| LIONS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BEN JOHNSON QUOTE SHEET December 21, 2023 On the challenge of facing Minnesota’s unique defensive scheme: “Yeah, it’s the two extremes. In certain situations, offensively, we always talk about, ‘Hey, they’re either max-coverage or max-pressure,’ as a general philosophy. A lot of teams do that down in the red zone, but (Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian) Flores has kind of taken that to a new extreme. At any time, at any moment. It’s been fun this week trying to dissect their defense. They do a lot and it’s hard, but our staff’s done a nice job trying to narrow down some things that we can key in on potentially, but he’s got a new wrinkle each and every week that we’ll have to be able to adjust to. Our guys are – they understand the challenges that present themselves. I mean the safeties they disguise. (Vikings S Harrison Smith) 22’s as good as there is in the business and he has been for a long time in this division. But really, he’s got that whole crew beyond the scheme, to me, the fundamentals are what show up. The front seven, they shed blocks really well. You can tell they stress turnovers. They have so many fumbles already this season and then they tackle really well also. And then the other thing they do is they play very disciplined football. So, when you combine that with the scheme, the fact that their players are playing at such a high level, that’s what makes them so dangerous.” On if Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores can use any of Lions QB Jared Goff’s history to scheme against him: “I’m sure he knows how Jared – some of his style, I think Jared has evolved over the years, so we aren’t running he L.A. offense per se. We’ve got some elements of it, but Jared has grown as a quarterback as well, so if there’s anything that he’s going to draw from in his past, he also has to keep in mind the recent tape of Jared where he’s a little bit different player than he was a few years ago. And same thing with him, and his Miami stuff that he put on tape there. They’ve got some carryover things, but not all of it, so it’ll be a good battle here this week.” On how he plans to fight through battling a cold in-season to make sure he is still on top of his job: “I had a coach in college that used to say, ‘You never really understand how much the human body can withstand.’ Everyone always underestimates it, and I heard him. And it fell on deaf ears at the time when I was in college, but then I had kids and it started to resonate a little bit more that, ‘Yeah, OK, you’re tired or you’re not feeling good. Well, they still need you. They still need you. So, you get up and you do your job. And I think for coaches when we’re not feeling 100 percent and certainly with our players, none of them are 100 percent right now, we have an obligation to the people next to us to come through in a big way. So, I think our guys take a lot of pride in that and that’s no different here this week.” On Lions C Frank Ragnow playing after a week after a meniscus operation: “Yeah, I mean Frank’s a stud, man. He’s incredible. The numbers speak for itself when he’s out on the field, we’re a better offense and we can’t look past that. Certainly, don’t take it for granted.” On how he has seen Lions T Penei Sewell grow after challenging him to hone in on his technique and football IQ in the offseason: “Well, he was a heck of a player the first two years, but I think he’s taken some coaching points and they were minutiae for him because he was already one of the top tackles in the League in my opinion after year two and he’s really taken it to another level, particularly in the run game, there was some techniques that we asked him to try that he hadn’t tried. We always compare him with (49ers T) Trent Williams out there in San Fran. That guy’s on another level and we think Penei can be that same type of player, but I think the one area that he’s done just a solid job for us is in pass-pro. It’s hard to see him give up a pressure on the quarterback right now. He does a really nice job there, so in both areas he’s done a good job and his hands have gotten better too. We just haven’t highlighted that yet on the field, so you never know.” On the matchup between Lions T Penei Sewell and Vikings OLB Danielle Hunter: “Yeah, I mean Danielle is – I forget what the sack numbers are but he clearly can pressure the quarterback. And so, we need to know where he’s at. They do such a good job schematically, not – it might not be so much getting a free hitter, but they generate one-on-ones all the time. And over the course of the game, someone on their side of the ball wins their one-on-one and that’s why teams get off schedule and there’s all these third-and-longs. Hunter’s a huge part of that, huge, huge part of that. And that’s where our tackles, and really the entire offensive line, is going to have to play really well, consistent ball throughout the game here.” On what Minnesota has done well to limit the number of explosive runs allowed: “Yeah, when you look at them, they tend to play a little bit lighter than what your personnel group is. So, say we have two tight ends