| LIONS HEAD COACH MATT PATRICIA Opening Statement: “Excited to get out there and to get to practice and get going. Extremely difficult Kansas City team coming in here. One that is very well-coached, and they have phenomenal players, so we have our work cut out for us. We start over every week. We’ll start over again today. Start working on early downs and get going here and try to do the best we can. I know an injury situation here for a couple of ours guys, just to let you know on the one situation: Mike Daniels won’t practice today. We’re still kind of working everything with him today. Everybody else is going to try to do what they can do. We’re still kind of going through the process right now. Other than that, obviously a great team coming in. We have to have a great week of practice, great week of preparation. We’re excited to be home, excited to be here in our stadium with our fans and hope it’s really loud and really difficult on them because we’re going to need all of it from that standpoint to try to stop their offense. They have a very aggressive defense, really good defense right now. They have some great players over there, they’re very disruptive, and their special teams units are really good. They have phenomenal returners. They have a lot of speed on this team, so any time the ball is really in any one of those guys’ hands it’s very threatening from that aspect of it for it to be a big play. We’ll go to work today and get after it.” On Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ throwing accuracy: “He’s very accurate as a passer, and I think the thing that’s amazing about him is he’s accurate whether he’s in the pocket or when he gets out of the pocket too. I think the thing for him is – I’ve watched and he’s kind of matured and gone through the system – and just the system feels more and looks more comfortable as far as when he’s out there. He makes a lot of changes, a lot of adjustments, works really well with the offensive line to get the protection systems organized – you’ll see the MIKE points, the read points, and kind of making sure that everything is picked up from a blitz standpoint. I think he’s starting to see a little bit more things like that that are affecting the front, and he’s handling them a lot better. I think another thing is just his ability to keep his eyes down field. I think right now he’s doing a great job of, whether he’s in the pocket or once he starts to get pressure or he extends the plays and gets out of the pocket, he finds those guys. He’s not necessarily looking at the rush, he’s trying to look for his players down field because there’s enough speed there where those guys are going to get open, they’re going to run away from defenders. A lot of those plays are just huge plays in the game, and his arm strength and his accuracy I think helps him in those situations of being able to complete those big plays down field.” On if he would rather Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes be in the pocket or out of the pocket: “Probably neither. I think right now what you’re seeing on tape is you’re seeing him extremely efficient – on the sideline is probably where I’d like to see him the most. He’s just really good, he’s a really good young player. This guy is – every single play it is extremely dangerous. He can get that thing down field. He does a great job too with just controlling – there is an element to this offense that is definitely a ball-control passing game, going back to kind of the West Coast system which Andy (Reid, Chiefs Head Coach) has obviously, his background, but he’s incorporated a lot of the vertical stretch too and then mixed in the spread offense that you see a lot in college. He’s kind of adapted all that for his guys. He does great with the controlled passing game, just kind of taking those yardages that you’ll give him and then being real patient and all of a sudden he’s going to launch one down field. Mix that with the run game – very dynamic there with those guys, with (Damien) Williams and (LeSean) McCoy. It’s just such a dangerous offense to try to defend against. They really – they make you cover everything, both horizontally and vertically. That’s the biggest thing they do.” On if CB Darius Slay will practice today: “All of our guys are really day-by-day. They’re kind of just trying to get better as we go from that standpoint, but Mike (Daniels) I do know will not be out there today. Just wanted to make sure that I announced that one. Everybody else is still pushing through meetings and we’re still trying to see how everybody feels. We’re going to go out and practice in pads today, so that kind of changes some things too for some of the guys from that aspect of it, but we try to get as much done as we can with everybody, so Mike obviously can’t be in that situation.” On the positioning of the offensive line: “I think those guys are doing a really good job of trying to be in those positions. I think they’ve been in them long enough now, where everybody feels comfortable from kind of the different movement that we’ve had there. Kenny Wiggins is still a