LIONS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOHN MORTON QUOTE SHEET
September 11, 2025
Opening Statement: “Start off, the last game, the best thing about that is it’s the first game of the season, nobody’s in panic mode. The players have been awesome, great attitudes, we had great preparation – just like we did last week. The bottom line is, this is about execution and the details of everything and then taking a little bit less so guys are playing a little bit faster so everybody knows exactly what to do. But I’m encouraged, there were some encouraging things in the game, obviously, and then we move on. That’s what we’ve done, great attitude by the guys, ‘How do we fix this?’ Because that’s – we’re in the fix-it business as coaches. So, (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell)’s been awesome, players have been awesome, we had a good practice yesterday and we’re moving on to Chicago.”
On the roots of the communication problems between the offensive line: “Yeah, I’m not going to go into all of that. But, it’s being addressed, it’s being fixed. Again, taking some of these plays out where there’s not a lot of communication, going on the road we know we didn’t do a lot of shifting and things like that, so it’s going to be fixed.”
On how much of the miscommunication was due to youth: “No, no, no it wasn’t youth because there were some veteran guys that weren’t making the right calls and everything. It’s addressed, it’s going to be fixed.”
On if there is anything else which can be done to help attention to detail other than simplifying things: “Listen, and when I say that, it wasn’t every play. Look, we’re running plays that these guys have done. Now, there’s some new guys in there, but the bottom line is you’ve got to go execute and we didn’t do that every single play. We just didn’t. And we got behind the eight ball sometimes and then you adjust, just like we did in the second half. We came out, we started throwing a little bit and opening it up, and we start moving the ball. We’ve got to do a better job, obviously, on third down down there because we were manageable on third down. And did a good job on fourth down, but we’ve got to go down there and do a better job in the red zone. That’s part of my job, so that’s been addressed.”
On where his confidence level is rooted in changing the mistakes: “Yeah, because we’re doing plays that they’ve done. Now, there’s some young guys, right. So we’ve just got to make sure we give them the right looks, all the different type of right looks, and to make sure they know exactly what they’re doing. And that’s what we’ve done – we did an excerpt period in the runs this week and I think it’s going to help. So, I think that’s what you’ve got to do. It’s an easy fix, it’s an easy fix. Again, we’re not in panic mode. But, 2.1, that isn’t going to cut it. That isn’t going to cut it, that should never happen, against that defense too, especially with the lead.”
On what stood out to him about Chicago’s tape: “Well, I know (Bears Defensive Coordinator) Dennis Allen, I’ve worked with him before a few times. So, nothing I haven’t seen. Now, they had some injuries, they had some key guys that were out, so they’ll be different. Listen, we’re preparing for everything. I know the way he is, (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) knows the way he is – Dan obviously worked with him. They’ve got some good players, they’re a good defense and Dennis Allen does a great job. He does an awesome job. He gets after it blitz package-wise, especially on third down. They’re all disciplined – I know that – they hustle. So the bottom line is just for us, we’ve just got to go execute. That’s all I’m worried about is our guys right now – and we put the emphasis on it the last few days and it’ll continue all the way. And then if they don’t like something, we take it out, it’s easy.”
On where he saw issues come up in the red zone against the Packers: “In the Packers? Can we move on from that game, yeah let’s move on.”
On his confidence level in Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa: “I think his catching ability is big time, I’ve said that before, but he’s smart and he’s tough. He didn’t have a lot of plays in the game but he came in, that was an unbelievable catch. So, his role will be expanded. He will help us.”
On if he feels good about where Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa is at in understanding the offensive system: “Yeah, I do. Yeah, I do because he’s here the whole week. He was listening in last week, he only had one day. He’s going to be ready to go.”
On his biggest encouragement about what the offense has done: “Well I thought (Lions QB) Jared (Goff) played pretty well. Going into that game – and I told the offense this – you’re going to be, it’s a patience game against that type of defense. Now I’ve told you guys that before. I mean, the stat sheet should say almost 80 percent, which he was, and seven, eight players catching balls. It was a dink and dunk type of game. It’s hard to get explosive plays on that type of defense, so if the run game isn’t going then it’s going to be one of those. But we got like four explosive plays because we started seeing a little bit different looks, so we have to take what the defense gives us just like any other game. But that, I thought that was encouraging the way we caught the ball and got up field, I like that. (Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs) Gibby was involved. There was a lot of checkdowns, just like I said, that’s just the way that game goes. But, I was encouraged by that – I mean, his focus, everybody’s focus, especially the veteran guys, it was awesome. No panic mode and that’s what I love. We competed all the way to the end, even though we weren’t in it, but they competed all the way to the end and we went down and scored. That’s encouraging, that’s what a good team should do.”
