September 26, 2023
Opening Statement: “Got a lot of updates here. We’ll have another walkthrough and it’ll be a full-speed walkthrough.”
On if he has updates on the injured players: “Yeah, I feel like probably the two that are trending the most positive right now would be (Lions T Taylor) Decker and (Lions RB David Montgomery) D-Mo. Those are the two I’m starting to feel pretty good about. And then (Lions S) Kerby (Joseph) still – we’re kind of wait and see here. We’ll know a little bit more today. And (Lions CB Emmanuel Moseley) E-Man is doing well. It’s just a matter of – (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes) and I have talked about that, is it time or do we wait until next week to see where he’s at since we can’t really practice this week other than full-speed walkthrough.”
On seeming like he is more rested today: “I’m delirious. Ready to go.”
On if there will be a rotation to work Lions CB Emmanuel Moseley in when he returns: “That will be the plan is work him in and I think more than anything, it’ll be by series. Certainly, give him a couple in a row there to where he gets a good feel and I think probably most of it will be – we’ll put more of a governor on his reps so that we’re smart about that as he comes back, so. And then really from there it’s just about how does he feel, what’s his body saying and then it’s just about getting into conditioning like the rest of the guys have done over time.”
On if Lions CBs Emmanuel Moseley and Jerry Jacobs will be in the position battle they were expected to be in training camp: “Yeah, I think that we’ve said it before here and certainly, he’s got to prove that he’s still worth those reps, but I think that everybody feels pretty good about as he goes out there, he’s going to get his legs back under him pretty quick. But certainly it’ll – we’ll see where that goes. And the good news is, if it’s not quite there yet, then we still have Jerry and we battle it out. So, we’re fortunate to have both of those guys.”
On how last year’s Week 18 win against Green Bay created momentum heading into the offseason: “I mean, look that’s a good win, on the road, division opponent and that’s – if you can’t get in, that’s the way you’ve got to end it. You win some games, and you find a little bit of a flow and it’s just – it’s always good to win on the road, especially in this division, so. But I think that’s the extent of it. And now it’s a new season. We know we can win out there, we’ve done it before. But you’ve got to go earn it. It’s not going to be given. It’s going to be a – it’ll be loud, it’ll be a tough environment, they’re playing good, so here we go.”
On the benefit of having four quarterbacks in the room on a short week: “Well, I don’t know how much benefit – I would say this, all of those guys do – well, maybe there’s a little bit because they do all serve a purpose. They all go on the road with us. They all kind of have a little bit of a job to do and so whether it’s even now or gameday, helping us there on the sidelines, different looks, what’d you see, maybe charting some things, helping with the quarterback, helping with (Lions QB Jared) Goff. So, from that, I think it helps. (Lions QB Hendon) Hooker it helps because he’s learning. He’s just getting a feel for what it’s like, ‘What am I looking for? What are you guys seeing? What are you looking for when you’re –’ So that’s more about him just gaining experience being out there. But I think (Lions QB) Teddy (Bridgewater), he’s been around, he’s seen it. (Lions QB David) Blough’s a smart football player. He’s seen it. I guess in that regard it helps certainly.”
On Lions CB Cam Sutton’s performance in the first three games: “Yeah, he’s reliable and that’s what we invested in, dependable, reliable player who’s competitive. And he can play multiple coverages and he’s just – he fits us well. He’s what we thought and then some.”
On how sustainable the defensive production in getting to the quarterback is after the Atlanta game: “Well, you’d like to think it is. I know – I just go back to this I think when everybody’s just doing their part and we’re staying disciplined to our responsibility then everybody gets to eat. And if we don’t do that and we’re not all totally in-tune, I think it can make it hard. So, I’d like to believe that it is sustainable.”
On if he feels the upcoming game at Green Bay is similar to the Atlanta game: “There are a lot of similarities. There are a lot of similarities in what they do. Probably these guys more than Atlanta, there’s a lot more of the turbo motion, the fast receiver motion run game and some of the passes off of it. Atlanta did a little bit, not as much. More of theirs was odd-ball formation, shifts, two-back, the 21-pony stuff. But as far as, man, everything’s built off the run, play-pass off of it, they do have a lot of similarities. And both of those guys are mobile quarterbacks. They have the ability to – it’s not something that they hang their hat on, but they can hurt you with their legs.”
On if it was good to see more defensive one-on-ones won in the Atlanta game: “It was. I mean it was and that’s – ultimately, that’s still what this game is about is winning your one-on-ones. But funny enough, is that even when it’s time to win a one-on-one, there are times when, ‘Hey, you’ve got to win this one-on-one, but if you don’t, you better go this way because if you don’t, you’re going to open a huge crease and now’ – so there’s still a discipline to it that makes it tough because you’re on guys about winning their one-on-ones and then all of a sudden you don’t, well, they’re just trying to win. But we did a really good job everybody working together last week, and you play with that kind of energy, you can cover up for a lot of errors.”