out there, they haven’t been much base defense so far this year, and so it gives that elusion that, ‘Oh, we should be able to run the ball,’ but boy, do they rally. Like I said, upfront, those guys, they shed blocks. I mean I see (Vikings DL Jonathan Bullard) 90 popping off the tape. I see (Vikings DL Harrison Phillips) 97 popping off the tape. Even if you get a good fit on him, it’s hard to sustain that block and it shows up time and time again. And then this undrafted rookie, (Vikings LB Ivan Pace Jr.) number 40, he’s the real deal now. He is slippery, he’ll take on blocks, but at the same time, he’ll get right on by in a hurry. So, I think the combination of their big guys along with number 40 and then the aggressive safeties, I think the combination of all that has made it really hard for teams to run the ball.” On what he has seen from Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs in the past few weeks: “I mean he’s been electric really since he stepped on the field for us. I don’t know if I’ve necessarily seen anything out of the ordinary. I know he had the one 30-yard run last week, but I don’t think any of us were surprised by it. So, he’s been consistent. It’s the details for him, the landmarks in the running game, understanding in pass-pro who he’s responsible for. For not being a really big guy, he is more than willing and he continues to get better in that area. That’s probably the one department that we continue to see going up and up, but the run game has been pretty solid all year long.” On Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs being more involved in the run game than the pass game: “Remains to be seen. It’s week-to-week there.” On how easy it is for him to block out outside noise about potential head coaching opportunities: “Did you guys ask (Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn) AG about this? Because he’s a guy that we should be asking about head coaching. That guy, what he’s done, he’s phenomenal. He’s going to be a phenomenal head football coach when he gets the opportunity to do that. And I think when you bring those types of questions up, you need to make sure you’re asking them to him as well. But the focus right now is on the Minnesota Vikings. That’s all we care about and like I said before, we are obligated to each other to keep our focus on the main thing.” On what Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn is doing that makes him believe he would be a good head coach: “The way his players respect him. He is very demanding, yet he has a gentle touch when it comes to being able to relate and get them to do – bring out the best in them. So, I know when he gets his opportunity, he’s going to take it and run with it.” On how much Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn has molded his approach to coaching: “You take something from everybody you’re around. Everybody. So, I’m learning from (Lions Head) Coach (Dan) Campbell every day, I’m learning from (Lions Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach) Scottie Montgomery every day, (Lions Offensive Line Coach) Hank Fraley, (Lions Special Teams Coordinator) Dave Fipp, across the board. So, I think you really try to pick out great things from each guy you’re around and own them yourself.” On how special it would be to win the NFC North: “Yeah, I probably haven’t had time to reflect on that one yet to be honest with you. One of our goals this season was to win the division and we, with three games left, are in position to do that. So, just trying to keep the main thing the main thing right now and then we can always reflect when the season does end. But for right now, we’re right where we need to be, our players are right where they need to be and really looking forward to the opportunity here this week.” On what the best part of working with Lions QB Jared Goff for another season has been: “Our relationship just continues to flourish. He does such a great job. He challenges me, I challenge him every day. I’d like to think he’s continuing to get better as a player, but I really think we are so much more aligned than how we see football right now. It helps him play faster on the field. He knows the intent of everything that we’re trying to get done. So, he’s a huge reason for what we can do. And we joke about it, people don’t give him credit – you can look at the stats and you can look at the passing numbers, the things that he handles with the pre-snap operation is really second-to-none. There aren’t many quarterbacks in this League doing what he does. He’s such a smart player and that tends to get overlooked sometimes, but no, I’m extremely grateful for all the time I’ve been able to have with Jared.” LIONS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AARON GLENN QUOTE SHEET December 21, 2023 On what he learned from the two matchups against Vikings WR Justin Jefferson last year that he can apply to his gameplan this year: “The first thing, that guy’s a really good player. And our first game, our guys made the plays. The second game, he made the plays. It’s as simple as that. We double him just like we did both games and I think (Falcons CB) Jeff (Okudah) did a really good job of