| July 28, 2022 Opening Statement: “Look, you guys saw it yesterday, there wasn’t much to it. I thought they did a good job for what day one was. But it was pretty light, get them acclimated. Individual group had two periods, one of team, one of 7-on-7 full speed and the rest was really jog-through if you will. But for what we were – for what we asked them to do, it went well, so.” On if the plan for practice today is the same as yesterday’s lighter practice: “Yes, same plan today. It’ll be 15 minutes longer, but it will just be – we’ll get them a little bit more individual, a little bit more group and then a couple more team reps. But for the most part, it’s the same style of practice. Then, it’ll change tomorrow – begins to change.” On if Lions CB Will Harris being listed as a cornerback and Lions S Ifeatu Melifonwu being listed as a safety is permanent: “Yeah, I think it’s – I do – we feel pretty good about keeping Will outside right now and just letting him compete out there, knowing that if we ever need him in the back end, he can do that, and so let him continue to grow at corner. Iffy, we want to see what he can do at safety, knowing he can swing back to corner. So, Iffy is a little bit more in play in both spots, but we certainly would like to come out of this camp and see if Iffy can play some safety, essentially. Just trying to find the best fit for our guys and for what we have on the roster.” On how Lions CB Will Harris’ skills can transfer to cornerback: “Well, I would tell you this, because he’s big, he’s strong, he’s physical, he can run, he’s got a chance. And you tell him to get out there and compete, and hem a guy up, and play technique, he’s pretty good. And so, we just – sometimes when you take a little bit off a guy’s plate, man they can really grow. In the meantime, now that he’s played nickel, he’s played safety, now if he can excel at corner and get better, man, you’ve got a versatile guy. He’s a jack of all trades and now he can play multiple spots on top of special teams when he goes in the game, that’s an asset.” On if he gave Lions CB Will Harris homework or suggested cornerbacks to watch this offseason: “Me, personally, I did not. Now I know that (Lions Defensive Backs/Pass Game Coordinator Aubrey Pleasant) AP has worked with him and has given him guys to look at and things that will help him technique-wise. So, Aubrey’s been all over that with him and to Will’s credit, Will’s all over it. Will’s just like, ‘What do you want me to do? Where do you want me to go? What do you want me to do? And do I have a chance?’ That’s all you can ask for. He just goes to work. The fact that he’s open-minded and he puts his head down and goes to work is a credit to him. Look, let’s see where he can go, let’s see where he can take it. If it doesn’t work out there, we can always move him to nickel, we can move him back to safety. But we kind of like what he does out there. We like what he did at the end of last year at corner.” On Lions LB Julian Okwara and his role on the defense after a strong season last year: “There again, he – a lot of the things that really showed up with JO last year was kind of rush-orientated, third-down orientated. We put him in that – kind of what we call our X spot on defense. And so, he’s kind of that – if you will, linebacker, that dime linebacker who can rush and we know we can cover a little bit. He’s a good athlete, but that’s where we really feel like it starts for him. That’s where he’s really got to excel and then in the meantime, we’re in base, he needs to be able to get better at the SAM linebacker, taking on blocks, attacking on the perimeter, certainly rushing from when we ask him to go, and it’s base and it’s run action, the offense is giving him run action. Man, that transition from attacking run to now, ‘I got to rush the quarterback.’ Little things like that, something that (Lions DL) Charles (Harris) really excelled at last year and that will be the next step for him. Then, it’s just – look, he made steps last year, he made strides and he needs to do it again this year. He knows that and if he can make another stride, another step like he did last year, then we’re going to be on the right track. He’s going to be on the right track and help us.” On the challenges of not having bigger defensive linemen defending the run: “Yeah, I think that – look, it goes without saying, you better be disruptive then. We’ve got to hit these gaps, we’ve got to hit the blocks, we can’t allow ourselves to get road graded. Now, I will tell you this, I do think that we may need a little bit more girth up front. I wouldn’t say that we’re not looking for that or won’t be. You guys saw that we signed (Lions DL Isaiah) Buggs, that’s a hell of a name. I like it. But he did a good job. We signed him, he came out here and worked out for us, passed the conditioning test which was good. I mean, we had just worked him out, so that’s good. So, he helps us a little bit there, but yeah, if you’re not careful and you don’t have enough in there, I mean – look, that’s what (former Lions DL John) Penisini was – he could anchor in there now and he could swallow up the blocks and he could run the line of scrimmage a little bit. Between he and (Lions DL) Alim (McNeill), it was hard to run in the middle, so yeah, that will always be in the back of our mind. It’s something that we’ve got to be aware of and I think Alim continues to grow, there’s things he does in there. Look, (Lions DL) Levi (Onwuzurike)’s got to be able to hold up in there too now, and there’ll be some stuff he’s going to have to play in there. He may have to play the nose or the shade as well, if need be. But the good news is he’s a big man, he’s explosive and he just continues to grow, work on his technique. That’ll help us. But I guess to – let me go back to answer the – it’s really what I said the first time, man we’ve got to hit the blocks, you have to. If we’re laid off the ball or we’re not explosive, we’re not taking it to the double teams, we’re going to be in trouble. And that’s a point of emphasis. (Lions Defensive Line Coach Todd) Wash does a great job with those guys. It’s kind of the essence to the defense.” On his expectations for Lions DL Aidan Hutchinson and if he will continue to take first-team reps in training camp practice: “Yeah, I mean we start him out in base at the rush end over there and let him do some that, and sub defense, get him in there and keep mixing him, just let him grow. He proves to be what we think he can. He probably just sits in there with the ones until he needs a blow or a rotation or whatever, but there again he’s got to prove it. He’s got prove it that he can do it consistently and that he is the right guy to be in there right now, but he’s ready for it.” On how close his relationship with Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson is: “I would say it’s good. We looked into each other’s eyes yesterday. Listen, I’ve known Ben a long time, and there again he was – when I was at Miami, he was a young coach, and he really helped me out when I was young. I had him in my room, so he was kind of in a sense, kind of my assistant a little bit. I’ve known him for long time. I know what he’s about. I know how he thinks, and I knew early when I met him as a very young coach that he was – there was something about him. He was special. He’s bright a guy. He picks things up fast. He’s an ex- quarterback. He’s coached on multiple levels. So, what I’d say is I feel real good about that relationship, and he knows what I’m looking for. We’re in constant communication. He’s been around me long enough to where he doesn’t necessarily have to ask me all the time what I’m looking for. He will, but he’s got a real good feel of what I’m looking for. We’re on the same page.” On when he learned about the ‘Same Old Lions’ narrative and his goal to change it: “Yes, I knew that when I signed here as a player. For me, it was one of the reasons I wanted sign here because man, who doesn’t want to come here and change that, to be part of that team that turns it around? I think that’s a motivating factor, and so I think for all of us coaches and players. But yeah, I think it’s a motivating factor. We can go round and round on this. You guys have lived it. Once you’ve gone through a great suffering if you will, as it pertains to sports and Lions football, then that’s when there’s a great triumph. And to be a part of that, to be able to help it become that, man that’s something special. I mean, that is special. Yeah, I think that motivates all of us a little bit here.” On if Lions DL Josh Paschal had surgery on his sports hernia this offseason: “Yes, he did.” On the date of Lions DL Josh Paschal’s surgery to repair his sports hernia: “I can’t give you an exact date. It would’ve been spring – late spring, summer, early summer.” On if there are any concerns with the injuries to Lions FB Jason Cabinda or Lions S C.J. Moore: “No, he’s just – he’s working through a couple things he had with his ankle. We just want to be smart with it.” |
