December 7, 2020
Opening statement: “(I) talked to the players a little while ago, and just talked to them about flipping the script now, and here we go. We’re moving on, we’re heading to Green Bay. Obviously a huge challenge ahead of us with obviously, Aaron Rodgers, The Smith Brothers and all the great players that they have on that side of the ball. As far as yesterday goes, we had some good, individual, standout players, and I guess, key moments in the game where guys really stood out and made plays. I think we need to make sure we talk about Matt Nelson stepping in, a converted defensive lineman. I know I said that yesterday, but to step in there and – Khalil Mack, to block him, and really not show up on the stat sheet, him or Robert Quinn, is a big deal. Danny Amendola stepped up big time on third downs, really huge catches for us. Kevin Strong, at the end of the game, I mean, highly impressive play, just coming back in his first week. Everson (Griffen) and Romeo (Okwara) hunting the quarterback, getting after them. Sack for ‘E’ (Griffen), sack and caused fumble for Romeo, and obviously ‘Big John’ (John Penisini) recovering that fumble there at the end was huge for us. Really cool. I talked to them also about today, that we’re in a search to make and play that perfect game, but it’s never happened in the history of ball. So we’re going to continue to strive for that, reach for that, but we know we have a lot to clean up. There are enough mistakes to go around – we have penalties we have to clean up, we have to start better on defense, but I really like how those guys responded in the second half. With that, open it up to questions.”
On if he expects normalcy this week: “I’m hoping it gets a little bit more normal this week. I still feel like this call right here is probably one of the last things I do for the first time, in terms of wrapping up the day after the game. But yeah, I expect it to be more normal, and like I said, I have great support guys around me, support staff, and helping me in every way. So looking forward to a great week.”
On if he has addressed the team on how to stop Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: “I think that’s always the key to the Green Bay Packers, right? Aaron Rodgers has been playing at a high level for a long time. Davante Adams out there on the edge, and they have a great connection. They can just wink or nod, and they know what each other’s doing. It’s going to be a huge challenge. We have to do a great job all across the board. It’s not just the back end, it’s the front end, all of it working together. We hope that we can cause it some problems.”
On how much of his style derives from Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll: “I’ve been around some great coaches. I can go all the way back to coach (Barry) Alvarez at the University of Wisconsin even as a player watching him. All the way along the way, just the great coaches that I’ve had around me and the things that I’ve enjoyed about him and just make sure that I try to take notes. If I was ever in that position, ‘What would I do? Would I handle that situation that way? Would I change that kind of thing?’ Obviously, Pete had a huge influence on me as well. There’s a lot that he does that I think of – obviously, we had a lot of success while we were there, so I really like some of that stuff, so definitely some of that’s in there. I was with Mike Sherman, with a lot of different guys, Brad Childress, and all those guys had an impact on me. I think it shows up in different ways.”
On what it was like when he got home and everything sunk in: “It was amazing. I think I told you on the phone, I couldn’t wait to talk to my wife – that was cool to talk to her and just share it with my family for a little bit. It was truly an amazing day. I don’t know if I could’ve written the script any better for the challenges that we faced in the game, how the guys played. I think the thing that made me the proudest was the people that were sending me texts and phone calls and those kind of things, just talking about what it looked like on TV and how much fun the guys were having and how much energy they had. That was the main goal for me because I thought if I could get those guys playing for the love of the game, like they were 10-year-old kids again, that would make an impact. Just for them to give me that feedback and say, ‘Man, I can’t believe what those guys looked like. They looked like they’re having a great time, and they were playing hard.’ Those kinds of things were big for me.”
On if he’s buying everyone ice cream: “That’s the first I’m hearing of it, but I’ll have to take (Reggie Ragland) up on that.”
On why K Matt Prater was kicking off instead of P Jack Fox, and DT Kevin Strong’s role yesterday: “Matt Prater, that was little bit of a gameplan deal there. There was going to be some different kicks. Obviously they had one of the best kick returners in the history of the NFL, so thought it gave us an opportunity with some of the style of kicks – obviously taking a little bit off of Jack, as well, help him focus on the punting. Really, we kicked off the first time to him, and he was able to break the one out, and then from there, we gave ourselves a shot to do it, and then just went to all the different style of kicks that Prater had for us. The second one, he’s overplaying it, so he kicks it the other way, and they don’t get a return, and some great border kicks. He just did a great job of executing the gameplan for us in those situations.
“Then Kevin, I mean, what can you say, right? The guy was just called up, and he was able to make a huge impact play. There were some nuances in the gameplan and how they were trying to play some of those blocks, I think they were doing, but for him to step in and make a big play shows how important it is to him, his level of focus with the gameplan in the short time that he has been here that week to accomplish that.”
On the play call on RB Adrian Peterson’s second rushing touchdown and his confidence in the left side of the offensive line: “There were some different thoughts going through my mind. I really felt like we had run the ball earlier there on a third-and-3 and were able to run it in on the 3-yard line. So the first thought on the first couple was, ‘Get them to use their timeouts to make it a little bit more difficult on them.’ But I felt confident in our run game. Obviously those guys on the left side have done a good job, but really across the board. We gave them a chance to punch it in and what a great run. It was actually a really physical run. We didn’t get to the one ‘backer and Adrian, basically, ran him over, and good emphasis with the spike there at the end, which I really liked. Just a good play by those guys, but thinking situationally, just trying to get them to use timeouts as well, and knowing we had a chance to score on the play. We did like the play, but we still had another down if we needed it.”
