LIONS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BEN JOHNSON QUOTE SHEET
September 21, 2023
On how challenging the game against the Falcons will be with the injuries on the offensive line: “I think we knew that these weeks were going to come, really any NFL season this happens and so that’s been our challenge all of training camp is making sure we have the right depth in place and feel really good about the guys that could potentially step up and play more snaps this week. They’re guys we believe in. They’ve been here and they know our system, so expect no drop off in production.”
On what Lions RB Zonovan Knight can provide for the offense this week against the Falcons: “Yeah, I think – that’s been the big challenge is since he’s been here, how much of the nuance of what we do can he pick up? He’s already got high football IQ. He’s been in the League for a few years now and I say that even though he’s an NC State guy. It’s a tough one to admit, but no, he’s doing a phenomenal job picking it up and we’ll see as the week goes along how much he can handle, but been encouraged with what he’s shown on scout team over the last couple weeks and so far this week in terms of running ability, pass protection and receiving ability.”
On how equipped Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs is to play more inside the tackles against the Falcons: “Yeah, Gibby can do anything, so yeah, we’ll see what all we ask him to do, but we feel very comfortable with him doing anything that our running backs need to do.”
On how much he thinks Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs is fueled by the comparisons between him and Falcons RB Bijan Robinson: “I don’t know. I don’t know that one.”
On what the Falcons defense does well that allows them to shut down the receiver production: “They’ve been, and this goes – I mean let me just start with the defensive coordinator. It’s his first time calling it but going back to New Orleans and who he’s been, they are relentless up front. Former D-line guy, they do a great job keeping their frontline fresh and you’ll see a big rotation. They’ll play as many as eight or nine guys up front there over the course of a game and see significant number of snaps, so they want to keep them fresh. Those guys, they go hard. Their stunt stuff is very difficult for teams to pick up and so they generate a lot of pressure in the passing game, so I think that helps with the first two weeks you’ve seen a drop-off of passing yards, but I do think he has those guys playing really well up front. They’re sticky on the backend, lot of respect for (Falcons CB A.J. Terrell) 24. He’s as good as we’ve seen so far. I know it’s early in the season, but in man-coverage, (Falcons S Jessie Bates) number three, the new guy, Bates, he’s been around for a long time and highly productive player. Has great instincts, nose for the football, can play in the post, can play down in the box and very productive either way, so it’s a good complement between rush and coverage.”
On how challenging it is for a quarterback to perform against pressure from inside the pocket: “Yeah, I feel good about our quarterback’s ability to stand in there when there is pressure and deliver the football, but certainly when the pocket gets collapsed, it’s difficult to hang in there, even for the best of them, so that’ll be our challenge is keeping the width and the depth of the pocket clean for (Lions QB) Jared (Goff) and get the ball out on time. We’ve got to get guys open, so it’s a – that’s what we’re working through as a staff right now, how quickly can we come together and feel really good about our matchups both in protection and in the pass game.”
On how he felt about the urgency to get the ball in the end zone in their last drive of regulation against the Seahawks: “Yeah, we talk about these situations. This is year three now with (Lions Head) Coach (Dan) Campbell as head coach. I think he and I are very much aligned in how we see the game. Going into that drive, we knew at a minimum we had to get in field goal range and if we did kick the field goal, we didn’t want to leave any time for them to respond, so that was first and foremost and obviously, an offense like ours that we feel really strongly about, we want shots in the end zone to win the game. We want that on us. We had opportunities within the plays that were called to get the ball a little bit closer, and I think the shots would have come to the end zone from there, but I know we didn’t push it into the end zone, but was very happy with (Lions QB) Jared (Goff), what his decision-making was and we came really close to executing a touchdown.”
On if they did not go for a touchdown late in the game against the Seahawks because of their field position: “Yeah, I think it depends week-to-week, but in that particular instance, we were aware – I don’t think time was an issue. We had plenty of time with two timeouts and we were just making sure we handled it really well that we were a manageable field goal, at a minimum, with no time left and had an opportunity to get it into striking range.”