being physical with him at the beginning of every play and Jeff did a really good job of actually denying the ball, along with our safety. And then when you come to the second game, he made some unbelievable catches with two guys on him. And that just – when you’re one of the top three receivers in this League, I mean that’s – that can happen. The thing that we’ve got to be able to do is just outcompete that guy. He’s a fun guy to go against because you know what’s going to happen and you know where the ball’s going. So, our guys will be ready for that.” On the adjustments he saw Minnesota and Vikings WR Justin Jefferson make in their route running between the first and second games they played against them last season: “The only adjustments that I saw those guys make is him going up and getting the ball. That’s it because they ran the same routes. This offense did not change and sometimes – there are really good players in this League that can make plays. Again, that adjustment word that comes out, it kills me, but he ran the sub-route, he made the play, he ran the sub-route on (Falcons CB) Jeff (Okudah), he didn’t make the play. It’s very simple.” On his assessment of Lions CB Khalil Dorsey’s performance against the Broncos and the potential he has: “He’s a guy that’s tough, he’s fast, he’s physical. Listen, he hasn’t had a lot of reps out there playing corner. If you look at what he’s done for us on special teams, I mean he is one of the elite gunners, in my opinion, in this game and he’s still growing, he’s still growing, so. But he is a corner. He is a corner that can run, so we want to give him every opportunity to go out there and show what he can do. And I’ve said this many times, when you show me in practice you can go out there and compete and you can play, you’re going to get a chance to play for me. And he deserved that, so he went out there and he did a good job for us.” On what Lions S Ifeatu Melifonwu has done well this season: “If you guys know my background when it comes to safeties, I’m a big fan of safeties that have a corner background. That’s one of the reasons he’s here because he’s able to cover like we need to like a corner, but he is tough enough and physical enough as a safety to get down in the box and go make plays, so. And you said it already, one of Iffy’s biggest issues was him being healthy for the whole time and then making that transition, man that’s not an easy transition because he did come in as a corner, so now he understands exactly what we’re looking for in the safeties. And his communication, that’s what’s really improved and he’s already a smart guy, so. And the thing is, he still needs time on task. It’s just, man he went out there and he really showed what he can do last week and I’m expecting him to continue to grow.” On the plan for Lions S Ifeatu Melifonwu when Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson is able to play again: “Best guy plays, best guy plays. It’s simple. So, whoever the best guy is in practice, that’s who is going to play. So, I don’t want to make anything bigger than this and what it is, so please don’t ask.” On what it means to have three safeties who can effectively play the position: “That means you have three good players that can go out there and play at any given time.” On how long he thinks it will take Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson to get back into football shape: “Well, I think that’s with any player that’s coming off an injury. You have to have confidence in what you’re doing. He has to have confidence to him going out there and making tackles. And he will, I know that player very, very well. And once he gets a chance to practice, let’s see what he can do and let’s see him go out there and compete with the other guys and see who gets the chance to get the job.” On if he will find packages for the ‘best guy’ and ways to play them in games: “Absolutely, I’m not going to tell you guys that, though, but yes, we will. I’m not going to tell you what and how.” On his assessment of Lions CB Kindle Vildor: “He deserves a chance to play also. He’s practicing with us, he’s practicing hard. So, we’re going to give him a chance. He’s also playing special teams. And the thing about those two guys, man we really need those guys to play special teams, so both of those guys are going to get a chance to play on defense. We don’t want to run them all, we’ll run them down so, listen, it’s a good situation for us to have of two guys that are competing for that job and also, helping us on special teams.” On how he has seen Lions DL Josh Paschal grow over the last few weeks: “Well, listen, that’s a guy I’ve been talking about for a while. And man, he’s still a young player and he’s still a player that’s on the upswing for us. There’s a lot of learning that he still has. He can still grow, so. I’m expecting those plays from him, I really do because of the talent and because we know that player coming out in the Draft, we expect those things from him.” On how important it is to have Lions DL Josh Paschal and Lions DL John Cominsky making big plays: “It has been. I mean, I think you guys know how I feel about Commish, he’s the ultimate