August 3, 2023
Opening Statement: “Today’s really more in-game flow, it’s a practice, but it is move the ball. I’ll handle the whistle, those things, so much more in-game situations first, second, third and spot the ball where the whistle goes and so this will be good for us, get special teams in the middle, throwing it key situations and so, we’re good to go.”
On if this practice is similar to the Family Fest scrimmage at Ford Field they have had: “Very similar. Very similar.”
On the outlook of Lions WR Trinity Benson’s injury he sustained yesterday: “Yeah, it sounds promising, sounds promising. We – getting a second opinion on it, but it – I think we dodged one there. Looks like it could just be a sprain. He’ll be out, probably a good week or so, but it’s good news. It’s great news.”
On when he expects Lions CB Emmanuel Moseley to begin practicing again: “Yeah, we’ve got him back and so, his will be just day-to-day. Like I said, he’s been out there in California. We know where he’s been, so he’s back here and we’ll take it as it comes.”
On what Lions WR Dylan Drummond and other undrafted rookies have to do to earn a spot on a roster with a lot of veterans that play the same position: “You’ve got to do everything right for a guy like him because you’re not the only one who sees that. We see it. He makes plays every day. He really, mentally, can play all the positions. He competes in special teams and I would say he’s hard to ignore. He’s just hard to ignore. He just – he’s continuing to climb the depth chart, so he’s doing exactly what a guy like him has to do. He’s doing everything right. He rarely messes something up and if he does, he learns from it, he grows and it doesn’t happen again, so he’s doing a good job.”
On what he saw in Lions WR Dylan Drummond that pushed the team to sign him as a tryout player: “No, I mean, we liked his tape. It – we liked his tape. It helps he’s local and it’s like, ‘Well let’s get a look at him.’ And a lot of times you don’t know until you get them in the building and so you like it, but then once you get him here and you see the movement skills with your own eye. And then, it sure helps because you can find out – you’re not able to get everything, but we knew pretty quick like this is a pretty sharp guy. Like you just – you had a gut feeling he’s going to be able to get this pretty quick. And so, hey man, let’s give him a look, bring him into camp and he is not disappointing.”
On what excites him most about the potential of the offense at this stage: “Well, I would say this, we are – we are farther along with – we’re farther along with the details of what we do. There’s a number of things that we were implementing last year that was the first time we had done it together. (Lions Offensive Coordinator) Ben (Johnson)’s the OC, myself, (Lions QB Jared) Goff, the offense, the mesh, how we’re going to do it, run it, whereas now, we’re in 202 now, instead of 101. And then it’s now how fast we can grow now that we are at the second level. But I think that’s what – there’s a number of things where, OK man, we are so far beyond where we were because of communication and guys being on the same page and I think that’s where Goff has really grown for us too, is year two in this system. So, that’s what excites me.”
On how the advanced state of the offense will allow the team to get more out of joint practices: “Yeah, I think so. And look, this is – like I can’t wait for the Giants next week. I mean Jacksonville is going to be great too, but. And that’s going to be on us in a heartbeat. It’s one of the reasons why we’re doing what we’re doing right now, is to get this one out, so that we can get them back, ready to go for the Giants. We didn’t want this kind of inner squad, whatever you want to call this, too close to the Giants, but I love it because from an offensive standpoint, like (Giants Defensive Coordinator Don) Martindale’s going to give us everything we can handle. We’re going to get every look you could possibly imagine. It’s going to be chaotic. Guys are going to be – their heads’ going to be spinning, which it’s our job to calm them down, but it’s just going to be unbelievable – and it’s different talent, it’s a different look, a different talent that they haven’t seen. They’ve been going against their own guys, so it’s going to be unbelievable.”
On if they plan to take the team to Ford Field before preseason games due to Family Fest not happening this year: “No, there’s no plan to do that. We’ll just – we’ll shoot from the hip this year and they’ll be fine. We’ll go through the whole pre-game, all of that stuff before we have to go out there, we’ll just mimic it here, but no, we won’t do that. They’ll be alright.”
On his assessment of Lions S Tracy Walker through the first few padded practices after his injury last season: “Yeah, look, Tracy has been steady and reliable for us. And he’s a guy – I’ve been pleased with where he’s come back from the injury. And I see a guy, man, he’s recovered well and look, he grinded now – that’s a credit to him, he has really put the work in since he’s had the surgery to get back from this. And I like his movement skills. He’s somebody that’s got to be dialed in all the time, which is part of his game, smart, reliable, dependable guy back there on the backend, but I’ve been pleased with where he’s at.”
On how confident he feels in the defense with the increased personnel and packages they have: “Yeah, I agree with that. Pleased, pleased, because I think we are in the beginning stages here of we feel some versatility beginning to show itself. And that’s because we’ve got some guys that are showing up. Adding a guy like (Lions DB) C.J. (Gardner-Johnson) has helped. (Lions DL Josh) Paschal is coming on, everybody can see it. (Lions DL Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch is doing what he’s doing. (Lions DL) Charles (Harris) is back. I mean, I can go down the list, (Lions DL Alim McNeill) Mac. But that backend, (Lions DB Brian) Branch is, OK he’s a young buck, but he’s coming on, getting (Lions S) Tracy (Walker) back. (Lions CB) Cam Sutton on the perimeter – and so we – I do feel like, OK we’re getting to the point where I think we may be able to have some versatility here and we can have different packages and we can do different things out of those packages. So – and that’s really what you want. I mentioned this, I don’t know if it was back in the spring, or earlier in camp, but it’s no different than offense, you want to feel like you have versatility to attack anything, any team you’re getting ready to play, whatever they’re able to do, you want to be able to counter it with what you have and it’s no different on defense, because every offense we’re going to face is different. You want to know you’ve got enough ammo, not just the players, but the versatility in those players, schematically, to neutralize your opponent.”
On what he is looking for in the long snapper competition after bringing in Lions LS Jake McQuaide this offseason: “Yeah, I think it’s no different than anything else. We wanted to bring in the competition. Quaide’s a guy who’s been – he’s done this for a long time. He’s been a high-level snapper and it was an opportunity to add a guy like him and then also to push (Lions LS Scott) Daly, let’s see where Daly can go and it hasn’t disappointed because really, I feel like Daly’s game is elevated. He’s gotten better. His speed of his snaps, location, getting out of his stance and protection are – like it’s showing up. And really, Quaide’s been coming off the injury, but I feel like over the last week, you can see him – he’s getting back into what he’s accustomed to. So, I just think it’s no different than any other position. We’re trying to pull the most out of these guys and let the best man win.”
On what Lions WR Marvin Jones Jr. brings to the team outside of football: “Yeah, there’s no doubt. Having Marvin, look Marvin’s been through this. And I say it all the time, but he’s a pro’s pro, he’s a vet. He understands, he knows how to work, he knows how to push himself, he knows how to study, grind on it. And so, you can constantly hear him back there trying to help. Just – he’s a team-guy and when you’re a guy who still loves this game and still puts all the work that you have, when you’ve been in as long as he has and you’re still trying to help your teammates, man, those guys are infectious, so it’s good to have him here. It’s good to have him back out on the field too, so he’s done good.” | |
