LIONS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOHN MORTON QUOTE SHEET
January 1, 2026
Opening Statement: “Going against (Bears Head Coach) Ben (Johnson) and (Bears Defensive Coordinator) Dennis Allen. I obviously worked with both of them. But the defense is playing really good because they’re creating a lot of turnovers. They’re number one in the League. So, that’s a big emphasis, which we’ve been doing a pretty good job until last week. But our guys are going to be on top of that. And they’re playing at a high level right now, offensively and defensively. They’re doing a really good job, Dennis is a great coach, he does a good job with his scheme and everything. So, we’re looking forward to this challenge.”
On what he has made of the job that Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson has done given where Chicago is now compared to the beginning of their season: “He’s done a great job. I mean Ben’s a great coach. He sees what he has and he plays to their strengths. But they’ve been creating turnovers, they’ve been running the ball. That’s a good combination going into the playoffs. If you can do that, you can win a lot of games.”
On the challenges of practicing when there are multiple offensive line players missing: “Next man up. I mean this gives other guys opportunities. Everybody’s got this little bug that’s going on. So, they’re in the walkthroughs and everything else, so at least they’re getting that. But it’s the next guy up, gives the guy an opportunity in case he has to go in and he’s gotten the reps. So, I think it’s a good thing.”
On how hard it has been to implement the run game: “Yeah, it’s been difficult because then you become a passing offense, which we can do that but you don’t want to live on that. So, it’s been a work in progress, obviously. I think it’s a – like with Chicago, I think we can get after these guys a little bit, I really do. They’re giving up almost five yards a carry, so I like our chances there with this defense. So, I like the matchup here and I liked it the first game. But yeah, I mean it’s always been a big emphasis every single week, the run game and trying to get it going. And sometimes you get behind the eight ball and you’ve got to throw it and sometimes you don’t get the right looks and sometimes we just aren’t executing. We all have our hand in all of this, so it’s just a little bit of everything. It’s frustrating, yeah it is. All you can do is just keep working and just try to improve.”
On what he thinks his future holds and what he wants to do in 2026: “Well, I’d like to be here, yeah. I love it here. I love (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell), I love the organization, it’s my home. All I’m thinking about is just Chicago right now. And whatever happens, happens. Listen, I’ve been in this business for a while, so I’m proud of the things I’ve done and there are a lot of things that I’ve got to improve on. And so, whatever happens, happens. But listen, my main focus is just Chicago right now. That’s all I’m thinking about and that’s all I ever do. I live in the moment, I always have. And then whatever happens, I just march on just like I always have. That’s my attitude with everything.”
On if he wants to call plays again: “Sure. Sure. Whatever it takes. I would love to do that, wherever that may be. I love doing it. I love putting the gameplan together. I love all of that. I mean I’m still doing the same stuff I was when I was calling the plays. But yeah.”
On if being able to call plays is a prerequisite for him staying in Detroit: “No. No, it’s not. No, absolutely not. Listen, I told you guys before I’m a team player. I’ll do whatever it takes, at this point in my career. Whatever (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) wants, I do. So, I’m here to help him help this team win and that’s what I’ve done. I’m proud of some of the work that I’ve done, obviously. So, that’s kind of where I’m at with that.”
On what he has learned the last eight weeks that will help him in whatever his role is going forward: “I just – status quo. I’m heavily involved in the passing game. I love the personnel that we’ve got, I love this organization and the coaches and everything. We do a great job working together, putting this all together. We have great players, it’s really fun to put gameplans in the passing game. It’s fun, I have a blast doing it because we’ve got a lot of weapons and it’s pretty cool. And then we come up with something new, the guys don’t even blink. It’s fun. And we did a couple of things today. And I just love it. I love my job. I love coaching, I love game planning, I love everything that goes into it and then watching it on Sunday.”
On if there is anything he has learned from Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell and how he has called plays and how he views the offense during the time since he has taken over as play-caller: “Yeah, it’s just certain ways of how to put the run game with this and that, marry it up so it all looks the same. Tendency-wise, maybe down and distance, those types of things, I’ve learned that. Those are the kind of things I’ve got to work on. And we’ll look at offseason, and I’ll just keep going like I’m the coordinator calling plays and try to improve. And it’s like I said, I’m going to do whatever it takes. But I’m going to keep going like I’m going to call the plays. And if that doesn’t happen, fine. I’m OK with that.”