warrior. Anything you ask him to do, he’s going to go out there and do it. And man, he is a Detroit Lion through and through, so. Really like that player, really like what he brings to the table. And Paschal’s one of those young guys that he’s able to play out on the edge, then you could also put him inside as a three-technique to go up there and rush, so talent-wise, man there’s a lot there with that player. Again, he just needs time on task and he is another guy that’s just got to stay healthy and he’s been doing a good job of that this year.” On if he saw value in the way they blitzed against Broncos QB Russell Wilson on Saturday: “Listen, I wanted to be aggressive in that. I knew the matchups that we had were favorable for us when you go (Lions CB Khalil) Dorsey out there because Dorsey can run and you guys have seen that on special teams. (Lions S Ifeatu Melifonwu) Iffy being out there, a former corner that can play, so man those guys allowed us as a defense to go out there and really be aggressive. And it was a fun game to call, especially against my former boss who I like a lot and he’s taught me a lot. To go out there and go toe-to-toe with him, for the most part, it was fun.” On how different Vikings QB Nick Mullens is from Minnesota’s other quarterbacks: “Well, he’s been around this League for a little bit and he understands football. You see he’s more the traditional pocket-passer. Totally different than (Vikings QB Joshua) Dobbs, alright. Dobbs is a guy that can run around and make some plays with his feet. The thing about him and he understands, you can see him be able to progress and read and make those throws he has to make. Listen, I expect them to utilize their running backs, I expect them to utilize (Vikings WR Justin) Jefferson. I know Jefferson wants his balls because I don’t know how many he got the last week, but he didn’t get as many as (Vikings WR Jordan) Addison, so I know it’s going to be an issue, so we expect him to utilize all his skill players. So, and then you can’t forget about (Vikings TE T.J.) Hockenson, also.” On how proud he is of what they have accomplished this season and what it would mean to him to win the NFC North: “Man, listen, I’ve learned a lot in these three years. Just overall, of how you want to build a team, the right way to do it regardless of what people on the outside say, man you have to be true to your values, you have to be true to your standards and you have to trust what you’re doing, because man there’s going to be a lot of naysayers out there. But man, when you have people internally that understand exactly what you’re trying to do, that’s all that matters and that’s something that (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) and (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes) have done a really, really good job of. So, I commend those guys for that. But being able to get a division, to win this division, I think it means a lot for everybody in this building, well I know it does. And we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that we do that this Sunday. And that’s been the plan from the beginning. Even though it took us to this third year to do it, that’s always been the plan, so. But not just win the division, man everyone wants to win that Super Bowl, but you have to win that division first and you have to do things like that, so you can see that you have things to build on and that’s what we’re trying to do.” On how much more difficult it is to stop Vikings WR Justin Jefferson when Minnesota has two other explosive players in Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson and Vikings WR Jordan Addison: “Pick your poison, listen, you have to try to take somebody out and then you have to win your one-on-ones also. And that’s just the nature of football. And every now and then, you can take your chances on doubling two guys. If you double three, you don’t have enough guys rushing, so. But it’s going to be a challenge and we know that, but the guys that are in that one-on-one situation, man you have to go out there and compete and you have to compete with confidence and that’s just what it is. There’s some times we’re going one-on-one with Jefferson and our guys have to compete with confidence, and that’s just part of playing football and I think our guys will be up for that challenge.” On how much he knows and respects Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores and his unique approach to coaching defense: “Yeah, listen, I know Brian very well, been knowing him for a while. You saw him mature and grow as a coach and to be able to develop his own style, and to me, it goes back to what do you believe in as a coach? And he believes in this style of play and we’ve sat down and we talked about this style of play just before, when he was in Miami before. And you saw glimpses of that in Miami and I think now he has a chance to go full tilt what his beliefs are. And regardless of what I feel about the scheme, it doesn’t really matter, it’s the fact that he feels really, really good and he’s confident in his scheme and that’s all that matters, just like what we do. We’re confident in what we do. And we’re going to go out there and