On Offensive Line Coach Hank Fraley: “He’s done a great job. It hasn’t been easy. He’s had some juggling that he’s had to do, guys in and out of the lineup, moving guys around. I think probably the biggest impact that he’s had is on those young guys. Obviously (Taylor) Decker is going to play the way he is, Frank (Ragnow) is still – kind of consider him a young guy – (I’m) talking about Jonah (Jackson) and Matt Nelson, those guys down the line. To take a guy that’s a converted defensive lineman, to get him to play at the level he played yesterday, I think speaks to Hank’s coaching. Him and Billy (Yates, assistant offensive line coach) do a really good job. They’re heavily involved in the run game and the gameplan and implementing that. He’s a great communicator, he’s a great teacher, he has a great demeanor about him and handling those guys, I think he complements all those different personalities that they have up there.”
On if he received a congratulatory text from former Lions Head Coach Matt Patricia following the win: “I did not.”
On if he has a 24-hour policy with the players before moving on to the next opponent: “I want us to continue to carry the energy. I think today’s an important day to continue to wrap up the game. So really, once we’re done with the meetings today – we have a team meeting, then special teams meeting, then offense, then defense, and then the position meetings – so once all that is wrapped up, then we flip the script and move on to Green Bay, then we kind of have to go. We had all the way until, I don’t know, maybe an hour or so ago.”
On the decision to release former Lions WR Marvin Hall: “Marvin’s a guy that I really enjoyed having on our team. He’s a guy that I have a lot of respect for. He came in early in the season last year, and he’s made some big plays for us. There’s a lot that goes into it, in terms of roster spots and more than just play on the field. So we just made a decision to move on. We have Mohamed Sanu, he came in, I think you saw what he was able to do, made really, some big plays for us. I do wish Marvin, ‘MH’ we call him, the best of luck. Like I told him, I know he’s going to end up on a roster somewhere.”
On the dynamic of him and the front office regarding roster decisions: “That’s a good question. So I don’t even know what the shape would be that we call it, but we have our personnel group that’s left over. They really do a great job – with Kyle (O’Brien, vice president of player personnel) and Lance (Newmark, director of player personnel) and Rob (Lohman, director of pro scouting) and then (President and CEO) Rod Wood is involved in it and (Vice President of Football Administration) Mike Disner – really, the five of them and myself. We did have a lot of discussions about the roster. Really, I think it’s been great communication. It was basically on a daily basis in terms of future roster moves, but also, just the more recent stuff of who was going to be active for the game, who’s not going to be active. There’s obviously discussions in terms of how guys are making it through practice, so it’s between one or two guys – so I just think the communication between that group was outstanding.”
On in-game adjustments according to how QB Matthew Stafford is feeling: “There are a lot of in-game adjustments that are being made. I don’t know if it’s all the time, ‘How are you physically feeling with your arm,’ or whatever. But probably more gameplan-specific things. But definitely, he’s been fighting through some things. He has a thumb that he’s working with. I would say this: I was really excited about how we did with our explosive plays yesterday. I think we had 10 passes and one explosive run, the way that we calculate them. So that was huge, really did go for it a little bit more. I think he took some calculated chances, put very accurate balls on guys and he played really well. I think the offensive line had a lot to do with that. You could tell how settles he was in the pocket. There were subtle movements, I mean, he did have to move, but the moves were subtle. They were into the right open areas. I thought he handled it really well.”
On the discussion between him and QB Matthew Stafford regarding the direction of the team in the coming weeks: “I have a really good leadership group. We have really great leaders on the team, and he’s definitely one of those guys. I met with that group, and I though all of them had great input. I told them what my plan was, went back and forth on a couple little things. But just Matthew in particular, he’s been here a long time, and he’s a well-respected player on this team. I think from the first day that I got here, thought it was important to build a good relationship with him, with clean, clear communication. You have to build that trust. You have to work on it for him to really open up. I think it’s at a good place right now. I’m super excited about that.”
On if this is the best he’s seen him: “I wouldn’t get into our personal conversations that we’ve been having, but I’m, excited for him. I love having him as a leader of our offense, the possibilities that he gives us. We’re heading right, straight to Green Bay, and we couldn’t be more excited about that.”
On the halftime adjustments made that lead to the improved second half defensive performance: “Huge difference from half to half. I think they scored four of their five drives in the first half, over 100 yards rushing, and then they only scored one of their six drives in the second half, with like, 32, 34 yards rushing. So Cory (Undlin, defensive coordinator) and the defensive staff did a great job of making adjustments. Also, I think the defense settled down a little bit. They knew (that) it’s a long game, and just continue to play. That’s what I’ve been preaching to us – just play, don’t even worry about the scoreboard. We’ll look up at the end and that’s when we can check, just wait until it hits zero. I think they’ve bought into that. The adjustments that they made were solid. I think we tackled a little bit better. They just made plays in that second half, big plays for us.”
On the role President and CEO Rod Wood is playing in the roster decisions: “I just know that’s the group that I’ve been discussing it with three personnel guys, (Mike) Disner and Rod are all in there. Great communication, great conversations, but I think everybody’s able to bring a little bit different thought to it and perspective. First week, so far so good.”
On if he has a vote in keeping former Lions WR Marvin Hall on the roster: “I mean, he’s definitely in the conversation, yes.”
