LIONS HEAD COACH MATT PATRICIA CONFERENCE CALL QUOTE SHEET (VIA ZOOM)

October 29, 2020
Opening Statement: “Obviously, just rolling along through the week. Big day for us out on the field today, got to get some things straightened out, get some timing in both early downs and third down, and keep pushing forward. Obviously, just a great Colts team coming in here. We’ve got to have a really big game. Let’s just go to questions.”
On the injury status of CB Justin Coleman: “He’s back at practice, and he’ll be out there today, which will be great to see him out in some situations out there and give him some reps and see what it looks like. He’s getting better every week.”
On what player leadership looks like this season: “That’s a really good question. I would say from a standpoint of leadership, one of the biggest things we always talk about leadership is really just doing what you’re supposed to do, doing your job and really setting an example of how you are every single day. I think everyone on the team are leaders by how they approach (it) when they come in the building. From that standpoint, I think the guys have just done a great job of communicating to each other, and certainly, with COVID-19 and trying to do a good job of socially distancing and all that. I think in general, everybody has tried to work around those parameters just as people as we try to communicate and still be social in that aspect, and certainly in a profession where you have to work very closely with people. I think our guys have done a great job of just continuing to have that really open communication.”
On if he talked to the team about continuing to be leaders even with the COVID-19 restrictions: “I would say – obviously the spring was really cool in the fact with how close I thought our team got, even through Zoom. I thought there was some great dialogue and great conversations that we had, that honestly, once we got in the building, I think everyone was just so excited to be around each other, that that just carried over. It’s really more of just kind of trying to remind everybody to be safe, I would say, more than anything else.”
On if the game has sped up lately because players are in football shape: “I don’t know, that’s a good question. I would say the game always looks fast to me. Those guys are always moving pretty quick. I would say some of the fundamentals, I think, have settled down a little bit. Let’s hope that that stays that way. That’s really maybe the biggest part of it, where you’re seeing maybe a little bit better tackling, a little bit better angles, maybe some better running with the ball and maybe the vision and things like that that have come with game experience now, after what’s called four or five games under your belt. I think some of that stuff slows down a little bit for you, which allows the players to play faster.”
On Colts G Quenton Nelson and how the team game-plans for him: “I love offensive line conversation. This is great. I think, obviously he’s a great young player. He’s strong, he’s physical, and I do think he sets the tone for those guys. I think when you start talking about gameplan wreckers or just guys on the other side of the ball that you have to be aware of, you have to be aware of him, and where maybe some of the attack points are with their offensive line. Even in the run game, it may be headed in a different direction, but it may all wind up back at the same spot, if that makes any sense, and those are things that we look at. What (is) really the apex up front, and where can they count on being the stoutest? And certainly, with Philip Rivers, he’s going to have those guys in front of him that he can trust and move in front of and slide with the pocket and understand the guys are going to keep the depth of the pocket a little bit better. I think he’s definitely a guy you look at, and you say, ‘OK, what does this guy do really well, and how do you have to play against him to make sure that it doesn’t penetrate the defense in that area?’”
On what separates Colts G Quenton Nelson from so many others at the position: “First, I would say his technique. I think even really coming out of college – I actually was there when those guys were coming out – and I think just being coached up the way he was coached in college, he’s fundamentally really sound. I think on top of that, he’s got a great play style, let’s just call it. He’s got a great temperament for the o-line, and I think that combined with the really good fundamental technique that he uses, he doesn’t really get in a lot of bad situations or bad positions, and he’s strong and he’s stout. I think those are things that you look at, especially with the offensive line, and these young offensive linemen, as you see him progress. Really, at this point, it’s just about gaining, I would call it, NFL game experience, which he’s been able to do very quickly – recognize the games, recognize the different movements upfront, maybe, that tie into a little – from an offensive line perspective, you’re always kind of looking beyond level one. You’ve got to learn how to read level two, and really, at some point, you read level three and how that dictates what happens with the defensive front up in front of you. I think he’s been able to do that, see that, and respond very quickly.”