On if he preferred to go for a touchdown toward the end of regulation against the Seahawks: “No, I felt really good about what we did.”
On what has allowed Lions TE Sam LaPorta to have comfort in his position so early in his career: “I think it’s him. I think it’s just how he’s built, and we knew that. I mean (Lions Executive Vice President & General Manager) Brad (Holmes) does a great job investigating, not just what they put on tape, but also the type of people that they are and so he’s very smart. He’s very mature and so he’s been, for a young player, a rookie, he’s been very professional. He’s diligent in notetaking, in meetings. He applies it in walkthrough. He works hard in walkthrough and then it carries over to the practice field which in turn, shows up on game day for us, so I think I said last week when talking about him, I have a lot of faith in his coach. I think (Lions Tight Ends) Coach (Steve) Heiden deserves some recognition for the job he’s done because that’s a hard thing to do with a rookie tight end is get him prepared and he’s done a phenomenal job. It’s Coach Heiden’s birthday today by the way too, so shoutout to him for that. Big 47.”
On his assessment of their efficiency in the run game: “Yeah, we’re very close, but we are not where we need to be yet. You see the potential when you watch the tape and I think it’s just a matter of time before we start hitting some bigger ones. I really do. But you turn it on and you can say it’s one guy here, there and that’s – I mean you say that every week, but we’re very close from not just having these two, three-yard gains, but having explosive runs. I think that’s what shows up. Normally when you say, ‘Hey, one guy is off.’ That’s the difference between a three-yard gain and a five or six-yard gain. These are the difference between 12, 15-yard gains.”
On the challenges Lions T Penei Sewell had switching to left tackle against the Seahawks: “Yeah, it is a little difficult changing from one side that he’s been working on and I think he’s admitted that it’s taken some time. But we see growth every single day. He’s getting more comfortable with it and I feel very – whatever side he’s on, we feel very good about the production we’re going to get out of him.”
On how he has seen Lions WR Josh Reynolds grow through the last few years: “Man, he’s ‘Steady Eddy’ and I think the comfort level with (Lions QB) Jared (Goff) continues to show up. There were things that we don’t necessarily rep in practice that do show up in the game that Jared knows. I think, heck it was that first drive last week, we ended up getting him on a back shoulder, which I don’t know how many times we did that in training camp. I don’t think we did that at all in training camp. But there’s just a natural rapport. Those guys are usually on the same page, so he’s a guy that has shown up those first two weeks for us and we need to continue to get him the ball.”
LIONS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AARON GLENN QUOTE SHEET
September 21, 2023
Opening Statement: “Alright, going into this week, we’re 1-1, alright and it’s a long season and our guys know that. I think that’s the one thing that I’ve said to you guys going into the last game that every game is that one game and we focus on the next game after that game and that’s what we’re doing, so there’s some things that we like that we did. There’s some things we don’t like. We’re going to move forward and try to improve on things that we didn’t like.”
On if he agrees with Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell that there was a lack of discipline with the defense and on Sunday if it is the fault of the coaches or players: “Well, I would say this, when you have that, it goes both ways. I’ve said this several times that coaching staff and us as a defense, man this is a partnership. We don’t look at things as player, coach. No, we look at this as a defense, so I would say execution at all levels has to be better and I’m going to say that with players. I’m going to say that with coaches and I’m going to point the finger at me first because that’s where it always points at, so we just have to do a better job at all angles and I’m looking forward to this week of making sure we get that done.”
On what he did not like about the defense’s performance against the Seahawks and how he plans to fix it: “Well, let me talk about things we did like first. One thing we focused on was improving our run defense in the offseason and our guys have done a really good job of that. I don’t know what the stats say right now, but I know that our guys are doing a good job of it and that’s technique-wise, that’s fundamentals, that’s scheme-wise of understanding where we want guys to be at, so I really, really like that. We’ve got to do a better job with our pass rush and that’s us as coaches trying to scheme guys into doing things. That’s players also, just executing their job, so that’s one thing that we have to get better at and also, when you look at the pass defense, man you’ve just got to win and we’ve got to make sure we put guys in positions to win.”