try to make it as best as we can of what we do, and I think he’s doing that with his guys.” LIONS SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE FIPP QUOTE SHEET December 21, 2023 On how difficult the decision was to start Lions K Michael Badgley over former Lions K Riley Patterson against the Broncos and ultimately release him from the team: “Yeah, I’m glad you phrased the question that way because I will say it is definitely difficult. Riley’s just a great, great person and he’s a very, very hard worker and extremely committed to his craft at being a kicker. So, anyway you obviously hate that. And really, the decision was actually to kick one guy over the other and then the decision to cut a guy is kind of a totally separate decision. I do know this, when you’re the last specialist or the extra specialist on a roster, it’s never a good spot. It’s hard to carry extra guys, especially this time of year. So, that kind of is a separate situation there. But anyways, to go to the decision with Riley and Badgley and really, it’s fairly simple. I think I had actually mentioned to you guys I think coming off the Chargers game that we had put the pressure on him a little bit and no one really asked me, ‘What did that mean?’ I threw it out there for you, but anyway, nobody really asked what that meant. But what that did mean is internally, we had those guys competing in practice and so they would each get roughly six kicks a day and we’d kick them at least twice a week, so it was 12 kicks a week. And over the course of six weeks, Badgley had been better, and we didn’t want to rush to make that decision right away. We felt like he deserved as fair of an opportunity as we could have given him, but it was clear at the end of the day that he was playing better. And so, ultimately, the way that I handle those decisions, I mean my job is to really have the best interest of the whole team in mind, or the whole locker room and all those players sitting in that meeting and it’s not just one person, but it’s really I have a responsibility to be fair to all them by playing whoever we think is the best player. And with a kicker it’s pretty clear. I mean makes and misses and percentages. And I do think that practice matters, and I do think that players trend towards what their practice stuff is. And to give you an example of that, I would tell you when I was in Philadelphia, obviously we had (Eagles K) Jake Elliott who I think everybody thinks is a great player, and he was back then too, but there was a year where he was down a little bit and I was talking to the media and there was a guy beating him up and then trying to give me a hard time about why I thought he was a good player and I said, ‘I mean he’s missed a few kicks, some of them were situational kicks, very long in Pittsburgh in tough situations with three seconds left in the half.’ It was that or the Hail Mary. We elected to do that, that dropped his percentage down, but ultimately his practice numbers were really good. And if you watch him right now, he’s hitting his practice numbers. So, to me, you have a large sample size in practice and games you have a very small sample size. And obviously, Riley had played well for us in games, but ultimately that bigger sample size was in Badgley’s favor.” On if his trust in Lions K Michael Badgley stems from his performance last season: “Yeah, I have a lot of comfort in Badgley, but the truth is, I felt good about Riley too. (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) and I were talking about it, but on the Chargers kick, the game-winner, I had no doubt that he was going to make that. And that’s really what he’s been, a very effective kicker from short range. He’s better than a lot of guys in this League kicking from shorter distances. As you get further and further, his numbers start to fall, as do everybody’s but maybe his a little bit more than some in the League. But when you do look at his numbers, he’s got good numbers. I mean he played well for us, so it was definitely tough, but ultimately it was fairly clear to all of us I think. But yeah, I feel very comfortable in Badgley. The one thing I love about him is he swings – he’s going to swing at the ball the exact same way every single time. It doesn’t matter if it’s a 53-yarder or if it’s whatever, 22-yarder, he’s going to approach the ball the same way every single time and he’s very consistent and mentally, he really doesn’t waver. Make, miss, he knows that he’s going to miss some, we all do, obviously, we hope not very many, but he’s very flat line.” On if Lions K Michael Badgley has a bigger leg than former Lions K Riley Patterson: “I would say ultimately both of those guys are very comparable that way. So, I don’t think there’s probably much difference in terms of game management and we were thinking we could’ve kicked one guy eight yards further than the other, not at all. I would say very similar.” On their expectations for kickers to make extra points consistently after former Lions K Riley Patterson missed some: “Yeah, I think you expect them to knock that kick through every time, but reality also says like the League average, I don’t know what it is right now, but