On his comfort level in Lions OL Giovanni Manu if Lions T Taylor Decker does not play on Sunday and his growth during training camp: “Yeah, I mean the good thing is when Decker was out there, (Lions OL Giovanni Manu) he got a lot of reps, so that’s beneficial for him. So, there’s things we know that we’ll have to do to help, but listen, he did a really good job and we’ll be aware of that if that happens. But we’re totally expecting Decker to play.”
On if Lions OL Giovanni Manu would be the backup for Lions T Taylor Decker: “I’m not – I would think so. You’d have to ask (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) that.”
On the message to a player like Lions OL Tate Ratledge who wants to play well but did not against Green Bay: “Yeah, you just take it game by game. You learn from what you did in the game and then you just move on. OK, so it’s correctable and you just stay on top of it. The more he plays, the better he’s going to get. You’ve really got two rookie guards and I’m not worried about him because I liked what I saw in training camp. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem with him.”
On if he has seen Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown take Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa under his wing: “I think St. Brown’s unbelievable. He’s taken – he’s the captain, he makes this thing go with (Lions QB) Jared (Goff). Those guys are just awesome – and (Lions T) Penei (Sewell). Those three guys, their attitude just uplifts everybody and every day they bring it and it’s just so awesome to see those guys. I’ve mentioned it to you before, it’s like (former 49ers WR) Anquan Boldin, it’s the same type of guy. ‘What do we have to do? How do we do this?’ And he’s helping everybody, Saint’s grown over the last few years since the last time I was here. He’s a captain and he should help everybody, and it’s all about what do we have to do to win. That’s what I’m, that’s what we’re all about. Whatever it takes, no egos here ever and whatever it takes, let’s do it.”
On how confident he is that the offense could execute his gameplan if faced with a defensive scheme similar to Green Bay: “Yeah, I mean, I’m very confident. We went against our defense, it’s the same defense that we’re going against in Chicago. It’s the same type of defense. Because we have great players, we have great players, so that’s why I’m confident.”
LIONS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR KELVIN SHEPPARD QUOTE SHEET
September 11, 2025
Opening Statement: “Just wanted to open up with starting with obviously addressing Week 1 against Green Bay. Obviously we left Lambeau with a loss, on the wrong side of the day there. But I really want to dive into the game real briefly and just put everything out there as far as how I saw it. So coming off the field, you guys know, ultra-competitive nature of the game. My temperament in things, I was pissed. And I’m ready to scowl at everybody, but then you sit back and look at it and after the second time and after the third time, you go, ‘There’s a lot of good football on this tape.’ We played 47 snaps defensively and they had 188 passing yards, 78 rushing. So if you look at an NFL game and you tell me the Green Bay Packers are going to have 188 passing yards and 78 rushing, did you play a winning brand of football? I would tell you yes, but then you have to look deeper into that. So what happened? Why did we give up 27 points? And it’s a lot of things that go into that, lot of different variables that go into that, but let’s start with the pass game, 188 yards. Well, I believe it was play 18, 19 of the game, we had back-to-back plays where we allowed a 48-yard explosive pass and a 17-yard explosive touchdown pass. We went into the game saying, ‘You’ve got to make these guys beat us.’ You cannot give them things because that’s when they thrive. You have to make them beat us and we did not do that on back-to-back plays. Inexcusable and that’s been addressed. So you take, what is that, 48-17 – I’m not a math major but I believe that’s 65 yards. You take that off of 180, you’re looking at 120 yards passing on the day. Let’s go into the run game. We held them to 3.1 rushing, that’s a good day in the NFL against a back like that. It’s a good day. But we should’ve been dominating the run game, we should’ve been at 2.2. Why do I say that? Because one of those was a 15-yard explosive run that should’ve never happened. That’s been addressed as well. So when you’re going today, it’s a lot of good to take for it. So 47 plays, I just gave you three. Well you’re 2.2 in the run game and 120 yards passing, that’s who we are and that’s who I expect us to be and that’s who we will be. And it’s non-negotiable. And all of this stuff has been addressed with the people it needs to be addressed with, and more importantly the players are holding each other accountable. And in the NFL, that’s why each practice, each rep you get, each opportunity you get on that grass is so critical and important because you never know which one is going to be the one. You never know. You can’t leave the game plan this game up. We play a good defense on 40 snaps, but seven snaps – we’re not doing that this year. You’re going to pull your weight, I’m going to pull my weight, the staff’s going to pull their weight. And we’re moving on to Chicago and I’m looking for us to play up to the standard that we’re capable of playing up to.”
