Opening Statement: “I just want to start with this, congratulations to Melissa Gonzalez, (David) Blough’s wife, as he would call her, ‘Mel.’ We did have a watch party. You got me thinking, it was like, ‘Why aren’t we doing that?’ It was outstanding, man. It was so good. But to watch her run, it was pretty cool. It was one of the experiences that’s kind of why – it’s what makes this thing special. You don’t always get to have these types of experiences, but to me, that embodies the, ‘Enjoy the ride’ because that was pretty cool. It was a moment, I can tell you that. So, good luck to her in the semis. As you guys know, today is the first day our fans can be here and today it is the season ticket holders, who, I know, are the loyal fanbase. We’re excited to have them out here. This is what it’s all about. I said from day one that we wanted to make this special for our fans, for this community, for the city of Detroit. This is kind of our first time to show them kind of who we are, what we are about, the new vibe we’ve got going here in Detroit or what we’re trying to build. So, this is pretty exciting and it’s also, quite frankly, the first time in a while that our players and our fans both have been able to be around each other. Last year, you definitely had to create your own energy. So, to have these guys back in the house – I’m not concerned, but I’m a little like, ‘OK, let’s make sure we’re being smart, guys. Let’s get our work in.’ I know these guys are going to be juiced up having the fans out there. So, hey, ‘Stay the course here.’ This is going to be awesome. This is going to be fun.” On what makes Lions fans unique: “I know it’s hard, but they have been able to endure. They have been able to keep the faith. There’s hope in another year, hope in a new season. I think they are resilient. I think that’s what makes them unique. I know it hasn’t always been the way you had hoped it would have been as a fan base, but you know what, I think they are always holding on to hope. It’s coming. Here’s the time it’s coming because when that time does come, it’s going to be special unlike any other community. I believe that. I think there are very few in this country where when you can get a win, it’s special, real special. I thought New Orleans was one of them when I was down there. There really is, there are not a lot of them, but this is one of those places where you win here, it’s special now.” On what QB David Blough brings to the quarterback position: “I can tell you what he brings. He brings somebody you can trust. I know we’re still kind of early in this process, but to me, ultimately, you want your number two, number three. There again, it’s like, ‘Do I know I can trust this guy to go in there and not do anything that’s going to put us in jeopardy? Is he going to make the right decisions? Is he going to protect the football?’ At the very least, that is what you’re looking for. Can he move the football? I’m not looking for somebody that it’s like, ‘This guy has to make all of these plays. We have to rely on this guy. This guy has got to do it by himself.’ That’s not what I’m looking for. I’m looking for a guy that I know can function in the offense. He’s going to protect the football, he’s smart with the situations that we are in. You’re running the ball, you give him some throws that we feel like he can succeed with and you got to play good defense and special teams. That’s what I’m looking for.” On if TE T.J. Hockenson has built a rapport with QB Jared Goff in training camp: “I have seen that. I think that’s one thing that JG has not really had is a good receiving tight end that he can kind of let go to work and trust that, ‘Alright, if the matchup’s there, I can go to this guy.’ I think Tyler Higbee at the Los Angeles Rams is a damn good tight end, believe me, that’s not what I’m saying, but Tyler’s job description is a little different than Hock. Hock’s got to be able to block, but I think Hockenson can be a real mismatch in the pass game. That’s really where I think he can excel, and you can feel Jared wants to go to him now. He sees it. So, I do see that rapport.” On if he will use any unique competitions with fans in attendance: “There could be something that would show up, but there again, you have to be careful. This is the first day the fans are out there. So, I just want to make – we’re in day four and they’re putting in the work and you have to be careful that you don’t put so much out there that we get a lot of soft tissue injuries. There will be a couple of little nuggets that will show up out there.” On the hiring process of Defensive Backs/Pass Game Coordinator Aubrey Pleasant: “The first one, like I said, was (Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes), Brad and (Assistant General Manager) Ray Agnew, both of them because they were out there. That was one. Two was we played the Rams, whatever that’s been, four times over a three-year period in some big games. So I had an intimate knowledge of not only (Jared) Goff, (Michael) Brockers, but those DBs that AP had been coaching out there. You know those guys from an offensive perspective you’re playing against and you’re like, ‘These guys – whoever is coaching these guys, they’re doing a pretty good job.’ Not only do they have some pretty good players and some guys that have personalities that you’re managing a little bit, but there’s also young talent that he has developed out there as well. So that caught my eye and I’ll be quite honest with you, the fact that he was from Flint intrigued the hell out of me, it really did. It meant something a little bit because he knows better than anybody about what this is about. That was actually a bonus. We’re fortunate to have him and he’s doing a hell of a job.” On if he has talked to New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton about keeping fans engaged after losing seasons: “I think more than anything – we never really talked about how or what or bringing in the fanbase. It was more about, ‘How do we give the fanbase what they want and what they deserve and what they need?’ For me, I recognize it. Mine is more about, ‘OK, well, how do we do that on the grass?’ I know we want to give it to them and need to give it to them and they deserve it, but that means we have to do our job every day. Every day we have to get a little bit better and for us to do this, we have to do our job out there on the field. I’m all about acknowledging our fans, I really am. So, I want our players to have a little fun with this. I want them to interact a little bit, I do. I think that the roster that (Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes) and I have built here is cut from this cloth, I do. I think that it’s cut from people that are just like what’s in this community, got a little chip on their shoulder, have had to overcome a little adversity and I think there is a correlation here. I really do.” On why it is important for players to have a chip on their shoulder: “It motivates you. There’s nothing better in this game, or any sport for that matter, when you feel like people have overlooked you and that you’re not good enough, or you don’t do this well enough, or this player is better than you, or somebody got paid more than you did. Whatever your motivation is – it does. If you are a true competitor, it gives you a kick in the rear. It does. I like that and I know the guys that we brought in here, they love it. We’ve got something to prove and we want to prove it.” On if he believes the team is bonding through the up-downs each practice: “I do. Like I brought up yesterday, when you have a new player that comes in, (Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn) AG sets the tone on defense and those guys decide on their own if they’re going to jump in and do the last 10. I know not all of them did it. I’ve been poking at some of those guys. They decided to do that on their own. That’s ultimately what you’re trying to get on both sides of the ball and special teams. I told them from day one, ‘Listen, at some point, this needs to become your team. Now, we’re part of it, but until that time comes, we’ll do our job as a staff. We’ll lead you and we’ll show you how it’s done, and we’ll show you what it’s supposed to look like. But at some point, we should not have to do much of anything other than coach technique. ‘Hey, watch your right foot. Hey, it’s nickel personnel. What’s the cross guard? What’s the strong guard?’ Those guys handle everything. Somebody jumps offsides, they handle it. You got a missed assignment? They handle it. The best teams that I’ve ever been on – and any of these guys will tell you this, the coaches and some of the good players that are on this team – they will tell you the team handles everything themselves because you have to right guys, the right core, and the right leadership. That’s what we’re trying to get to.” On S Tracy Walker’s leadership on the defense: “It’s huge because they’re the master communicators. Not only our inside backers, but they are the ones who kind of run the show back there. They set the table for us in coverage. So, to have a safety that is very vocal – I’ll tell you what, Tracy is as smart as a whip. I have a good Tracy Walker story for you. We come out yesterday, he runs up on his own and goes, ‘Hey Coach, I’m getting a pick. I’m getting a pick today and I’m going to bring it to you.’ I said, ‘OK, you promise?’ He goes, ‘I promise. It’s coming.’ Well, he didn’t get one. So, I fined him. Last night in the team meeting I said, ‘I’m, fining you for that $50, but I’m going to pay the fine.’ So, I paid the fine, but he owes me two. He’s been outstanding and I’ll tell you what, Will Harris is doing well. I know it’s early, but we’ve been impressed. He’s really coming along and picking up this defense. You can just see the secondary beginning to grow, you can. They’re starting to figure this thing out. They’re starting to mesh.” On if he sees S Tracy Walker’s leadership: “Yes, I see it. It’s coming. We just need to get a tick better every day. Just a little better every day.” |
