October 28, 2020 Opening Statement: “We’ll dive right into it here, but obviously news yesterday, Everson Griffen (was) added to the team, so we’re very excited about that. With the COVID-19 regulations and kind of the onboarding, he won’t be available until after the Colts game, so we’ll probably address that a little bit more next week. Obviously, very excited to have him on board. With that being said, just trying to get ready for Indianapolis. Obviously, an outstanding team, extremely well-coached and playing at a high level. They’ve done a great job of building this team over the last couple of years with the additions of draft picks and free agency, and I think that, obviously, they’re one of the better teams in the League right now playing in all three phases coming off the bye (week). Big task in front of us here this week. We’re going to actually (do a) walk-through today as a team. We’re kind of at eight-week mark of the season, about half-way through about this time. Trying to do a good job of taking care of everybody’s bodies today. We’ll get back at it on the practice field tomorrow, but a big mental day for us here today, and certainly Indianapolis, coming off their bye week, they’re going to be fresh and ready to go, and we’re going to have to try to match that speed and that intensity on the field.” On if there’s an advantage to trading for a player he’s familiar with: “I think it really helps, especially when things go down maybe last-minute or pretty quick. Sometimes that’s how those situations come up and they occur, but the more familiarity you have with the player – and certainly when you play against someone like that for as long as we have – you are very used to what he is and what he can do and his skill set and how that would fit with whatever you’re doing from that standpoint.” On what impresses him about the Colts defense: “It’s a huge task. I think just sneaky good, now. These guys are really good. They play aggressive, they play hard. Obviously, (DeForest) Buckner was a great addition inside to help them kind of create that penetration. He’s got huge length, he can play the run, he’s extremely strong. So, I think he’s just solidified the inside part of that defense. (Grover) Stewart’s in there, too. He’s a great player. (Justin) Houston on the edge, obviously now him with Buckner and the ability for them to run the pass-rush games that they run and the stunts that they use up front, I just think they’re very, very disruptive up front. (Darius) Leonard, the linebacker, is a guy that I think they brought on board who’s fast, he’s instinctual, makes plays in the run game and in the pass game. They play quite a bit of zone. I think they do a great job in the deep part of the field of kind of reading the quarterback, breaking, and they’ve caused a lot of turnovers. I think, obviously, you’ve got (Xavier) Rhodes outside, who does a great job. We know him, he looks like he’s playing at a very high level right now. Looks healthy, his quickness, his length, all of that is really, really good. (Kenny) Moore, who plays on the other side, he’ll bump inside and sub. He’s a guy that I’m familiar with. He’s just a tough guy, he tackles, he blitzes really well, plays aggressive. Then (Julian) Blackmon in the deep part of the field, this guy’s got great range, great speed, is really – I think he’s already got six PBUs, two INTs, and he’s hit a couple other guys and forced a couple fumbles. I mean, he’s an aggressive player in the deep part of the field. So I think speed overall, the element of how fast they play, I would say is one of the bigger things that just jumps off the tape.” On where he has seen Defensive Coordinator Cory Undlin evolve as a first-year play caller: “It’s probably a great question. I don’t know if I really sat back and – I would say one thing for Cory in his position – certainly coming in as not maybe someone who was here and kind of got bumped up to the job – so in that situation, really learning our guys – he’s really unbelievable as far as his personality and just connecting with the players and the coaches. “I don’t know how much got cut off there. But one of the biggest things for me with Cory, is his ability to connect with the players. I think that one of the things he’s done a great job of as he’s gotten here was learning our players, understanding who they are, how they fit and really adapting, as we always try to do to what do our guys do well. I think that’s something he’s done a great job of so far this year – continually trying to learn what is it we’re going to be as a defense and trying to put our guys in positions to make those plays. So that would be probably the biggest thing so far.” On if the trade to acquire DE Everson Griffen a similar situation to when the Lions acquired DT Damon Harrison Sr. in 2018: “I think it was just a player that we liked that was available and everything kind of worked out from that standpoint.” On if the trade deal for DE Everson Griffen was last minute and if it helped that he was familiar with his play: “I think it does help when you know a player like Everson, and played against him so many times that – sometimes they come up quick, and obviously you have a lot of different things, a lot of different balls in the air, and you have to make those decisions, but having that familiarity playing against him definitely helped. I don’t know relatively what ‘quick’ is, but it seemed pretty quick to me.” On what DE Everson Griffen’s role on the team will be: “I would say that would be total projection. I don’t really like to speak on it until we just kind of get him in and get him going.” On his thoughts on the win-now move to acquire DE Everson Griffen and if he believes in positive momentum: “I certainly think (that) we always try to build from week-to-week, and we try to get better and improve so that it always definitely part of it. But we do always say that they are just one-week seasons, and we need to make sure we do our best this week. The opponents change, there is no carry over from – you know, we never really play the same opponent twice. So everything is different each week. We just have to do whatever we can that week to win. From that aspect of it, you do try to build, so that is true but we do know that this week is different than last week, and we understand we have to go out and execute and try to play at our best to give ourselves a chance to win.” On coaching for a franchise that’s willing to move future assets to win now: “I think we’re always trying to win now. So I think it’s really kind of just the whatever opportunity comes up to make ourselves better as a team. We’re always trying to do that.” On what the team is doing differently to result in not having any fumbles so far this season: “Yeah, set up for failure with that question. I appreciate that a lot – little bit superstitious there, so thanks. Honestly, I just think the guys do a great job with just fundamentals. I think that is a big part of our teaching of fundamentals. From Day 1, we talk about those things. The No. 1 fundamental is ball security, and obviously trying to turn the ball over when we get those opportunities. We have a little bit of a saying, it’s called, ‘It’s all about the ball.’ That’s the truth. We just have to be all about the ball, and make sure that we’re going a great job protecting it all the way through.” |