On how to judge what is a good pass rush and what is not: “Any time you’re moving the quarterback off his spot and not letting him go to his first read, for the most part, is a pretty good job and actually, our guys have done that and I would say this, you’ve got to give those quarterbacks – (Chiefs QB Patrick) Mahomes is Mahomes, but you’ve got to give (Seahawks QB) Geno (Smith) a lot of credit for how he operated because he did go to his second read, he did move around a lot and he did a good job of finding those guys.”
On how important it is for the defense to bring down the quarterback: “Absolutely, I mean that’s the name of the game. It’s blocking, tackling and running. And yes, we’ve got to tackle and again, I would always say that me, as the coordinator, I’ve got to make sure we put every guy that we have in position to try to go make plays on the quarterback.”
On if there is a disjointed marriage between the rush and coverage on defense: “I wouldn’t say that. I wouldn’t say that at all. I think the one thing that we have to do is just continue to understand what we’re trying to do as a defense overall. I don’t think – I think our rush and coverage will always fit and again, man we have some new guys in that backend and they’re coming to a new defense, for the most part, so we all have to understand exactly what we’re trying to do when it comes to the coverage part and that will happen. I have total confidence that it will happen. I mean it happened last year when the guys started improving as the season progressed and I see that happening this year.”
On how they plan to cover the Falcons’ run game against dominant Falcons RB Bijan Robinson: “The thing that’s funny to me is everybody brings up Bijan. But man, there is a lot of different parties that goes into them having a really good rushing attack. Number one is the coach. He does a really good job of being creative and moving guys around to gain leverage. Two is, I mean (Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier) 25, man he is a hammerhead, now. I’ll tell you what, it’s two different styles of running back. You have Bijan that has the jump cuts and he’s going to make people miss. Then you have 25 that comes in. He’s getting right downhill, so as a defense, you have to get ready for both types of runners, so I think they kind of throw you off in that aspect and then you look at the line that they have. Man, they do a really good job with this wide zone blocking, so we have to do a good job with our hands. We have to do a good job of making sure we don’t get cut off and our guys are really studying that and we were actually practicing that quite a bit, not just in practice, but in walkthroughs, to make sure we give our guys that look.”
On how they will prepare for Falcons QB Desmond Ridder’s mobility: “Well, I said that last week. This is how the League is going to. These quarterbacks that can run, get out the pocket and make plays with their feet. You’re not just going to sit back in the pocket and just watch guys just throw it around the yard anymore. They’re going to have guys that can get out the pocket and make some plays, so we’ve just got to do a good job of making sure we crush the pocket, keep them in the pocket, make them play quarterback and then we’ve got to do a good job of getting him to the ground.”
On why he thinks Lions S Tracy Walker is prepared to take on a larger role against the Falcons: “Tracy is a pro and regardless of the situation, Tracy’s going to prepare like he’s a starter and that’s how you want all your guys to operate. I say this in the meeting room, weekly, that every guy on that defense is in the meeting room and they’re hearing the same things as far as scheme, as the starters are, so there’s no excuse not being able to come in the game and execute the way we need to execute, so he’s always took that approach and that’s why Tracy will be a valuable asset to us as a defense.”
On how veterans are able to have input in the game plan each week: “Listen, I always – those guys are on the field for the most part, then to me, it’s more of striking conversation than anything else. Just understanding how they think, what did they see on tape, what coverage they like. I’m always going to tell them what I like and what I think, for the most part, and I just like to hear what they have to say and you’ll be amazed at some of the intelligence, as far as the players that we have, as far as how to attack a team and it’s fun to get in those conversations with those guys.”
On what he learns from players when collecting their thoughts on the game plan: “I learn more about the player and who he is and how he studies. To me, that’s what I really get out of that for the most part.”
