s going to say that Gilly couldn’t have a chance at that other spot. Nobody knows, we’ll see by the end of this camp.” On Lions CB Mark Gilbert’s nickname: “Oh, Gilly. It is pretty bland isn’t it. We can call him ‘Gills.’” On if having fans out at practice adds more energy to the team and what kind of show they want to put on for them for the first day of pads: “Yeah, look we’ve already had a number of the players that are like, ‘Man, when we going on pads?’ Then, I’m sure when they’re not with us, they’re like, ‘Man, I’m glad we’re not going on pads.’ So, they’re excited and they’re ready to go. Look man, the level has been every day, we’ve had a little bit more of a crowd out there and so, that just gives them a little bit more energy. So, today to have the fans out there they’re going to be – the pads and the fans are out there, they’re going to be – they’re going to be going, man. It does – it gives you quite a bit of energy and it makes you want to put on a show for those guys. And so, man, we’re looking forward to it. I’ve said this all along, I do believe this team, it’s all about us first, the coaches, the players as it pertains to us taking care of our business. But man, we want to give this city something, and give these fans something to be proud of, we do. I’ve said that from day one and they deserve it. And so, it’s on us now. So, if we can give them a little excitement, a little joy, then that’s what we’re going to try to do.” LIONS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AARON GLENN TRAINING CAMP DAY FIVE QUOTE SHEET August 1, 2022 Opening Statement: “Good morning. First day of pads, I’m excited. Excited to see what we’ve got. Man, anytime we get a chance to get on the grass, excited. So, it’s been a good camp so far, looking forward to seeing a lot of these guys go out there and compete today. Been very competitive in practice, right? Exactly how we want it, exactly how we want it, so let’s go.” On if there are any players in particular that he is looking forward to seeing in pads: “Well, I want to see all the guys in pads, but just to pick out certain guys like (Lions LB Malcolm) Rodriguez is one of them because you just watch him in college, you see how physical he is in college, man, you want to see if that’s going to transition over to our game in the NFL. (Lions LB) James Houston, I want to see how he operates, and then just all of our inside backers, getting a chance to take on these guards and tackles that we have. I want to see how those guys operate, and then just the physical nature of all our defensive guys alright because that’s what we preach, and you see that happen in the other practices. So, man, just excited to see how these guys operate.” On how they have managed Lions CB Jeff Okudah coming off the Achilles injury and the cornerback competition with Lions CB Will Harris: “Well, I would say the one thing that we’ve been doing with him and Will, is those guys have been competing at that corner spot. We know exactly like what’s going on with him as far as his Achilles is concerned, so we’ve got to make sure that we’re good with him. So, he has an on-and-off deal as far as his reps. We have a plan to make sure that we help that player as much as we can, and we’re going to continue to do that because he’s important to us. Anytime you have a competition like that man, you want to make sure those guys put themselves in the best position to get a chance to win that job.” On what he has seen from Lions CB Will Harris and his transition to cornerback: “He’s way more comfortable now since he’s just been in that position since OTAs. He deserves that, he deserves a chance to win this job and we’re going to give both those guys a chance, and they know it. It’s the first thing I did when – before we started practice, I called both of those guys at the same time and just told them, ‘Here’s the deal. Are you guys going to compete?’ They look forward to it and they were open to seeing what the competition is going to be about.” On if he has seen Lions CB Amani Oruwariye progress into the lockdown cornerback he wants to be: “Well, we’ll see that when the season starts, when the game starts. But I will say this here about Amani, man, he has been focused, he’s been pretty quiet. That’s who he is anyway, but just the look he’s had on his face going into practice and meetings tells me he’s looking, he’s accepting that challenge to be a topflight corner because he can be. So, as the season progresses, I’ll be able to answer that question for you.” On how Lions DL Aidan Hutchinson is as a singer and dancer: “Outstanding, outstanding. Alright, man it was – it just reminded me of just old school, being rookies up there and the way he accepted it, and the way he went up there and performed, and man, you just saw the team just – around that player, so. Man, he has this personality about himself now that’s – that you don’t see from most rookies, which is a good thing. But I’ll continue to say this, alright, because he’s doing a lot of good things, we’re not putting this guy in the Hall of Fame just yet. I know you guys have heard that before from my mentor, so I’m going to say that too. But man, he’s doing a good job for us.” |