On how he views the play of the offensive line and if former Lions C Frank Ragnow’s retirement was the root of all the problems: “Well, the number one thing you want is continuity, right? And when you don’t have that on the offensive line, that’s part of the problem. It isn’t all of the problem, it’s a little bit of everything, it really is. But it does start up front. If you can control the line of scrimmage and do that, it just makes everything a lot easier, which you guys have kind of done here in the last few years. But continuity is the biggest thing. When you’ve got the same guys all the time – I’m not using that excuse. It becomes challenging at times. So, I think that’s kind of where we’re at right now. If the biggest thing is just doing whatever it takes to win the game and if we can run the ball, great. And that’s kind of what we’ve done all year. There have been times, especially earlier in the year and stuff, we were running it and we played complementary football, we’re 50-50 and stuff like that. And there’s times where we’ve got to throw it and it’s been that way. So, we address it every single week in the run game. But I think it all does start up front. Losing our tight ends and stuff, that’s part of the offensive line. But it’s not excuses, it’s not. Like I said, we all have our hand in this and we have to be creative, just like everything else in the passing game and stuff. When a guy goes down, OK this guy’s got to step up. We lost a tight end, (Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs) Gibby started getting some looks and (Lions WR Isaac) TeSlaa, he’s grown. That’s the beauty of this. Some of these guys have just – it’s kind of cool to watch them grow, like TeSlaa has really grown. So, you can kind of see the player that he’s going to be. And then Gibby with run and pass, it’s really cool to see that. And (Lions WR Jameson Williams) Jamo running a lot of different routes and things, he’s really stepped up ever since that. So, guys have stepped up with all the injuries and everything.”
On how he has seen Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa develop in his rookie season: “Let me tell you something, run and pass, he can do it all. He’s tough, he’s physical, he’s smart. Man, he can catch. I mean I just – I love the hands. I love the hands. You could put the ball anywhere, you saw it last week when he caught that touchdown. I mean he’s gotten a lot of touchdowns. I mean compared to receptions and touchdowns, that’s pretty good. But he’s – when you’ve got a guy like that who can catch and he’s a rookie and like I said, he’s just blossomed every single week and in the run game. You know our wideouts, they have to block and they’re the best in football in doing that. But it’s been really cool to see him. I mean he just – and really, he’s not a rookie anymore. And he comes to work every day – that whole unit with (Lions Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers) Scottie (Montgomery). He does an unbelievable job with those guys. They all have the same attitude. It’s really a cool thing.”
On what he thinks is the ceiling for Lions WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa: “I mean, Super Bowl. I mean listen, those three guys along with (Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs) Gibby and (Lions TE Sam) LaPorta, I mean sky’s the limit. Sky is the limit. It’s just find new ways how to get all these guys the ball and they all are playing at – and we were doing a pretty good job with that. I really do, I think the – and again, it’s based on scheme, what are they doing? OK, this personnel grouping and let’s attack that. But I think sky is the limit with those guys. It’s a really good combination of all five of those guys. So, it’s really fun to work with.”
On if there is anything particular that the Bears defense does that jumps out to him on tape that has allowed them to rack up all the takeaways they have: “Yeah, I think when you watch the offensive teams, some of those are bad decisions and some of those are bad technique and routes. Now, they have some corners that are long and lanky, and they can run a little bit. And so, they’ve got a little bit of length, so we have to be selective in everything. But with our guys, I really think our detail and our technique and our route-running is awesome. And I think when you don’t do that and you try to force a ball, that’s where all these picks are happening. And they get around the ball, listen, they do a great job of rallying to the ball. You saw it, the 49ers the first play of the game. They tried to throw a slant, the corner’s inside technique, ball tip, he’s right there. So, they seem to be – they’re always getting around the ball, that’s the biggest thing. And our guys do a great job of finishing towards the ball, and we do a great job of holding onto the ball. And (Lions QB) Jared (Goff)’s always made great decisions. And I think it’s a cool thing. It’s the same thing when we were going into the Rams. We were playing the Rams, they were one of the tops in the League and we did a good job there. But I think that’s the biggest thing that jumps out. I just think sometimes it’s a poor decision. Now, they make some great – there were a couple in there that were some great picks, and they do a good job of punching the ball and we’ve shown those guys all that. So, that’s the biggest thing that jumps off the tape.”