On how he feels the interior pass rushers have performed so far: “Well listen, everybody on our defense has strengths and has weaknesses and you look at our run defense, you see what those interior guys are doing. They’re doing a really, really good job. Are they (Rams DT) Aaron Donald? No, they’re not. There’s not many people in this League that are like that, so we have to do a good job – well I have to do a good job of trying to scheme some things up so those guys can get a chance to get to the quarterback, maybe pick games and things like that, so that guys will have a better chance, so that’s going to be my job to help those guys do that.”
On if he believes he currently has enough buy-in from his players: “Absolutely, absolutely there’s buy-in and you keep going to the discipline part when you look at this in one game, I don’t see that as an issue for us. I just see that as us having new players that are trying to get themselves – they have to understand exactly what AG wants, as far as secondary play. That was the same thing that went on last year. You might have asked the same question last year. You might have been the one talking about this from the last year, and you know what? Those guys got better. Yeah, you’re the discipline guy, so I get that, but I would tell you this, look how those guys continue to operate throughout the season, then come back to me, we’ll talk.”
On if he thinks play-action is harder for the defense in the second level because of their commitment to stop the run game: “Man, that makes football hard. I wish there was a magic call that you could stop it all, but it just – listen, everyone’s going to have a hard down at some point in the game and listen, when we’re committed to the run like we are and being able to stop it, sometimes I put the secondary in a tough situation. Those guys have got to win their one-on-ones, but there are times when we’re back and we’re defeating the – protecting the pass and then the guys up front have to win, if they do try to run the ball, so it goes hand-in-hand. It really does and the thing is, our guys continue to learn that and that’s one thing, to the discipline part, that we’ve got to do a better job of.”
On facing Falcons CB Jeff Okudah this week and why he did not work out with the Lions: “It’ll be good to see him. That’s a hard question and I don’t look at it as it not working out. I look at it as him getting a better opportunity somewhere else and that happens across this League. There are some guys that are drafted to a team that, man it just doesn’t work out, but then they go somewhere else and man, they become Pro Bowlers and All-Pros, so that’s just how it is and you guys have seen certain guys that it happened to, so I mean hell, I was with the Jets and I was a really good player and then I leave and go to the Texans and still a good player. Not trying to toot my own horn, but the thing is, that just goes to show you, man it doesn’t matter. Sometimes things don’t work out in one team, man you go to another team, you become a dominant player.”
On if he thinks Falcons CB Jeff Okudah has the ability to be a dominant player for the Falcons: “He has the capability to do that. I mean he has all the physical traits that you look for at that position and he works his butt off, so I know for a fact he’s doing that down there because he gets a second chance and we text each other quite a bit, so we still have a good relationship.”
On how aware the defense has to be to not allow Falcons TE Kyle Pitts to have a breakout game: “Well, here’s what I do know, looking at offense that it’s only one ball and we have players like the running backs that they have, you have players like (Falcons WR Drake) London, then you have him. You have the quarterback that can do some things outside of the pocket. I think it’s only a matter of time when he does break out, not against us, but that guy’s a really good player and there’s a reason why he was drafted the way he was drafted. There’s a reason why he did the things he did when he came in as a rookie, so man, he’s a good player and we’re aware of him.”
LIONS SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE FIPP QUOTE SHEET
September 21, 2023
On if he did not feel like himself as a coordinator with limited special teams opportunities against Seattle: “Yeah, no. Yeah, I hear you on that because coming out of that game it felt like, God, man, you just wanted to play more plays and have a bigger chance at impacting the game, but sometimes it goes that way and then there’s other times that you end up punting the ball a million times or returning a bunch of punts or whatever it is. So, that’s kind of part of the game, you’ve got to be ready and you never know what game you’re going to get a bunch of opportunities in and what game you’re not. You’ve got the treat them all the same way, but yeah, I hear you.”