the last few years it’s been around 94 percent. And so, everybody misses some, or most guys miss some which 94 percent means you miss one or two throughout the course of a year and I think that’s pretty standard amongst the League. So, you expect him to make it, but also the reality out there says most guys miss one or two.” On if he feels expectations for kickers to not miss extra points has gone up: “Yeah, I feel like every year these guys just collectively as a group, it’s just better and better and better and better. And some of these guys are hitting deeper kicks too and all that. I do think that the long field goal thing’s a little bit of a separate conversation. I think now you’re starting to draw in some analytics and what’s the down and distance and going for it. Obviously, we go for it a lot in that situation. Some of those are because it’s maybe further than we’re comfortable kicking, some of it’s because the analytics say for us that being more aggressive just may be a better thing.” On what it means to him to potentially win the NFC North this season: “Yeah, man, there’s a lot to that. I don’t know, I feel like there’s been a lot of hard work, I know that. None of this stuff’s come easy. I really credit our (Lions) Head Coach (Dan Campbell) and the organization. (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes)’s done a great job acquiring players and Dan’s done an incredible job. I think our staff’s been outstanding. Obviously, (Lions Offensive Coordinator) Ben (Johnson) and (Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn) AG and those guys. I mean every week, giving ourselves a chance to win. Those guys do a great job, so I think there’s a certain level of pride in the fact that you’re helping be a part of turning something around. I think that’s probably the most fulfilling thing you can be in this profession. But at the same time, I also think that as a coach, your focus is just so much on the next game, it’s really like the next play and then after you make it through that game, you’re like, ‘OK, right away you’re into the next game and you’re already thinking about whatever, protecting the punt or whatever it is that you’re going to do.’ So, I don’t think really – coaches do a good of putting that all into perspective, at least not now, but I think hopefully we’ll be able to look back and say, ‘We did something special there.’” On why he thinks they have been unable to produce big returns this season: “Yeah, in the return game, our kickoff return, we haven’t necessarily broken through on the big one, but I think if you look at drive start on the player, drive-start’s like six in the League or whatever. So, there’s always that conversation, there’s a lot of people that look at return yards and sometimes they look at, ‘Well, if you return a kickoff from minus-five yards deep, that’s accounted into your return, so you get to the 25, but you took it five yards out of the endzone, you’ve got a 30-yard return, versus us, maybe we have a 25-yard return, but we brought it out from the plus-two, so it’s at the 27. So, if you look at the return yards, you say, ‘Well, they’re not as good,’ but you look at the drive-start you say, ‘They’re better.’ So, for us, I would put most of our emphasis on drive-start on both those phases, kickoff and kickoff return, not the number of yards given up or gained. That would be the important stat to me and I think we’re pretty good in both of those. I think our kickoff might be first in the League and drive start. But anyway, and then on the punt return stuff, there is a lot to that punt play and I think as this game’s progressed and just the situations that occur inside of a game – and I’ll give you an example, Kansas City, we were playing them earlier in the year, obviously the first game, and we got a lead, we jumped out early, we got a lead and now they’re punting, they’re punting around midfield. They’ve got a punter who’s thrown the ball and they’ve had some fakes in their background, their past and really, the most important thing becomes winning the football game. And the individual or the unit goal of being great on punt return or getting (Lions WR Kalif Raymond) Leaf a bunch of return yards really takes a back seat. I think if you do a good job of coaching and the ego or whatever inside of a coach wants his side of the ball to be good statistically, but really the first and the most important goal for us, and I say it every week after the game to our players, is winning the game. And as long as we win the game, it’s all good. And whatever we’ve got to do to do that, and if that means we’re backing off the gas pedal on some of the return game and we’re being a little bit more conservative and that makes it a little bit harder to get started, then we’ll do that. So, I do think there’s some of that, and I’m not saying that that’s the only reason there. And then obviously, punt return, the next thing you look at is where’s the opponent punting. If they’re punting around midfield, it’s tough to get a return. If they’re punting backed up, it’s easier. If they’re punting on fourth-and-1, it’s harder to get a return. You’re obviously playing to stop the fake first, make