On how important he thinks it is for coordinators to talk to their general managers about what they need from a personnel standpoint to get to where they want to be: “Yeah, when you have those end of the season meetings, there’s a collaboration. And then, the GM and the head coach, ‘What do we need? What do we need to do?’ You get in the writing reports on your guys and you kind of figure out. OK, this is what we might need depth-wise, that’s what we’re looking for. They’ve done a great job here with all of that. The Draft, I mean they’re one of the best at drafting guys. And see what’s out there in free agency. But it’s all – we all talk about it and we come to a decision of what we want to do. That’s the cool thing about here. It’s a collaborative effort here. So, that’s usually how it goes.”
LIONS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR KELVIN SHEPPARD QUOTE SHEET
January 1, 2026
Opening Statement: “So, we’ll recap. I know it’s been a while since I’ve talked to you guys. We’ve gone through a couple games. And I would say in kind of a summarization of all of those, probably the most disappointing thing is the elephant in the room is we took an L in all of those games since the last time I saw you all which has unfortunately put us in the situation we’re in now where you’re out of contention for the postseason. But my message to the unit when I stood in front of them on Monday, ‘Now is not the time for anybody to feel sorry for themselves. Now is not the time to wonder what happened. We still have a game to play on Sunday and a game that means something to us. Every game in the NFL means something to us. So, we’ve been head on this week. I told them I did see progress from the previous two games coming off the Rams and Pittsburgh going into Minnesota. And I was proud of the way those guys went out, fought, clawed and tried to give our team the best chance to win the game. And unfortunately, we didn’t make enough plays on the defensive side to make that happen in the Minnesota game. But nobody’s making any excuses for anything that’s transpired. We put ourselves in this position and we’re also the only ones that can get ourselves out of it.”
On how the injuries at safety impacted the run defense and overall defense this season: “I’d say whenever you lose the caliber of players that we lost – not just at the safety spot, but any position – you’re talking about two All-Pro players. And we were able to have (Lions DB Brian Branch) BB I think it may have been through nine, 10 games or something like that. But obviously (Lions S) Kerby (Joseph) was only with us (for) I believe five games this year. And whenever you lose an All-Pro caliber player at any position, it affects you. But what I do want to do, I want to credit the guys that stepped in for those guys. I think we had about seven different safeties start and go out and compete for us this year. And some games, those guys stepped up and played at a high level. And other games, unfortunately we weren’t able to make plays at the point of attack and we gave up a few more explosive plays than we would like to. So, I’m not going to sit here and say that’s the reason why this, that or the fourth happened. But I will say whenever you lose All-Pro caliber players, it’s going to affect you in some capacity.”
On how the injuries at safety affected takeaways this season and if he feels that the team has done enough in that sense or if there is more progress to be made: “Yeah, well I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t looked at it holistically from a season perspective like in a self-scout manner. But just naturally, the feel of it and things like that, I do feel like it digressed a bit towards the back end as far as getting the ball out and taking the ball away. In the last month, you walk away from some of those games – I mean the Minnesota game we were minus-six. And some of those games – I don’t think we had a takeaway in the last couple of games to be honest with you. And that’s an emphasis – it’s a huge emphasis – in the game. Talk about complementary football, it’s something that we’ve struggled with this year as a team, not just as a defense. And we’re a big part of that. There’s been games where the opposing defense can’t stop our offense but we can’t get off the field, and then vice versa. Special teams falls in line there as well. And takeaways is a huge part when you talk about complementary football. That’s something I thought we started out trending at a high level towards the front part of the year and it digressed a bit. And we had peaks and valleys here and there, but that’s something you want to be on the upward trend once you hit December, January and we haven’t been able to do that. And I’m not going to pinpoint or make an excuse as far as personnel base and things like that. All these guys know the DNA and the nature of the system that we want to play here. And whoever’s the 11 up and out there for us that day, they’re expected to do the same thing that (Lions S) Kerby (Joseph) and (Lions DB Brian Branch) BB would do.”