On how Lions RB David Montgomery’s injury affects the shift of players on special teams: “I thought you were going to say when you asked that question that you knew that the role on offense and defense was going to impact their special teams role, but I’ll say it for you. Yeah, really it will come down to their role on offense and defense. Obviously, any time an injury happens to the top of the roster, usually – one of two things happens, either a guy comes in off the roster that maybe wasn’t active a week before but he was on the roster and he comes in, becomes a starter or a guy on the practice squad becomes a starter or something like that. Or if not, then that role gets shifted and guys bump up and then you end up adjusting everybody. So, obviously depending on how they play it out on offense, we’ll kind of adjust on special teams. But I’m assuming it’ll be a collaborative effort and it’ll probably be multiple guys just with a little adjustment.”
On if he expects Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson to be back from injury and returning kicks: “Yeah, I would expect Cordarrelle back there deep. He’s a great player. We’ve covered against him a handful of times and he can obviously affect a game quick. So, we’re counting on him being back there going into the game. Obviously, if he’s up or down, they decide that, but our thought process is he’s definitely healthy so he’s probably playing, and if he’s playing, I’m assuming he’s going to be back there.”
On what about Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson’s return style makes him dangerous: “Yeah, it is a great question. I kind of would say, a part of it is his mindset. I mean he’s trying to return every kick for a touchdown. He’s trying to make a great play every time he touches a ball, so that’s part of it. He does have a unique feel for finding space and finding cutback lanes and setting guys up and pushing the coverage one way and then kind of winding back another. But just really kind of a knack for being a ball carrier and finding open space and moving defenders. He’s long, he’s strong, he breaks tackles, he competes. Good player.”
On if there is ever a situation where he decides not to put pressure on the opponent to return it: “Yeah, it’s a good question. Really, ultimately now the kickoff, kickoff return is really all controlled by the return team. They can elect to take a fair catch with the ball at the five. They don’t even have to return it. So, you could say, ‘Well, we were trying to make them return it,’ but they really have a choice now. And then the kick return team can decide if the ball is eight deep, they can bring it out of the endzone from eight deep. So, you really, as a cover guy, you really don’t have much control unless you think you can drive the ball all the way out the back of the endzone. So, ultimately, it’s up to them.”
On the challenge Lions K Riley Patterson has with only having one field goal attempt this year and it being the one to tie the game against Seattle: “Yeah, well he’s got some PATs too, so that helps. But yeah, I mean the way we say it is every kick counts and it really doesn’t matter what the final score is. I mean they all count. I mean the game’s going to play out differently based on those guys making kicks or missing kicks. The last game Seattle missed two kicks. It might affect how they call the game later on. So, every kick counts whether you make them, you don’t make them, and they’re all big kicks.”
On if he feels helpless with the violence of kickoff returns after losing Lions LB James Houston to injury on a return despite new League rules being added: “Yeah, for me, it’s devasting losing a player on a special teams rep, but really, to me, it’s devasting losing a player on any rep whether it’s offense, defense or special teams. As a coach you hate it. You hate it when it happens in practice. You hate it when it happens in a game. I think I said a year or two ago that I’ve seen injuries occur in walkthroughs, I’ve seen them occur in non-contact practices, contact practices, games, on offense and defense, they’re – none of them are fun. Unfortunately, it is a part of the game, and I do think the League’s done a great job of trying to make the game safer. And the only other thing that I would say to it is I know people make a big deal about injuries on special teams, but I would also tell you that every game I think I’ve come out of it as a coach, we’ve come out of the game with more injuries on offense and defense as a team collectively than we have special teams players. So, I think the game inherently has some degree of danger. It’s in all three phrases. To me, they designed the game, they designed the rules. We coach the game and play the game. And we’re going to try to do it the best of our ability and ultimately the safety of the game is up to the National Football League and how they want to see the game play out.”
On if an opponent’s kick returner like Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson affects what he tells Lions P Jack Fox: “Yeah, so that is a good question. I would say going into every game based off of their returner, based off their return group, we’ll adjust a little bit of kind of what we’re doing to try to help increase our odds of being a successful play in our favor if the returner does decide to return it.” |