On his thoughts of the team’s pass rush in Week 1: “They were nudging, chipping all day and getting the ball out. They weren’t going to allow it. Go back with your stopwatch and turn on the pass plays, they weren’t going to allow it. But more importantly I thought – I want to give credit to our guys of not letting this guy out of the pocket. That’s things that we’ve struggled with in years past. (Packers QB) Jordan Love has burned us in years past with his legs. He had one run, I think, for four yards. So, I want to look at the positives in that. Yeah, we could’ve done things and things like that, but we had a specific gameplan and for the most part, the guys went out and executed the gameplan. And I just gave you the stats. That should’ve been a dominant outing on Sunday, and it will be moving forward.”
On Lions S Kerby Joseph in the two-play scoring drives: “Kerby did exactly what he was supposed to do. Kerby did exactly what he was supposed to do with the structure of the defense.”
On how Lions CB Terrion Arnold can defend the pick play from the Green Bay game better: “By learning by previous mistakes. You guys have been around here, we got the exact same play at San Francisco last year. Turn it on to (49ers WR Ricky) Pearsall, learn from your mistakes, you’re a professional.”
On his assessment of Lions LB Alex Anzalone, Lions LB Jack Campbell and Lions LB Derrick Barnes when the decision was made to bring blitzes and pressures from that room: “You just gave us the stats. What were those outstanding stats? We got what, two pressures? Got to be better. Got to be better. You get your number called, you’ve got to be better, point-blank period. That’s also been addressed.”
On how much Lions CB Terrion Arnold’s injury played into his mistakes at Green Bay: “If you’re injured, come out of the game. If you’re injured, come out of the game. We’re not making any excuses, no, no, no. We’re not making any excuses. Just like if I have a play call that I shouldn’t have called, that’s on me. A player has a job to do, that’s on them. We all earn our paycheck. There won’t be any free rides this year. We all come to the stadium with a job to do, do your job, point-blank period.”
On how much more of an emphasis pocket mobility is for game planning against Bears QB Caleb Williams in Week 2: “It’s a heightened emphasis if you watched the Monday night game, not compared to Week 1 or anything – (Packers QB) Jordan Love has scramble ability. But if you watch Week 1 and you not only learn from your mistakes but you learn from others, those are the really smart people to me. People that learn from others’ mistakes. To me, I hope it’s easy to learn from your own mistake, shame on you. But when you start to really heighten your awareness in this League, in this sport is when you turn on the film and see the previous opponent make a certain mistake and you’re able to learn from that and make sure it doesn’t happen to you. So, Caleb was outstanding, he extended a lot of drives, he put points on the board, he gave his team an opportunity to win last year via his ability to escape the pocket and run. We’re very aware of that and we’ll have a plan for it.”
On what Bears OC Ben Johnson’s greatest strength is as a play-caller: “Everything. Next question.”
On what the player accountability has looked like: “Any accountability player-to-player, coach-to-player, will stay between us. No disrespect or anything like that but I keep that stuff close to the vest because of the level of trust that we’ve built and the way we’re able to look each other in the eye on Monday and shoot it straight. So I will never disclose those conversations. But, you guys see the game and we see the tape, I think it’s clear as day. And then I have to do things to help these guys more too. Everybody knows we’re a man team, so how can I help these guys in those man situations, in those man windows where we’ve shown we’re going to play man.”
On how much he is looking forward to the chess match of playing against Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson: “I’m looking forward to seeing our players respond off of a loss. I could care less who’s calling the plays, who’s over there, what’s the scenario, what the media wants to make this out to be. We are coming off a loss ladies and gentlemen. I’m looking forward to seeing not only our players, but our coaches, respond coming off of a loss.”