sure you get the ball back to your offense. If you’re playing on fourth-and-17, obviously with them backed up on the minus-20, your return yards are significantly different. So, you guys asked me a few years ago, do I like the statistics? And I say on the punt game, I think they’re not very good because they just lump every single punt and every single punt return into the same category. And it’d be like for us, on our punting net, we punted the ball from around midfield, sometimes not very well in the last game, but from around midfield a lot, well we’re not going to have nearly the same net as a team that’s punting backed up a lot. But our offense moves the ball a lot and we’re punting around that area of the field. It’s a good problem to have, but if you just look at bottom line stats, then it doesn’t look great.” On if he will offer his advice to the League on how to alter the rules of kickoffs to make it a valuable play: “Yeah, I don’t know if this is a great answer, but I feel like if they come to me, I’ll certainly give my opinion, I’ll give them all of it really. If they don’t come to me, I’m really not going to reach out to them for a whole lot. I mean I love coaching the game. I love coaching the game, I love being around the players, I love the challenge of gameday and I love seeing guys accomplish something that maybe they didn’t think possible. My least favorite thing is dealing with all that kind of stuff to be honest with you. Although I do have a lot of opinions, but I think sometimes it’s just difficult. Really, my job – if I’m going to do well at my job, it’s going to take all of my energy to kind of focus on that so I’ve always kind of stayed that way. I do hope at the end of the day that whatever they put in place, that the plays play out because right now there’s just a high percentage of plays that aren’t playing out and it’s not any fun for me, it’s not fun for the players, I don’t think it’s fun for the fans. So, ultimately, you want something where there’s going to be an outcome decided at the end of that play, good or bad, you’ll be able to help your team win or lose, you’re going to be a factor in the game one way or the other. So, hopefully, whatever they do, they get more plays to play out.” |
LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
December 22, 2023
On how Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson has looked in practice this week and if there is a possibility that he will play this week against the Vikings: “Yeah, he’s looked good. He’s – looks fresh, obviously, moving around pretty good. So, it’s really just about getting him – we just need to get him some more practices just to make sure he’s ready to go, he’s comfortable and we don’t just throw him out there to the wolves, so. I mean, I don’t necessarily see him going this week, but he’s good, he’s doing good.”
On how he has seen the team respond to the intensity this week with an NFC North title on the line: “Yeah, look, I think – honestly, I feel like it’s like it was last week. It’s just – it’s been a good – there’s a good energy about it. Guys are working, they’re accountable and so in some regards, it’s like any other week, which is the way you want it, it should be that way. It’s business as usual, handle the details, understand the gameplan and so we’ve had two good practices here and we’ve got to have a good one today for red zone.”
On where he would like to see Lions DL Josh Paschal improve before the season ends: “Look, Paschal is – he’s explosive, he’s explosive. He does have versatility to play inside on third down, play outside, kind of the big end. He’s strong, he’s pretty heads-y, but he is still a young, developing player too. And I think – a little bit of what we saw is where, man at the end of the year, you want to feel like he’s really taken a step in some of the rush game. Just some of the one-on-ones and getting to where he consistently wins when he’s got a one-on-one there. And we saw a little bit at Denver, which is – that’s encouraging. And that would be the next step for him, but there again, I just go back – I don’t want to give him an excuse, but really, last year was kind of a – he’s learning on the run, he didn’t get to go through camp or anything and he comes out Dallas, first game and so we kind of go, so this is, in some regards, his first year.”
On his assessment of the defensive line’s performance since Lions DL Alim McNeill has been out: “First of all, I don’t see Alim playing this week, so. But I – look, I think those guys – it was a little bit what we thought it was going to need to be. We were going to need to kind of share the load there and all of those guys were going to have to contribute, and like anything else, man just – you do your job. Handle your business, take care of your responsibility and let the guy next to you do his and that’s the way we have to play. We have to play that way every week, but at some point, a guy’s going to get a one-on-one, he’s got to win that. So, I feel like we’re handling it and our guys are doing a good job. Look, I think (Lions DL Isaiah) Buggs and (Lions DL) Benito (Jones) have had a good week of practice this week and so I’m encouraged.”