On how much takeaways have to do with positioning: “Listen, I would be lying to you if I didn’t say the deep part of the field wasn’t affected with the loss of (Lions S) Kerby (Joseph). Like that would be a flat out lie. I think it’s obvious to anybody with two eyes that’s been around the sport and especially around the Detroit Lions defense the past three years, call it. Just watch what that player’s been able to do back there – can naturally see that. That’s kind of his superpower. I went back because you go through these scales and you’re like, ‘Why are we giving up these explosives?’ And you don’t want to pinpoint it on a player, but in previous years that’s been guys beating coverage and Kerby’s been kind of the angel in the outfield where we weren’t as exposed as we have been as of late. But again, not making any personnel excuses, anything like that. I believe we’ve put players in position and players have been at the point of contact. The ball just hasn’t necessarily bounced our way in some of those situations this year.”
On why he still believes that his defensive scheme gives the team the best chance to win and if there is room for drastic changes to the defense next year: “No, I don’t see drastic change. What I see and what I’ve learned in my first year on the job of calling defenses, it’s something that me and (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) talk about every day. You start off the year – I’d be lying to you guys. Listen, I started off the year, I wanted to have the top defense in this category, top this, top that, top that. And you get caught in these statistical things that mean nothing if you’re not winning football games. This League is about adaptability. And you can have a system all you want, but it’s whatever dictates that week is necessary to win the football game. And that’s predicated on a lot of different variables. You talk about the offense that you’re facing, you’re talking about the personnel that’s at your disposal that week. It’s a lot of different variables and my job has been – and I believe we have done as a defensive staff – week-to-week, what is it going to take to stop this offense? And more importantly, what is it going to take for us to play complementary football and win this football game. I believe we have a very versatile system here where we’re able to adapt and adjust on the run. And I believe that not only myself, but my staff and these players have done a good job. Listen, the ball hasn’t fallen our way. I understand where we’re at with eight losses and out of playoff contention. But I’m not going to sit up here and say, ‘There needs to be a drastic change and this didn’t work, that didn’t work.’ There were weeks we played at a high level with the exact same system and there were weeks that we didn’t. And after this game, we’ll go back and look at that in totality and find out the real whys behind that.”
On what the self-scout process looks like for him and what the plan is for his approach to evaluating himself and the defensive unit: “That’s a great question because I don’t think a lot of people – people throw the self-scout word out but what does that entail, so to say? So, when you go through the course of the season so to say, you have these categories and each position coach on your staff’s predicated for a certain category. For instance, you’ve got the run game, it’s (Lions Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line) Kacy Rodgers. You’ve got play-action pass, boom, that’s (Lions Linebackers Coach) Shaun Dion Hamilton. Well, in my learning progression as a position coach going through it, the best way I look at it is those kind of guys, that’s their superpower, that’s their baby, that’s their category. Well, you go into the offseason and first thing’s first, just like I’m going to be analyzing, critiquing and all of that and evaluate it, I have to evaluate my staff. And then us as a staff have to evaluate the players. Well, how do you do that? You pull these categories and you evaluate. The first thing I’m doing is pulling the explosives because that’s been unacceptable this year. We’re in the bottom tier of the League in that category and that is number one to playing at a high level on defense – and offense, is the explosive gains in the game and the ability to minimize them. So, that’s the number one. And then within that, what is the cause of it? And for me, I have different categories. Is it something schematically that took place where we’re getting attacked schematically? OK. Is it lack of understanding of the system? A player has repeatedly not been in position on certain plays. And then it’s the player. Is the player in position? Is he at the point of attack, and is he losing? And if that’s the case, how many times? And that’s the way I think you’re able to evaluate and assess your coaching ability, your scheme ability and the player evaluation at the same time. So, that’s kind of how I’m going in looking at it.”
On if playing more zone coverage the last couple of weeks has been more personnel-based, opponent-based or trying to figure something out: “Yeah, it’s a little bit of both, to be honest with you. Like I said, you go in the season, you go in the system with a ‘system.’ The good thing that I’ve been involved in here is a kind of evolving system. Started out first year in a true three-four, then we went to a hybrid kind of over front in 2022, then jumped back to kind of a blend of both worlds. So, I’ve been exposed and have a lot of knowledge in all types of systems and what we’ve created here collectively as a system where we’re able to adapt and adjust on the run, week-to-week. And I’ll say again, I believe we’ve done that. Now, some weeks, I’ll tell you, the stats and the scoreboard do not suggest that we did it at a high level and other weeks it does. So, that’s what I said. We have an important game Sunday against a playoff team and a game that means a lot to a lot of people here. So, we’re going to go out and then after that, we’ll sit back and assess all of this stuff.”