On if there is anything that can be done to free Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson from double teams more: “If (Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch is occupying two or three people, there’s 11 other guys on the – there’s 10 other guys on the field. I’m not going to sit here and give you guys my gameplan. But, Hutch is the caliber player that he is and everybody in the League knows it. Turn on San Fran tape and tell me who’s one-on-one blocking (49ers DL) Nick Bosa. Turn on Green Bay tape when you get an eight-game sample size, who’s one-on-one blocking (Packers DL) Micah Parsons? When you’re the elite of the elite, people are going to plan for you and that’s why he’s the caliber player that he is. We will counter that and Hutch will counter that. He’s an ultra-aware player, he knows how to manipulate things and move himself around – we’re working off a one-game sample size people, in 47 plays at that. That’s not a huge sample size at all. There will be things that change, but I’m not going to overreact, ‘Oh the pressures.’ Like I said, 47 snaps, take away those three plays, and you guys tell me would y’all have liked that as Lions fans as a defensive performance. But you cannot play that game, you cannot take plays out. That’s why each play is that important and that critical that we detail and do your job each and every play.”
On what he thought of Lions EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad’s game performance and if he earned himself more of a role: “It’s what I saw the last six weeks. It’s the reason he’s here. He earned himself a role in that game, but 47 plays, 47 plays defensively. He did have a bigger role in the game. If we would’ve played the norm, the norm is somewhere around 60, 65 snaps, he would’ve played 15, 20. But the way the game unfolded, it was what it was. We had those guys behind the sticks all day. The opening drive, it’s the emphasis, starting the game fast. Going into half and coming out the half, the momentum swings the football. We have to be great in those situations, point-blank period. Second-and-long, third-and-long, second-and-long, third-and-long. That’s where we want to live and that’s where we kept them. We have to thrive in those situations.”
On how similar Chicago’s offense is to what Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson ran with the Lions’ offense last year: “I told the guys, this is going to be training camp practice guys. It’s training camp. (Bears Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen) DA – I know DA, known him a while, kind of (Jets Head Coach Aaron Glenn) AG came from that system. So it’s all the same, not only offensively but defensively. You turn your tape on and look at it deeply. It’s a lot of the same. I told the guys, this is training camp, don’t go chasing ghosts, don’t go worrying about if he brings ineligible and he’s at receiver. Listen, we all understand and respect Ben Johnson as a person, more importantly, but also as a play-caller. It’s why he got afforded the opportunity he’s in and we all understand this. But I clearly want to make this about the players. They’re the ones going to play – Ben will tell you the same thing. They’re the ones going to play and executing all these things we’re drawing up, so I want to keep this about them and they just need to understand you’ve got a one-game sample size of Ben as a new play-caller. Is that enough to, ‘Oh, they’re going to do this, they’re going to do that.’ No, it’s not, so go in – we’re going in with a tight-wound plan where these guys understand we have adjustments, we have certain things we’re going to do and it’s about us and understanding that stuff. And making sure as long as we go out and execute, not say, ‘Well if you take out that play, you take out that play, we would’ve played dominant.’ No, let’s put in all the plays and play a dominant brand of football like I believe we’re capable of doing as a defense.”
On the talent of the Bears offense: “Highly talented offense. Highly talented, all over the place. My guy (Bears RB D’Andre) Swift, that’s my guy, make no mistakes about it. For 60 minutes Sunday he won’t be, but that is my guy. I have the utmost respect for these players – (Bears WR) DJ Moore, (WR Rome) Odunze, (Bears TE) Cole Kmet. I mean, these are real guys in this League, across the board. He’s implemented things on the O-line to help them and that showed up. So we know the task at hand, we’re going to have a tight-wound plan and we’re going to play Detroit-brand 2025 defensive football, guys.”
LIONS SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE FIPP QUOTE SHEET
September 11, 2025
On if anything about how teams in the League were handling kickoffs surprised him: “Yeah, I think it’s kind of what we all knew. Teams are going to force teams to return the ball as much as they possibly can. I don’t think you want to kick it to them at the 15-yard line, so you’re seeing them kick it back there and flirt with the goal line, so you see a handful of touchbacks but certainly not many. But yes, I think it’s pretty much what we expected. I think it is exciting. I love the fact that the play is playing out, it gives us a lot more involvement in the game which is great.”