big part of that too. He’s rolling through there and giving us a great amount of snaps inside which is good. He is a very versatile player. He can play in a lot of different spots from that standpoint too. For the offensive line, again this month of September is one of those months where it’s really – you’re seeing that live action, a lot of communication, a lot of different looks, different defenses every single week. The preparation, all of that in that group just kind of working together to try to go perform well on Sundays is where you can see the growth right now. It’s hard to do that during training camp. You’re trying to evaluate guys, you’re trying to look at them positionally, but for the most part you’re going to see the same looks every day. Now, where they’re trying to really identify different looks every single week, game plan, make sure their communication is right, make sure they have the right checks and adjustments, work with the quarterback, and play situational football all the way through for 60 minutes, I think that’s where you’re starting to see some of the growth, and we just have to keep that going, going forward.” On how Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid has impacted the West Coast offensive scheme: “Obviously, a very balanced offense. It’s something that they’re going to run the ball, they’re going to pass the ball. The run system is very quick. They’ll get to the edge, they’re going to run the zone scheme, the stretch scheme, they’ll mix in some downhill schemed runs just enough to kind of keep you off balanced. Everything that they do has packages, so there’s going to be a play that’s going to look one particular way or go one play and they’re going to have an answer that goes another way. Those are kind of things that you have to defend in a very balanced format from that standpoint. He does a great job of once the call is in the offense operates very quickly in and out of the huddle. They get to the line of scrimmage. You’re going to see a lot of different personnel groups, you’re going to see a lot of shifts in motions. There’s a lot of speed on the field in general, and then when those guys start running horizontally before the ball is snapped you’re trying to get lined up and then they go vertically once the ball is snapped. I think he’s just constantly mixing those concepts in that still have roots that go all the way back to the West Coast foundation, but like I said Andy is always on the edge of what’s new and what works, and he really does a great job of trying to fit the scheme to the players that he has, and I think he’s done that really well. I think there’s the vertical element which is, I would say a little bit none-traditional. It’s not just the normal alignments and everybody goes vertical. They’re coming from different angles, different approaches, and they have enough speed to get there. That’s the biggest thing for them. I think he just kind of does a great job of keeping the core principles the same, but then always adding in the new wrinkles to fit the players that he has. He’s a great play-caller, puts a lot of stress on the defense right from the start. He’s one of the more difficult coordinators, obviously head coaches, but play-callers every single year he just does a phenomenal job.” On his thoughts on “statement games”: “Every week is important. There’s nothing more to that. Just our biggest game is this game because it’s our next game. We’ll always just kind of try to keep it that perspective so that – we just want to go out and perform well. That’s the bottom line. Everybody is good in the NFL. Each team presents different challenges, each team has different strengths and weakness, and the challenge is to try to rise to the occasion of handling all of it every single week and whatever presents itself. That’s really it. It’s September, still early. We’re just trying to get better.” On if the bye week influences how they handle this week’s injuries: “Nothing currently on our team, I would say that any of that really rolls into from that aspect of it. I think that there is nothing more important to us right now than the game this weekend. That’s really all we’re thinking about from that aspect of it. It’s just trying to go out and play well on Sunday and try to improve from what we’ve done the previous weeks and just try to get better. We’ll worry about the rest of it later, right now it’s just a great week just to get back to work. Again, it’s going to be extremely exciting, extremely fun atmosphere. Like I said before, if you love football there’s no place you’d rather be than in our stadium at 1 o’clock.” On if playing against Eagles TE Zach Ertz prepared them to play against Chiefs TE Travis Kelce: “I would say, there are a lot of really good tight ends in this league and we have a lot of them on our schedule. You just have to take them individually because they are their own individual players. Kelce, just in regards to him, very big, very physical, he likes to play the physical part of the game. I think he is a very experienced guy. He’s seen a lot of different