On Colts QB Philip Rivers and any changes he’s seen with him on a new team: “I think for me right now, just taking a look at him, I think he’s playing at a really high level. I think he’s settled into this offense, and really the command of it is, I guess, what you notice right away, especially with Coach (Frank) Reich and what he’s been able to do and implement from obviously his time with Philip at the Chargers and then bringing some of the Philly package in there and the way he’s been able to include that. I think Philip Rivers looks healthy to me. It looks like he moves really well in the pocket. He’s got great footwork in the pocket. I think his accuracy and arm strength and all that stuff, and he’s able to really keep his vision downfield. I think just in different years of quarterbacks, and certainly I’ve played against him for a long time and he’s a great, great – he’s one of the most competitive guys that you play against. I have the utmost respect for him. I mean that goes all the way back to him playing through a torn ACL in a championship game. I mean, this guy is as tough as they come. But I think one of the things that he’s doing a great job of is keeping his eyes downfield. I really think that the trust is building with his receivers. He understands where they’re going to be. They do a great job of kind of speaking to each other when plays break down, and I think that’s where I’ve really seen his improvement, is just being able to keep his eyes downfield, trust the protection in front of him and be able to get the ball out really fast. Those are areas that he’s operating at very highly.”
On the difficulty of a young running back being thrust into an important role such as Colts RB Jonathan Taylor: “Yeah, I do think obviously you’re going to learn on the fly very quickly. I think the running back position, just that position in general takes a lot of pounding, especially when you run the ball as much as (the Colts) like to run the ball. I think one of the things they’ve done a really good job of is (Nyheim) Hines, (No.) 21. You’re going to see him quite a bit. They’ll give him the ball certainly in that accord. (Jordan) Wilkins, he’ll come in. He’s more of the kind of downhill runner, too. They’ll spot him just enough, but he’s out there a lot. Look – they’re operating at a high level with him, and coming off the bye week, I’m sure he’s going to be rested and ready to go. But I think that’s the biggest concern you’ll always have with a young running back is that when you get to probably about Week 14, 15, when the grind of the NFL season really takes its toll, you’re probably six or four games past what a college season would be, that’s where you start to see a little bit of the wear and tear. But he hasn’t slowed down at all. He’s not showing that at all now, and they’re just going to keep featuring him form that standpoint. He’s big, and he’s strong. I think that’s part of it. He has good size, so he’s going to be able to endure a lot of that as the season goes.”
On what he has seen from Colts RB Jonathan Taylor’s transition to the NFL: “You saw all the stuff that you saw coming out (of college). Certainly his power, his explosiveness, you see his speed. I think all of that is still there. When you see him get out in space, I think you can really see that for a big guy, he has some of that shiftiness and that smooth running style that he can really have those explosive plays, and then certainly I think he’s done a good job with just his vision. They run a couple different scheme runs, maybe a little bit more than what he was doing before. I think he’s doing a good job of really seeing the linebackers, feeling the defensive line, seeing the linebackers and finding those holes to getting vertical. He’s not a guy that really goes down backwards very much. He’s a guy that just keeps it downhill. I think those are really good traits for a young running back.”
On if Colts QB Philip Rivers still has the same velocity as before: “I don’t really see that. I would say certainly there’s always a feel factor for trying to get to understand new receivers, (a) new system and certainly when you’re in one place for as long as Philip Rivers was with the guys around him, there’s a high level of comfort with Antonio Gates and guys that you’re just used to working with. I can see that developing with T.Y. (Hilton) and (Zach) Pascal, and you can see the trust level, especially with the tight ends, too. They do a great job down there. (Trey) Burton just got there, so as the season goes on, you’ll see that to continue to develop. There’ll be those plays that just come real natural to him. But I wouldn’t say that at all. I actually think he’s moving well in the pocket; I think he’s making quick decisions; I think he’s trying to get the ball out fast. This is a very competitive guy; this guy is about as fired-up as they come. You have to give him all the credit in the world.”
On if he must reinforce to players and their families about COVID-19 protocols and precautions as winter approaches: “I think from our standpoint, COVID-19 is always a conversation. We’re always talking about making sure that we’re being smart, and more is more. I think the interesting thing about the cold weather coming in for us, you know living in the north, is just flu season. That’s a whole other conversation because the symptoms are obviously very similar to COVID-19 – trying to get as much information to our guys as possible, so that they can make good decisions about that, too, and just constantly trying to remind everybody to stay healthy. I think that our guys understand that when we talk about that, we’re talking about everybody that’s in your circle, and just trying to be smart all the way around the board. I think our guys have – they’re trying to do – they’re trying. They’re trying to do the best they can with all that they’re really are – unfortunately, the world is still in a state of a pandemic, and everybody’s dealing with it. We’re trying to do the best we can in our environment to stay healthy and safe for everybody.”