On if he is still optimistic that Lions DL Alim McNeill will be able to play again this season: “Yeah, I think – the best I can tell you is yeah, we are optimistic and he is healing. He’s making progress. There’s nothing discouraging about it. I can’t give you the timeline, but yes, I absolutely feel good about getting him back before this is all said and done. He’s doing good.”
On the difficulties Minnesota’s defense will present to Lions QB Jared Goff based on previous performances he has had against Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores: “Yeah, well, I mean, obviously, it’s what they do, right? And they’ve given a lot of quarterbacks trouble with the nature of how they play defense and what he calls and how they disguise and between max coverage, max pressure, a look that – one look can give you three different things. That’s what they do well. So, certainly, having an answer for those things is one. Two is Goff’s not the same player he was then either. I mean, he’s just not. So, doesn’t mean he’s going to be perfect, but he’s different. He’s a different quarterback. He’s got answers, he’s going to have answers for this game and he looks comfortable and as this day – as it goes on, the next two, 48 hours, whatever this is going to be, he’s only going to get more comfortable with the plan we’ve got in, so we feel good about it and I think that’s the biggest thing is having answers. Now, you’ve got answers, that still means you’ve got to win one-on-ones and protection and the routes, he’s got to see it fast and then he’s got to pull the trigger with conviction.”
On how he expresses to the team to not carry the weight of this franchise’s division-winning drought on their shoulders in their goal to clinch the title this season: “Yeah, I think it’s – no they don’t. No, I understand very – I understand, I definitely do. And I think that’s what a lot of this is about, but we are a young team and most of these guys weren’t even born the last time that they won a division, so it’s not. But I think they also understand how special it’ll be. You’re telling me we can be a division winner first time in 30 years for an organization, that’s special. I don’t care how you cut it. And so, whatever perspective you take, it’s still special. So, I think that’s the message and they understand that, and look we want this. But I would tell you Minnesota wants this division too and they’re going to be ready to go and so we’ve got our hands full, but I like where we’re at.”
On how difficult the roster decisions these next few weeks will be with numerous players potentially coming back from injury: “It’s tough, it’s real tough. The – this does go back to when camp is done and we talk about this vet squad, practice squad, they are very much a part of the team. They are part of your roster because you’re going to need them and they’re your guys and they’ve been in your system and you’ve got time on task with them and they – and so, yeah there’s some turnover, but there’s a lot of guys that have been here from the get-go and it’s important and they’ve played for us and so now as we go, you’re right, we’re talking about – you’re talking about (Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson) Ducey, you’re talking about (Lions FB Jason) Cabinda, you’re talking about (Lions DL Alim McNeill) Mac, could be (Lions LB James) Houston. And there’s a couple of other guys and so OK that’s – you do that, then you’ve got to lose somebody. And you’re right, this is where it’s getting tough and I think ultimately, whatever decisions (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes) and I make from this point on, it’s got to be about what keeps the best roster intact to push forward from now through the rest of this season and there’s nothing easy about it.”
On how far he feels the team has come from the tough loss against Carolina last season: “Yeah, I mean, we’ve – look we – this time last year, we were playing pretty good football and we stumped our toe, we didn’t play real good there. I think in – I do think, in some regards, we’re still – we still have a lot of what that is in us because we did find a way to win and we were a pretty tough, resilient team, so we’re still that. But I think we understand that you’ve still got to play your best football. And especially when you’re on the road against a team that, man they want this too. And I think we’ve got to assume that they’re going to throw the kitchen sink at us, we feel that way, so. So, you’ve got to play your best football and it doesn’t matter your record, it doesn’t matter their record, it doesn’t matter any of those other things. If we don’t go in and make enough plays, or we don’t play clean, clean enough, you lose games. That’s the bottom line and I think we understand that, so that’s what it’s about.”