On how important it has been to have Lions DL Romeo Okwara be able to step in: “Yeah, it’s been very important. He’s another guy – to have that depth, to have Romeo ready to go when we get banged up and he steps right in. I mean, I’m sure you saw it there at the end of the game, he’s playing three-technique for us, passing downs, some of the rush stuff and letting him work over the guard. But Romes is somebody – he’s knows himself very well. He knows what he’s capable of, he’s knows what it’s going to take for him to win, and it’s his length and it’s his power and certainly his motor. He’s real good with his hands. He’s been a valuable asset for us. He does a great job on the edge and yes, he does, he can close it down. And it looks like that every day in practice too. I mean every day, it just never stops, so fortunate to have Romes.”
On if he always envisioned a pass rush role for Lions LB Jack Campbell: “I think Jack, it was always – honestly the versatility to him was always intriguing to us. He’s a big, long athlete. Obviously, he’s smart, plays violent, but it was that intriguing to be able to – man, he’s a legit stack backer as in he’s not – he’s got the length, whatever, but he can play it, he’s done it, he did it at a high level. But also, the ability to line up on the line of scrimmage and set an edge, he’s got some rush potential, so – and that’s what we’re starting to see. We’re able to – we’re starting to work into that a little bit with him and he’s doing a good job. So, he can play both backer positions and now we’re working him at the SAM or that OLB and nickel, some of that, so. He’s just going to continue to grow and get better, but it’s good to see.”
On if moving Lions LB Jack Campbell to the SAM position on some snaps is because they want to get him on the field or if they are just putting more on his plate: “No, I think it’s more about getting our best group out there in base. That’s why he played a lot of the SAM. We felt like that was a natural fit for him and for us. It takes some off of (Lions DL) Charles (Harris) which is good. Once we lost (Lions LB James) Houston, then that’s – you lose another SAM linebacker, but also to get him on the field because there again, we felt like it was something that he could excel at. He’s certainly – he’s good in coverage there. And I mean you got a little taste of it, you could see it, but also, I just bring up again, to be able to go nickel, four down and two backers and he’s one of them that can get to the edge of the line, really (Lions LB Derrick) Barnes can do some of that too. It just gives us a lot more flexibility.”
On if the ‘violent and hungry’ defensive style he talked about is manifested throughout the week or if it appears on gameday: “Well, I just think you always – you’re always putting an emphasis on these things or you’re trying – sometimes it’s part of what you believe you are, your identity, and then sometimes you get so locked in on other things or you just, you lose a little sight of what you really are. You’re more – you focus on the scheme, or you focus on this or here’s my – and you forgot that the essence of what we do is still, man, you’ve got to play. Population of the football, it’s all about the hustle, it’s all about the hit, it’s all about working as one unit, all these things. And so, I think when you refocus that and you get back to the basics and those guys really hone in on it, and we did some things in practice last week where we really – I mean we emphasized it a lot. We started the period over a couple times. We talked about everybody running the ball if it wasn’t good enough, we’d start it over, so just some of these things and they practice that way. There’s an emphasis on it which starts with us coaches and then it pays the dividends and then it’s just about, man, those guys get confidence, they see what it breeds and now it’s up to them to keep it going, which they can. Now, I said that in practice, we’re not really practicing, other than full-speed walkthrough.”
On if it is more challenging to practice ‘violent and hungry’ on a shorter week: “It is, but they’re going through the same thing we are, so that’s why we’re all on a level playing ground.”
On what has impressed him the most about rookies Lions DB Brian Branch and Lions LB Jack Campbell: “Well, I just – look, I think what we saw in college, what – a few of the things that really caught our eye – it’s one thing to see the production in college, but to know, man these are – they are very instinctive, aware players. They’re smart and they play fast, and what you saw in college is what you’re starting to see here. Their instincts are there and they both – they work extremely hard. And I would say they’re both becoming pretty dependable pretty quickly. Now, both of them still, they’re rookies. They still have rookie errors, but I would say they’re growing extremely fast and they’re both guys that don’t make the same mistake twice and that’s – when you’re talking about rookies that can grow and develop quickly, that’s what they all have in common.”
LIONS QB JARED GOFF QUOTE SHEET
September 26, 2023
On new things he has seen in the Packers defense this season that he has not seen from the team before: “Yeah, sure, they’ve got new wrinkles. They have a pretty good identity of who they are and what they want to be, but yeah, every team has some new stuff, some different things they’re doing, so we’re getting ready as fast as we can and it’s coming up pretty soon here. Two days now.”
On how the potential of Packers CB Jaire Alexander not playing this game changes his mindset going into it: “Yeah, you’re certainly aware of him when he is out there. Jaire, I mean he’s one of the best guys in the League and so when he is out there, you know where he’s at and you’re sure to study up on him and yeah, if he is or isn’t out there, we’ll find out, but yeah, you’ll know where he is if he is.”
On if they are preparing two different gameplans based on whether or not Packers CB Jaire Alexander will play this game: “No, I think you’re just aware of it. There’s certain plays and certain concepts that you may or may not want to try him on and then there’s ones that you would if he’s not and it depends, but we’ll see if he’s in there.”