On if he wants players to let the ball go if it is kicked into the end zone and if the ball being kicked right near the end zone puts players in a tough position: “Yeah, it is definitely a good question because there’s definitely a decision-making component to that. And there’s a fine line as a coach, you want your players to play smart and make good decisions. Obviously if the average drive starts at 29.5-yard line at the end of the play when it’s returned, then the 35’s way better than that so we’d like to take the touchback if the ball is in there. But, you also don’t want your guys looking down at the line and all that, so it takes a player who’s certainly aware. Our first kick return of the game against Green Bay was a little bit like that where you’re like a yard deep and it’s one of those ones that you don’t want to have hesitation in your players, so you tell them, ‘Hey, if you’re unsure, you’ve got to go.’ But, if you clearly know you’re back in the end zone, then obviously I think everybody in the League’s saying take the touchback unless it’s a situation in the game like Minnesota-Bears last week where obviously you’re doing it for clock purposes or what not.”
On what stood out to him as a positive and a negative after watching the team’s tape: “Yeah, I would say overall disappointed really. There’s no way around that. Collectively as a team, as a group, individually, my performance, our players, definitely wasn’t what we wanted or expected going into the game. I think there’s a lot of things that we could all have done better, starting with myself. Positives, we had a nice coverage on the kickoff, (Lions WR Kalif Raymond) Leaf had a decent return on one of them. Although their net was still good, their punter did a good job. Negatives, we didn’t punt the ball well at all and we didn’t cover well, but it really starts with the punt and it’s hard to cover bad punts. We didn’t punt the ball very well, so then it made it difficult to cover. And then what I always tell players is, or teams, I say, ‘The great teams take care of each other. When the offense isn’t playing great, the defense steps up. When defense is not playing great, maybe the special teams steps up and the offense helps out.’ On any given play, what happens – to me – is the punter doesn’t play great, but the coverage makes up for it or the coverage isn’t doing great and the punter ends up helping those guys out. I think great teams take care of each other and great players take care of each other. Coaches take care of the players, players take care of the coaches – or players make coaches look good, coaches help players look good. It all goes back and forth and I think that’s probably the critical thing with where we’re at now is just looking at ourselves and saying, ‘Hey, alright what can I do better?’ instead of saying, ‘Well, I got put in this spot.’ I mean we all got that and everybody could say that and we’d just go around the room and we’d end up saying, well it’s somebody else’s problem. And unfortunately the truth is, that’s a little bit of our society today. Nobody likes to take accountability and blame. The truth is, the only way to move forward is to say, ‘Hey man, I could do much better than that. I know I’m better than that and I’m going to be a part of the solution and help fix the problem.’ And as soon as you get a group of guys that say that, you’ve got a chance to really move forward and grow. And then not to make a long answer longer, but I think that really to me is the key in this League. I think the great teams get better and better and better and better throughout the course of the year and they play their best football down the stretch. And these seasons are long and there’s a huge developmental process that goes on during the season. And so I think that’s kind of where we’re at now.”
On if the team took accountability this week: “Oh yeah, no question. I mean like I said, starting with me. Obviously I didn’t do good enough. I always say to the players, anytime the film doesn’t look like you want it to look, I think if you’re worth a lick as a coach, then you’re saying, ‘Hey man, how can I fix it and help that? That is solely on me.’ And now, at the same token, if you’re the player you need to sit there and look at the film and say, ‘Man, that’s on me because I knew where I was supposed to be or how I was supposed to do it, and their guy ended up keeping me from getting that done. I need to be better than him.’ And I say this League comes down to two things. It comes down to if you’ve got a double team, you’ve got to dominate it, you’ve got a single, you’ve got to win the one-on-ones in this League, in this business. And if you think, ‘Well I’m blocked. You’re asking me to be blocked and also make a tackle?’ Yeah, you’ve got to get off a block and make a play and that’s the National Football League.”
On if he needs to be better at play-calling in the game or preparing for the game: “I would say all of the above. There’s so many ways that you could be better as a coach whether it be how you word something in a meeting that could have a direct influence on what the guy envisions or pictures in his head, or the clips that you use to demonstrate an example of what you’re talking about or something you’re trying to accomplish or achieve, what image that portrays to that guy. Maybe it portrays one image to one guy and a different one to another and so you’ve got two guys that are on slightly different pages, whether that be the drills in practice that we do and does the drill really show up in the game, is it good enough job of simulating it. Or did it teach a bad habit or something like that. It’s just endless. That’s the great part of really this game, I mean that’s the thing that keeps you going as a coach. It really makes it fun. Like if it were easy, it wouldn’t be any fun. But the fact is, this is just the greatest challenge ever and it truly gives me energy and why I love coming to work because I like trying to fix problems and solve things and figure things out and see if we can get answers and make a group better and then better and better. So really, ultimately, right now, this is incredible.”