looks, so he handles those things really well. He’s a guy that will run-block, he’ll motion, get to the edge, he can secure the edge, allow these guys to get around the corner – (Damien) Williams and (LeSean) McCoy, and they’re so explosive they can get there. He’s obviously a huge target for them in critical situations. He has great hands. I think the thing about him that is deceptive is for as big as he, he plays fast. This guy can get vertical fast, and his run-after-catch is really phenomenal. He has a great stiff arm, he’s strong, he’s big, runs through a lot of tackles. Just a really big, strong, tough tight end that does a great job in the passing game. He’s really just heavily trusted by the quarterback. There are some plays that (the) quarterback is in trouble, gets out, scrambles, extends it, and he throws it up, and this guy comes down with it. I think you continually see that on tape. The trust level between these two is at a high level.” On how important ball control is to them: “I think for us, we’re going to have to definitely play a complete game, all three phases working together I think is really important for us from that aspect of it. They do the same thing. It’s kind of similar mindset from that standpoint. We’re just going to do whatever it takes on all three phases just to try to win the game. We have to go out and execute at a high level, and we’re not going to be in a situation where – they score so fast. The second quarter alone, they’ve been able to just kind of put points up on the board at an unbelievable pace, so I don’t think you can really just sit back and wait. I think you have to do what you got to do to try and go win.” On how the similarities between QB Matthew Stafford and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes helps prepare the defense: “There are certainly aspects that you try to carry over from that, when you see things in players on your team that are similar to players you’re going to see on other teams, but certainly, I would say that everybody is different from that aspect of it. A lot of it in-game and game speed is something totally different from that aspect of it. Mahomes is a pretty special quarterback. He does a lot of things really, really well. It’s going to be a big challenge for us from that aspect of it. For the guys that haven’t seen him live, it’s just a whole different deal when you get on the field with him and go from there.” ____________________________________________________________ LIONS QUARTERBACK MATTHEW STAFFORD On if he ever thinks about matchups with opposing quarterbacks: “Not really. Obviously, I know who the quarterback is for the other team most of the time. I’m just going out there playing my game and trying to play whatever style we need to play to win the game.” On if he has watched Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: “Yeah, I’m a fan of the game. I watch games when they’re on TV and peak at those guys. Patrick is doing a great job for them and he’s a super talented kid.” On what he thinks about Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ side-arm throws and the criticism he used to receive for similar plays: “Yeah, that’s the way it goes. He’s completing them for touchdowns, so that helps.” On if he was the one who invented the side-arm throws: “No, there were many before me that did that.” On if he thinks the criticism of his side-arm throws is funny now: “Yeah, I don’t really pay too much attention to it, to be honest with you. I just enjoy watching him play. He’s a good player.” On how the Chiefs defense looks different this year: “It’s a different scheme completely. They’re playing aggressive. They’ve got some new pieces and some new players in some different spots that are really talented players that are helping the defense, so they’re playing well.” On if he thinks they should utilize an aggressive approach or a possession-based approach against the Chiefs: “I think we’ll see how the game is going, you know what I mean? That’s the way it is every week, but at the end of the day the goal is obviously to try to have more points than they have at the end of the game, and however you get them, we’ll take them. Last week we had a kick return that went to the house – that counts. Any way you can get points against a team like this, the better.” On how important it is to get touchdowns at the end of drives: “Yeah it’s definitely no good to hold the ball and not score. You have to score points. Points are at a premium every time we go out on the field, especially against a team that can put up points in a heartbeat like these guys can. So, it’s a big challenge for us, really in all phases of our team to come out and have a good game.” On if it is different when preparing for a team that you play once every four or five years: “Yeah, it’s kind of been that way the first four games. We’ve had our practice. We understand what it takes to dive in and to get to know these guys. They’ve got three games under their belt this season so far, so it’s easy to kind of look at them and get a good feel for them.” On if he paid attention to Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes before he entered the NFL: “I watched a little bit of stuff on him when he was at Texas Tech, but not a whole bunch.” On if he can get excited about how they matchup against a team as good as the Chiefs: “Yeah, any time you step out there, you’re testing yourself. You have to prove yourself every time you go out there. Obviously, we have a great opponent and a team that’s had a ton of success the last couple of years and has a bunch of talented players, so it’ll be a good test for us.” On how they can counter some of the stacked boxes defenses are showing them at the end of games: “Some of those are calling run plays. We’re trying to keep the clock moving and some of those are tough boxes to run into. There’s no question about that, but sometimes if you block everybody up and the running back makes one guy miss, there’s nobody left too. It’s a little bit of give-and-take there. Sometimes you roll the dice and go out there and say, ‘You know what we’re going to give our guy maybe a tough look and let him go do his thing.’ Other times you check out of it and try and throw the ball. Each situation is completely different in what you think you need to do to win the game, because that’s really the name of the game – trying to do whatever it takes to help us win.” On how the success of multiple receivers helps the offense: “It’s great. Any time we can spread the ball around and give the defense a lot to think about – I think it’s a positive for us. It’s a credit to those guys going out there and making plays. I’m happy for all of those guys that have done it, and hopefully we’ll get more of it.” On being in the situation where they were first-and-goal on the three-yard line and scored a touchdown at Philadelphia: “It’s tough. It’s a lot of contact, and obviously a great run by Kerryon (Johnson) there at the end to get it in. Thought we had a chance to play before on the pass but stepped out there. Any way you can get it in down there doesn’t matter to us. We just want the ball in the endzone and get points.” On what RB J.D. McKissic has brought to the offense: “Yeah he’s a talented kid. He did, obviously a nice thing with the ball last week. He’s played in this offense before, so he understands it. It’s easy for him to pick up and learn the new things we have him do. He has great work ethic. The guy comes to work every single day and flies around, really bring a ton of speed and work ethic to our team.” On the play in the first quarter that he threw to WR Marvin Jones Jr. for 20 yards: “Yup, I threw him an anchor.” On the play at Philadelphia in the first quarter that he threw to WR Marvin Jones Jr. for 20 yards and his reaction to everyone being open: “We were talking about it – I don’t know that we’ve ever called a play like that, where everybody kind of gave a little bit of a double move and all four guys won, but I was happy to see it. It’s a good thing to see coming in on Monday checking out the film. I was happy for those guys. I wish I would have given ‘Marv’ a little better ball to run with.” On what an “anchor” is: “Catch and get down – threw him an anchor.” On having allowed no sacks for two consecutive weeks: “I mean obviously the guys up front are doing a great job. I think ‘Bev’ (Lions Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell) is doing a great job of moving me around, getting the ball out quick, then I get a chance to hold the ball. It’s a little bit of everything, keeping the defense guessing. It’s a team effort when you have no sacks. You’re not going to have a perfect pocket every time. Guys are going to do some outstanding things, whether it’s a chip or a running back picking up a blitzer. I’m trying to get the ball out in a timely fashion, our guys are doing a great job of getting open. It all kind of plays together.” On G Joe Dahl and his performance: “He’s done a nice job. We give him an opportunity, and he’s doing a really nice job for us. I think really all those guys that are playing inside are doing a good job, and both guys on the outside as well. I mean, keeping me up right and doing all that, they all five have to be playing well and have to be communicating well which is such a huge part of it. I’m just happy for those guys.” On how close the run game is to being completely developed: “It’s close. I think a block here or there, and it’s not always the guys up front. Sometimes it’s a wide receiver or a tight end or a full back or me getting us into the right play. It’s really close. We’ve got to make sure it’s not really close anymore and make sure that it gets going.” ____________________________________________________________ CHIEFS HEAD COACH ANDY REID CONFERENCE CALL WITH DETROIT MEDIA On if this is a statement game for both teams: “I think (Lions Head Coach) Matt (Patricia) has done a heck of a job there. He has a good football team. It’s great competition, that’s what I look at. I look at the competition of it, and he has a good football team. It should be a heck of a game.” On the play of Lions DB Tracy Walker: “For me, he is a good player. He’s aggressive. I