On how big this game is against a division rival in primetime so early in the season: “Yeah, I think it’s just – it’s a road division game. That’s, for us, why it’s big. It’s Week 4 and they all matter the same, I think is really what we always say, but yeah, it’s our road division game which means a little bit more for us and it will for them too, so it’ll be fun. It’ll be a good atmosphere. It’ll be a short week for us and them, so it’ll be good.”
On what it is about the team that they are able have success during primetime games: “Yeah, we’ve had them all on the road it seems like and it’s kind of the us versus – us versus everybody mentality and going in there with our backs against the wall in some ways and trying to come out with a W.”
On if he enjoys playing in primetime games at night: “Yeah, it’s fun. It’s cool to be the only guy on TV and to know that you’re able to showcase your talents, your team and who you guys are for the whole League, but yeah, it is tough at times when the game is that late and on the west coast, they were 5:15 starts I believe, or whatever, 6:15, helps a little bit. But yeah, we’ll be alright.”
On the most difficult part about a short week for a quarterback: “It’s as difficult for me as it is for them. Just getting the amount of film you want to watch in a short amount of time and being able to download the information in a short amount of time. It’s challenging, but it’s doable and they’re dealing with the same challenge over there.”
On if the team watches less film during short weeks: “You cram it in. Yeah, you cram it in. There’s going to be less of something whether it’s recovery, whether it’s practice time, whether it’s – there’s less of something, but again, that’s the challenge for both teams.”
On how much the other quarterbacks in the room help him during a week like this: “Yeah, they’re always helping. Really every week. (Lions QB) Teddy (Bridgewater), (Lions QB) David (Blough), (Lions QB) Hendon (Hooker), all those guys, they’re helping a lot and giving me good support, so I appreciate it.”
On if there is something specific that the other quarterbacks help him with during short weeks: “No, they all kind of just do it together. It’s been a good little working room and it’s been a lot of fun.”
On if it feels like there is a target on his back this game because of what happened the last time they played at Lambeau Field: “Yeah, I never thought about that. Maybe. Yeah, they’re probably saying that over there. I don’t know. For us it’s, again, it’s a road division game and would be one that we’d like to win.”
On if he thought his leap into the stands after his rushing touchdown against Atlanta would gain so much attention: “I don’t think I really got in there, so. It was actually two leaps, but yeah no, I need to have a better plan next time I score, and that part won’t be a part of it anymore.”
On it looking like he is having a lot of fun playing: “Yeah, I’m having fun. It’s been good. We’re 2-1 and getting the win in front of the home crowd was really fun.”
On if spreading the ball around less against Atlanta was a part of the gameplan: “No, yeah, not part of the gameplan. It was kind of abnormal to see that, especially for us. Just the way it happened. Some of the balls that (Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs) Gibby got were checkdowns, he wasn’t the primary, just ended up getting to him and same thing with (Lions TE) Sam (LaPorta). Sometimes it happens like that, but I don’t think that’s ever our intention.”
On how well Lions WRs Marvin Jones Jr. and Josh Reynolds do at staying involved to contribute even when they are not getting the ball: “Yeah, I think those two guys get it. They’re veterans, they know it comes and goes and some weeks it’s like it was this past week and some weeks they’re getting a hell of a lot. So, it comes and goes, and they do a great job of being great teammates and doing their part when they’re asked to.”
On if there is anything the offense is currently not doing that could unlock more explosive plays: “Yeah, I think Atlanta was a good defense. Certainly, we missed some opportunities there, but they did a good job defending us. And yeah, we had plenty of possessions to score some more points, but sometimes the game dictates it that way and our defense was playing the way they were. I’m sure we would’ve been a little bit more aggressive on fourth down potentially in some instances if our defense wasn’t, but they were, so we were able to punt it back to them. And sometimes that’s the way the game goes. And yeah, sure, we’d like to score 30 every game, but sometimes we’re going to have some slow games and have to find a way to score enough to win.”
On if he feels good about the offense overall: “Yeah. Yeah, I do. I think plenty of stuff to work on and I think we’ve got three sample sizes and one of them we scored 31 and the other two we scored 20. So yeah, hopefully this week we can even it back out and be somewhere towards to top.”
On if he saw the highlights of the 70-point Miami Dolphins game: “I did. I saw the highlights. It’s pretty impressive.”
On if he ever sees something in another game that he wants to add to their gameplan: “Here and there. Sometimes, but typically it doesn’t always fit what we’re doing. But yeah, they did some cool stuff and are certainly rolling.”
On if he has ever felt like he has been in a position to score 70 points before: “Seventy? I don’t know if we’ve ever scored 70 where I’ve been. We scored 54 one game. Yeah, 10 touchdowns is pretty crazy. I think we scored 51 one other time in L.A. against the Giants, but no, 60 or 70 is a different ball game. But yeah, it was impressive.”
On what it would mean to have Lions RB David Montgomery and Lions T Taylor Decker back from injuries this week: “Yeah, it’d be huge. It’d be huge. I know they’re feeling good and hopefully get them going, but two of our best players and it’d be nice to have them.” |