On if there were big lessons that he picked up this year or things that he did not know that clicked into place during the season: “Yeah, I mean the ebbs and flows of the League. I mean I knew that as a player, I’ve been in this thing. So, I’m calloused as far as one week you’re a guru, the next week you can’t coach a lick. That is what it is. It’s just like a player. One week, he’s an All-Pro player, the next week he missed two tackles, ‘That player shouldn’t be out there.’ That comes with the nature of our profession, you’re in the microscope all the time. That’s OK. The things that I truly learned, to be honest with you, is in the flow of a game, in having to adjust on the run. Like say you’re going to the game and, ‘This is what we’re doing.’ Well, you can’t be hard-headed. If you get in that game and that’s not working, then what? You get to have time and kind of things aren’t going the way you like, then what? And that’s kind of what I’ve learned and the ability to go articulate that to the players, so they understand me. Not that we’re changing, but why we’re changing and how we need them to change as the game progresses. Kind of in-game adjustments.”
On what he has learned from playing veteran quarterbacks the last few weeks in Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers and Rams QB Matthew Stafford and their ability to identify what the defense does and change their offense: “Yeah, I mean we’ve seen – I don’t think the quarterback, I think it’s so much more of the systems. Because I think now, a lot of quarterbacks – you even talk to the veteran guys, you talk to Matthew – it’s a system. Like it’s not about – you don’t get caught up in, ‘Now you have certain receivers and things like that week-to-week that can absolutely wreck the game.’ But you can’t go in a game or a week scared or, ‘Oh, this quarterback’s a veteran and he’s going to be able to see the defense.’ This is the National Football League. These offensive coordinators nowadays are scheming things up predicated on the system and they’re telling the quarterback where to go with the football. Now, the higher the level, the higher the caliber quarterback, obviously. That’s kind of a no-brainer statement that they’re going to be able to see it a little faster. But it’s just the adaptability within and understanding first and foremost, what do your guys do well and then going into the game and not getting caught up in, ‘Oh, I’m going to try to get so guru-y against this veteran quarterback,’ to where it’s a detriment to my players. I want to make sure – as long as my players are playing fast, in position, at the point of attack, that’s coaching to me. Not trying to be this mastermind, guru and trick everybody every play.”
On how he has seen Bears RB D’Andre Swift grow in the past couple of seasons and what challenge he poses this week: “Swift, I have the ultimate respect for that player. A player that’s trending up in – what is this, his sixth year in the League? I think sixth, seventh year in the League I believe this is for Swift. I see a player that’s determined to run hard. He’s running behind his pads right now. I think Swift’s got this ‘stigma’ of this shifty, elusive running back and people forgot how strong this player is. What I see is a two-headed monster over there, him and (Bears RB) Kyle (Monangai), the rookie that’s doing a phenomenal job out of Rutgers. Like these guys are running behind their pads, they have a very sound system where they’re going to try to attack you week-to-week. The run game changes week-to-week and you see it. It’s a very gameplan-specific, oriented offense in totality. That’s who (Bears Head Coach) Ben (Johnson) is as a play-caller. But I give credit to both of those backs. I mean my man (Bears Running Backs Coach Eric Bieniemy) EB over there, he’s done a damn good job with both of those guys and you can tell it’s an emphasis on the toughness of it. Forget the flash and all that, there’s a toughness nature of the way those two guys are running the ball right now.”
LIONS SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE FIPP QUOTE SHEET
January 1, 2026
On Lions WR Kalif Raymond breaking the franchise record for all-time punt return yards and what it means to see him achieve the milestone: “Yeah, it’s awesome. Five years together and he’s been incredible. I mean thank goodness we got him. I remember five years ago when I first got here and we didn’t have a returner and it was like, ‘Man, who’s it going to be?’ And the pro scouts came down to my office and said, ‘Hey, what do you think about this guy?’ I’m like, ‘Man, I’d take him in a heartbeat.’ So, it was great. I mean they did a great job of finding him. He’s obviously done an incredible job and a huge part of it’s the returner by himself. That being said, there’s obviously been a number of good players around him that have played hard and helped him out, so it’s good. You hate to see him break the record on a game we lose. You want it to happen on a game you win ultimately. So, that was too bad. But yeah, I’m happy for him. There couldn’t be a better person to get that done.”