On the margin of error for kicking a ball out of the end zone: “It’s hard to kick the ball out of the back of the end zone, I’ll just say that, period. A year ago, you saw a lot of guys kick touchbacks and a lot of those didn’t go out of the back of the end zone. And then obviously, depends on who your kicker is. Like ours probably has a better chance than some to do that. But, ultimately, I think probably what happened is the situation got on him, they thought to do the best thing that they could in the moment, didn’t work out and that’s also what makes this game great. You’ve got a lot of after the fact, ‘Oh should’ve done, should’ve done, should’ve done.’ The challenges when you’re in those moments, it’s hard to think of everything.”
On what he likes about Lions RB Sione Vaki as a returner and what he brings to the special teams unit: “Yeah, Vaki, I mean he’s just a tremendous talent. He’s super quick, he’s explosive, he’s powerful, he’s really like a lot of those safety, running back body types. That’s what you want. You want a guy who’s 200-plus pounds, who’s very strong, very quick, very physical, athletic so he can change direction. So he ends up being a very positive player both in coverage and return game. So they have a versatile skillset, so that’s him. Obviously him returning the ball, he’s got the running back background. And for him, he’s unique because he’s also got that defensive background, so it helps him in coverage. He played great for us a year ago, so yeah we’re obviously excited to get him back as soon as we can.”
On what Lions P Jack Fox’s reaction was to a game where things did not go as planned: “Yeah, I think – he’s done that sporadically throughout my time here to be honest with you. I think he’s had some games that are not as good as others, for sure. And the one great thing about him is he just can’t wait to get to the first practice – those two days off after the game probably drive him nuts. But, he’s a very competitive guy, obviously he’s a great player and that happens to a lot of these guys. They have ups and downs. Sometimes when you punt the ball – I say sometimes, ‘You either want to be really bad or you want to be really good.’ And what I mean by that is obviously we’d take really good, but really bad would be like it was so bad it went 30 yards, bounced on the ground and rolled for another 20, and nobody in the fans really knew or said much about it because the end result ended up being good. And that happens a lot in this League, more often than people realize. We were just in between bad, so it was like 45 yards down the field with four seconds of hang time right to the returner. That’s like the worst possible thing you could have. So anyway, we kind of had one of those days and we’ve got to be better, but I’ve got no worries about him bouncing back.”
On if he feels like the coaches deserve the benefit of the doubt to get things back in order after the poor performance in Week 1: “The very best thing about this whole business is it’s like totally opposite of what you think happens in life. You work your tail off, you start moving up the ladder, you get better and better at your job, your profession, things get easier, you’re a teacher and you develop your lesson plan and then you’re like, ‘Man, that’s it. I’ve got it, it’s locked in place.’ And so, as you get older, your job gets easier and the better you get at it, really the easier things get. In this business, in this League, it’s the total opposite. Everything just gets harder. The better you play, the harder it gets. The more creative you are, the harder it gets. What happens to us is people around the League, their general managers are talking to their head coach, ‘Why don’t you guys do this more? Why don’t you do that more? These guys got players that are tough and gritty.’ And other players are hearing that, ‘The Detroit Lions. The Detroit-.’ Everyone gets sick of that and it builds up energy, motivation, so you just put a bigger and bigger target on your back and your job gets harder and harder. And the expectations go up, and it’s just tougher to match them. And then they take the draft order and they put you last, and so that gets harder and everything does it. It’s what makes this game great. When you’re playing well and you’re a good football team, it’s just going to get harder and what you’ve done in the past means absolutely nothing, other than the fact that it just made today harder than yesterday.”
On what the teaching point is when a player jumps offsides like Lions RB Craig Reynolds did in Week 1: “Yeah, I guess there’s a combination of being too late and then technically he’s too far off the ball. I think the best way, or easiest way, to look at it would be like, if you were the quarterback in shotgun and the guy moved in front of you, you face the quarterback, you can’t move when he moves and so the depth of our O-linemen put him in a position where he’s not able to move. Like had he been a wing – like a tight end or a wing on an offensive play and he’s a yard off the ball and the guy across from him moved, it would be legal form to do that. So, unfortunately, it was just a weird circumstance and we got hit with it. He was trying to do what really in a lot of ways we teach, just from a position that is not able to respond that way and that’s on me.”
