August 25, 2021 On how LB Tavante Beckett has progressed throughout the offseason: “Yeah, I would say about what you would expect for a young guy like him that’s coming from where he came from, which is Marshall. We loved his tape in college. He’s a football player, he’s very instinctive. There are limitations to him, but yet he needs physical growth, strength and conditioning. To be in our program a year will do wonders, but he has instincts and he’s kind of a ball guy. He can sniff out the football. So, he’s improved. This will be a great chance for him to get a good load in this game and to see what he looks like. You brought up six plays, like we anticipate him getting a heavy load this game.” On the competition within the receiver group: “Well, I mean first and foremost, guys are going to make plays. We’re looking for guys that, one, can separate, two, make the plays that are there. That’s the job description. And then certainly, we need guys that can block on the perimeter because if you want explosive runs, those guys have to block on the perimeter. But I know this; it’s a lot easier for the quarterback to make precise throws when there’s separation. That’s ultimately what we’re looking for and we have some guys that have enough in their body to do that. Now, are they doing what they’re coached to do, and are they taking the fundamentals from here into the game? That’s what we’re looking for at that position. ‘Make plays, be playmakers. You’re going to get an opportunity; are you going to make the catch? Are you going to create the separation? It’s third-and-8, are you going to get us a first down? Are you going to hold onto the ball? Do you have run after catch?’ All of those things.” On DE Bruce Hector and the value he places on player performance throughout training camp when making roster decisions: “I think it’s big. I think to reward a guy who does it the right way, and oh by the way, produces, there’s production in the game. Where it’s hard is, it’s easy to say, ‘This guy does it right every day. He does exactly what you’re asked to do, but yet physically, he’s just not good enough.’ You hate it for those guys because ultimately, there’s not enough in their body to do it. That’s not their fault. But if you have a team full of those guys, it’s hard to win. I hate to say it but that’s the reality. But guys that give you everything that they have and do it the right way and maximize their ability and can produce and you can see it in the game? It’s hard not to reward those guys and want them on your team because you see it. There’s evidence.” On what he looks for the most in potential practice squad players: “Yeah, I think it’s two-fold. Number one is, are these guys—you get a 16-man practice squad and you’re really only able to have—shoot I don’t even know the exact number off the top of my head, three, four of those veterans? Or, 16 of those could be rookies, young guys. But you want a nice balance of—for example, I know we can pull this guy – you get an injury, I know we can pull this guy up and he might not be physically as talented as the guy, the starter that’s in front that has an injury, but we know he’s a plug-in player right now. We know he can go in there and he’s functional at the position and he can help us on special teams. You need those guys there. That’s one. Two is, some of these young players—maybe it’s (Tavante) Beckett—that need another year in the program physically, mentally, everything just to develop, but you like them. You like their approach and you like the upside to them. Those are the guys you want on your practice squad, that you know a year from now, they’re going to give you looks and they’re going to improve and help you during the year, but maybe they’re just about a year away and now, you get them back out here in training camp and you like the potential. So, I think it’s a little bit of both.” On the strategy behind how many special teams reps he will give certain players against the Indianapolis Colts: “Yeah, I think we’re really just trying to get guys reps. We’re still, honestly, we’re still in the mode of, ‘Get guys reps.’ You may not be playing the position that you are best suited for right now because we don’t quite know that yet. We’re still trying to figure out the combination here and some of that, we just—because of where we’re at, we didn’t get a spring with these guys to go live and we’re in this mode now where we’re in training camp. So, I think they’re still trying to figure out who’s the best lineup in these spots. More than anything, let’s figure out what the individual can do and what he looks like and then by process of elimination now we’ll know what our best lineup is. But I—look, you guys know this, you’ve been doing it long enough. Special teams is going to be a huge part of this selection process for us on the 53.” On if there are players that are better than he expected when he was first hired as head coach: “I think there are a few of those guys. I’m still – look, I’m a (Jason) Cabinda fan because I know what the guy is. Shoot, I said this the first day I ever talked to you guys and I got this job, ‘Give me a guy that I know exactly what he is, what he can do, what he’s about, how he works, how he processes information and I’ll go to war with those guys any day.’ That’s what Cabinda is to me and to this team. He’s a young and improving player, for that position in particular, that I think there’s a lot of meat on the bone and I know what he’s going to be able to do on special teams. I think he can play some fullback. I think he might be able to do a little H-back. He’s one I’ve been impressed with. I kind of like the tape from last year, but he’s even more than I thought. He’d be an example of that. Shoot, man, C.J. Moore, he popped off the tape last year, but he’s kind of been what, I guess, what I expected and then some. That’s a good example. I think Austin Bryant – now he was hurt last year, but I know this, this guy was all-out, all of the time the plays that he did play. But to watch him being here and get his feet back under him and get the reps, get the load, he’s been pretty impressive. I think this guy’s really got a high ceiling and can continue to grow. I think he’s even twitchier than I thought he was. Those would be three pretty good examples.” On how he plans to use FB Jason Cabinda: “We’ll tinker with him a little bit and see what we can do. There again, we want to give him a chance to – we don’t want to throw him to the wolves yet. We want him to begin to try to get a little comfortable with playing. It’s totally different going from the backfield and then kind of playing in that Y-wing position and moving and maybe it’s a little slot. But just to get him a few reps there because there’s value in versatility, you guys all know that, especially when you know he can play special teams.” On how he will divvy up tight end reps in Friday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts: “They’re all going to get some reps. (Darren) Fells will get some reps and (Alize) Mack and (Jason) Cabinda and (Brock) Wright. Look, it gives you – a guy like Cabinda gives you flexibility on the roster. You may go into the game with two tight ends, one fullback, or maybe it only is three. Maybe you only carry two halfbacks and Cabinda’s your third. There’s just flexibility.” On WR Tyrell Williams’ injury status: “He’s got a little bit of a groin right now. So, we’re just being smart with him. He’ll be down this week, but he’ll be OK. He ought to be back next week ready to go. So, we’re being smart on some of these guys.” On what TE T.J. Hockenson needs to do to be a Detroit Lions great like TE Charlie Sanders: “When I was here, Charlie was, obviously, around. He was always – he was very much present. Charlie was a good man, and he was, he was a difference maker, especially in an era where the tight end position – he was kind of one of those guys that was a little different than a lot of guys that played tight end back in those days. I think he’s one of those – he was rare, he is rare, but I do think Hockenson’s got some things in his body, and his work ethic on top of that. To be able to have talent that he has and work at it and to be able to grow and continue to improve, I think gives him the ability to be a difference-maker. I think the trick for him is there are going to be times where he’s going to have to win knowing that a D-end is going to try to hit him, or he’s going to get doubled and (Jared) Goff’s going to still want to work to him. Certainly, the onus is going to be on somebody else winning if they’re going to do some of that, but yet, he’s going to be asked now to still win when he’s being targeted by the defense. That’s what happens with the great ones and if he wants to be great, he still has to find a way to win.” |