On if Lions WR Kalif Raymond has earned the right to judge whether or not he should return punts inside the 10-yard line: “Yeah, I think that comes up – well, not really with me but probably more with the outside world, not that I read or pay attention to a lot of it. But yeah, I think people have sometimes an issue with the fact that he fields the ball and he gets tackled right away. I see it as if he gains four yards, that’s four more than we would’ve had if he fair caught it. I know that a lot of the analytical websites, they frown upon that. They take return yards as kind of a metric. I really don’t value return yards nearly as much as I value total yards. I value net and anyway you can reduce the net is good. So, anyway yeah. No, that being said, in the last game it was at the end of the half there and it was a position where we didn’t want to take a chance catching the ball, getting hit, contact, 26 seconds left in the second quarter I think it was. So, we actually brought him up and rushed him really to kind of eliminate that situation from being a possibility. But yeah, I would say for me generally speaking, I would always like a very, very aggressive returner. And I mean knock on wood, but obviously we’ve been great with the ball. He hasn’t turned the ball over since he’s been here, so.”
On the issue of getting a net negative when returning deep punts: “Yeah, I think we hit on that a couple of years back too. And it was like yeah, well you could always argue it. ‘Well, it would’ve been a touchback.’ Well, maybe it wouldn’t. Maybe they would’ve pinned us on the one if you let it bounce. The Vikings let the ball bounce on (Lions P Jack) Fox last week and it went out at the one. And everyone would say that should’ve been a touchback and instead of a 71-yard net, it would’ve been 51 and we would’ve given them 20 yards of field position – or they would’ve given us 20 yards of field position, but it didn’t happen that way. So, a 10-yard return in that picture would’ve been a 60-yard net or 10 yards better than 70. So, yeah, it’s how you look at it. You could always play that game. But yeah, I would prefer to put the ball in our hands and be aggressive than let’s see which way the ball bounces and maybe today it’ll bounce our way and tomorrow it won’t.”
On if teams play Lions LS Hogan Hatten different than others in the League: “I don’t – most long snappers get played fairly similarly. I mean most guys – you only have so many guys that you can hold up. If you want to double the gunner on the outside, you’re losing somebody from the inside. If you want to put all eight guys on the inside, you can hold all eight guys up on the inside, minus the punter and then the gunners are singled up. So, you’ve kind of got some decisions to make. Usually, the long snapper’s not the best cover guy. And Hogan’s very good at that. That being said, if I were playing us, I’d probably rather hold up (Lions LB Malcolm) Rodriguez than Hogan. So, ultimately you end up running out of guys to hold up guys if you always put the ball on one side of the field, you could say, ‘We’re not going to hold up the furthest guy away from where we’re trying to go with the ball and leave that guy unblocked or whatever.’ And maybe you find a way to pick up the long snapper. So, there’s different ways to do it, I think. But I would say, to your point – or to the question is he a good cover player, yeah. I would say at his position, very good, which is definitely an asset for him and for us.”
On what value Lions S Daniel Thomas has provided to the special teams unit: “Yeah, he came in midseason – or early in the season for us. He’s done a great job. I mean the one thing I would say about DT, I call him – is he makes plays. He makes plays on the football and he’s productive. He doesn’t always look like the fastest, most explosive, most elusive player on the field. But you look at the tackle sheet at the end of the game and it’s like he made a lot of plays for us. When the ball comes his way, he finds a way to get it down, which is really what the great players do in coverage. And so, I would say that’s probably his best skillset, which is a credit to him. And so, he’s definitely helped us out.”
On what he has seen from Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez’s return from injury: “Yeah, I think Malcolm’s working through it. I think a lot of those guys coming off an ACL, they say year two is really the year they really explode. I give him a lot of credit for obviously fighting to get back as fast as he has and go out there. He’s been a productive player for us, and I would assume that he only gets better and better – not that he’s lacking right now. I mean he’s been a great player for us at times, and I think he’s working his way back into shape and playing. But still an asset for us, for sure.”