think he has good ball skills – good football player.” On what he has seen from the Lions offensive line this season: “Big inside and long on the outside. Just long, strong, and I think they are very physical. Actually, the whole inside seven I think is physical.” On how important it is for the defense to improve: “We just got done playing a good football team, and so the guys are working hard on both sides of the ball and special teams trying to get better. We have a lot of room to improve here.” On where Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes ranks among the quarterbacks he has coached and if he can run more of his offense with him: “Yeah, he’s a good player. Listen, I’ve been blessed to have some good ones, and I hate to even compare guys. He’ll put his own mark on it when it’s all said and done. He’s a young guy that works his tail off and he tries to get better every day. It’s a tribute to probably his parents, I’d say, and just how he was raised. He’s a heck of a kid.” On how much of an advantage it would be if Lions CB Darius Slay did not play on Sunday:“Well he’s a good player, but they have other good players. They have a bunch of good guys. I think their secondary is aggressive. They can roll guys in there and that’s the NFL. I don’t want to slight him at all because he’s a heck of a player, but they’ve also got other good players.” On what Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has brought to the defense and what improvements he would like to see this season: “Yeah, so we’re getting better every week. We’re more familiar with the defense every week, so that to me is important. I don’t really care about anything else as long as I see improvement as we go and that we’re challenging and that. I’ve been able to see that. Steve brings great energy. I think you guys know him and are familiar with him. He’s been around a long time. He brings great energy. He’s got a staff that’s familiar with what he’s trying to get done and the players believe in him. It’s healthy.” On if there is a specific area that he wants the defense to improve on: “I think you try to improve on everything is what you try to do, and work on a complete game. Your complete game – not a complete game, but your overall game you work on. That’s the way we break it up in practice and you put emphasis on both. If you don’t then you have problems. You want to make sure you’re good in the pass game, and you’re good in the run game.” On if DE Frank Clark has lived up to his expectations after acquiring him: “He’s high octane. He goes every play. He’s been doubled quite a little bit. He had a nice sack last week and he sure plays hard. He’s a tribute to that Michigan program. He’s a tough kid.” On his relationship with Lions Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell: “I know him. He’s actually related to my wife in a roundabout kind of way. They’re distant cousins, I guess. I’ve known him for a while. (Bears Senior Offensive Assistant) Brad Childress actually recruited him to Northern Arizona right after I had left there and then he played for him again at Wisconsin. Anyways, I was at Green Bay when he was playing. We used to joke with him because he was older than Brett Favre who was starting for me in the National Football League, but it was probably because he got on a church mission. He’s a sharp kid and a good football coach.” On what he has seen from the Lions offense under Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell: “I mean they’re scoring and winning games, so that’s good. They have a good offense and they have a good defense, and they’re good on special teams, so that normally leads to a good football team. He has done a nice job.” On what Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has added after last season: “Listen, it’s a long season. The defensive coordinators have had some time to study him in the offseason and you get a few different wrinkles in here and so you have to adjust. I think he’s done a good job of that up to this point. Like I said, it’s a long season and you have to keep working at it. Thank goodness he is wired that way. He takes every play likes it’s his last play, and he does it in practice and he does it in games. You appreciate that as a coach.” On if there is anything specific Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has improved on: “I think he’s better with the media. Just his whole understanding of the game. I think just the offense. He’s been there and he’s gone through a season now. The adjustments that you make are a little bit smaller than maybe the ones you did before. I think that’s probably where you see the most improvement.” On how different Chiefs RB LeSean McCoy plays than when he coached him in Philadelphia: “He’s a positive kid, and he’s still the same kid. He’s a little bit older. He still has good feet and vision. He rotates for me. Back then he was in almost every play. Here, he’s been rotating, so I can’t tell you he’s a full-time guy or whatever – taking all the snaps. For what we’re doing with him, he does a heck of a job. He’s a good player.” |