On if anybody has exceeded his expectations on what they were able to give him on special teams this year based on his preseason evaluations: “I don’t know if anyone’s exceeded or whatnot. I think the goal of a coach – I think I’ve said this to you guys before – my goal really is that the players that you have are playing the best for you. And they’re playing the best that they’ve played in their career at their positions, whether that’s production. A kicker, you want that kicker to have his best years underneath you. You want that snapper to have his best years underneath you. And same thing with these cover guys, you want them to have the most tackles when they were playing for you or really their best years. And I would say, that’s really kind of always my focus and goal. And that’s different for each guy. Some guys come in here and were highly productive players and you’re trying to get them to be more productive. Some guys come in here, they’ve never played and you’re trying to get them to play for the first time and get them to be productive. And that really is the fun of coaching for me is the challenge of that. And I would say sometimes I’ve done a good job and sometimes a guy’s gone and played somewhere else and made more plays. And then it’s – you look at that and ask yourself why that happened, how could I do better or what would I have done differently and what did they do, what didn’t I see. And so, always being critical, I think, of yourself. One guy who I think is a very, very good player in this League on special teams – I mean he’s a dynamic player and he doesn’t get talked about a lot, some but not as much as some guys – (Lions RB Sione) Vaki has really had a great year for us. And I mean he’s just a unique athlete. Explosive, powerful, strong, he’s an offender technically. I know he played both in college but his ability to make tackles and play in coverage is exceptional for that position of running back. And so, he’s been a great player for us this season. I think he’s had a really good year.”
On what challenges he believes Lions K Jake Bates will face in the environment at Soldier Field this weekend: “Yeah, it’s a good environment. Obviously, I think over the years the field has gotten better. It’s got a reputation for it wasn’t very good or it was the grass was really long back when I first got in this business. And it’s totally different than that now. I would say the field is always in good shape every time I’ve been there since I’ve been here, for sure. And when I was in Philly, went out there a few times. So, I think that’s not really an issue. I think the weather’s supposed to be great for us. Like 30-something degrees and 10-15 wind, which in that stadium is very little for this time of year. So, it should be good. But I think for our guys, our guys are spoiled. I mean we play a lot of indoor games and it’s definitely different when you go outside. The last game we went outside for was in Philly and I didn’t think we played great in that from a specialist position. So, it gives us an opportunity to go out there and have a good game and put it all together and improve.”
On his perspective of Lions EDGE Ahmed Hassanein’s growth and the role that he can carve for himself in this League on special teams: “Yeah, I think it’s also a little bit difficult. You’ve got to see these guys play the game too. So, preseason games will be big for a guy like that, especially on special teams. But I can tell you a handful of things. Number one, you can tell the guy loves football. He goes hard all the time, he competes in practice and sometimes to the dismay of other players. But I really respect that. I mean he’s just trying to be good. I don’t think he’s played this game forever. He’s trying to improve, he works really hard at that. And he does have a skillset. I mean he’s got a motor. I think he had a ton of sacks in college, which usually high-motor players do. And he’s powerful and strong. And I would say for us, like (Lions EDGE Tyrus) Wheat. Wheat’s a defensive end who’s ended up carving out a position for us on special teams and playing well for us. So, there’s kind of a model in front of him that he can look at and follow. And I think there’s – especially with the new kickoff – on kickoff return there’s a place for guys like that and that skillset.”
On if he thinks there is anything that needs to be tweaked this offseason with the kickoff rules: “Yeah, I mean I would just say I really like the play. It’s given me headaches at times, for sure, but no, I think it’s been great. I mean the plays in the game, it plays out all the time. As a coach, you have to obviously prepare a lot for it. We’ve got to spend a lot of time for it. I mean there are more kickoffs and kickoff returns than there are punt and punt returns now. I think it’s like 30 percent to 20 percent, roughly. So, 60 percent of the game is kickoff, kickoff return and the other 40 – not counting field goal and all that – would be punt, punt return. So, that’s good. Obviously the number of returns is way up, which is huge. In terms of the play and going forward and all that, I’m not taking myself out of it, but I’ve never really been a big, ‘I think we should do this. I think we should do that.’ I’m more of, ‘Tell me the rules of the game and we’ll figure out a way to play them to the best of our ability and have success.’”
