October 18, 2023

Opening Statement: “So, just changed the schedule up a little bit. We’ve been going pretty good. We’ve been playing physical opponents. We’ve got another one coming up, and so I wanted to back down today. It’ll be a lot of mental work and then we’ll do a little bit of just getting their heart rate up at the very end. But, felt like that’s what we need for today and then we’re back in rhythm tomorrow, but – so with that, I’m not going to be able to tell you about injuries. I don’t know, I won’t know until tomorrow. Nothing has changed from the other day.”

On if the practice schedule change today is due to the health status of the team: “No. Yeah, just with where we’ve been going. I mean we’ve been in a meat grinder here for a while and I just felt like this was the right time. We’re responding well and I want them to have enough gas in the tank.”

On if Lions QB Jared Goff is playing at an MVP-caliber level: “Yeah, look, I don’t know what ‘MVP’ is or isn’t these days, but I know this, he’s playing at a very high level. He’s making the throws that are there, he’s seeing the field and he’s exactly what we need and he’s doing exactly what we’re asking him to do. But I’ve said this before, he is an evolving quarterback. He’s developing, he’s been developing and he just keeps getting a little bit better, little bit better. And that’s a credit to him. It’s a credit to the coaches, but it’s a credit to him. I mean he’s somebody that does believe he’s always got more to give and he’s growing. So, he’s in a good way, our line’s protecting the heck out of him and when you give him just a minute, he can see it and he can throw it and our receivers are making plays.”

On how Lions Passing Game Coordinator Tanner Engstrand has grown and what he brings to the gameplan process: “Yeah, I think exactly what we were hoping for, (Lions Offensive Coordinator) Ben (Johnson) and myself, and it’s – he’s bringing a lot more ideas to the pass game in general. And I think really from the gameplan aspect is where you really see it, as well as, man, the details of the routes with the receivers, the tight ends, the backs, because he kind of works in those rooms too. And then we go out, we do the walkthroughs, we do practice and so he’s got a hand in all that too. So, I just – I see a lot of growth and if you’re asking me what I’ve really seen over a three-year period is the growth in vison and gameplan. That to me is where, ‘OK, here we go.’ And I think he’s – he was always a bright guy. He has good ideas, but I think him being able to learn from what’s been around here but like – (former Lions Senior Offensive Assistant) John Morton, man, Johnny was – Johnny’s a superstar now and there’s a number of things that he did for us last year that are things that we’ve kept. And I really feel like that helped Tanner as well. And he took a lot of that, and he learned from that, and he’s grown from that and so, he’s in a good spot. He’s an asset for us.”

On if Lions QB Jared Goff has exceeded his expectations: “No. No, I mean I’m extremely pleased, but I never saw necessarily a cap on this guy. I didn’t see a – the only thing you know that he’s not is this tremendous running quarterback, mobile, whatever. And he’s got enough to move and maneuver and he breaks out on some runs, but everything else, it’s all a matter of, hey, here it is. He’s protected, he sees it. And so, no, I’m not surprised. I knew he was tough, knew he was resilient and he’s just – he’s grown. There’s been consistency in what we’re asking him to do. There’s been consistency in his play and there’s been growth. And he’s in a good place right now. His confidence is sky-high, and we’ve got to keep it there, we’ve got to keep him there. And that’s really on all of us, the players, the coaches, everything, but we’re in a good spot.”

On if Lions QB Jared Goff’s high level of play would speed up the clock for contract negotiations: “Yeah, no, I can’t even go there. I’m not – I don’t want to get into contract talk, this, what we have, what we haven’t. All I can tell you is he’s playing at a high level, and he needs to be with us. So, I know that.”

On the challenge of preparing for Baltimore when you cannot focus on just one defensive player: “Yeah, it always is. You get one guy, and you can turn – you can nudge one side, but when you’re getting it from multiple threats on both sides of the center, it does, it makes it a little more difficult. And inevitably, what’s going to come down – you can use some of your resources – is take away one, maybe two, but at some point, somebody’s going to have to have the one-on-one and that guy’s got to win, he’s got to win. And at times, they can force you into who’s got the one-on-one and it’s up to that guy to handle his business. And then we’ve got to play fast at the quarterback position. Our receivers have got to get out of their routes with urgency, so – but yeah, it’s a good defense, but what’s new? We’ve been playing really good defenses. I mean I feel like every week we’re getting tested here and this is the next one. (Ravens Head) Coach (John) Harbaugh’s done an unbelievable job for a long period of time here. I’ve got a ton of respect for what he does. This team is always – his teams are always physical and disciplined and it – both sides of the ball, all three phases and they don’t make mistakes. And they’re still that same team, they’re just a little bit different in some areas. Their offense is a little bit different than what it’s been. It’s not this Greg Roman run-game, per se. I expect a little more of that. There’s still plenty of it in there, but there’s more dropback pass. They have skill on the outside plus the (Ravens) tight end (Mark) Andrews, the O-line is a solid crew in there and this defense is, as always, it’s an aggressive defense. They have rushers, they have cover guys and these two backers are really good. So, we’ve got our hands full.”

On if he has relived the last time they faced Baltimore and how those close losses in years past got them to where they are now: “Yeah, I haven’t relived until you just said it, so. Honestly, I try not to go there. Of course, you have a flashback from time-to-time. I just think overall it’s – look, we’re still early in this season. There’s a ton of game left. We’ve got to go earn another one here, but I know this, is that when you look back and – I just remember thinking over and over it’s like enjoy it now, just enjoy it now because our time will come, and we’ve just got to get through the hard stuff. And here we go, man. We’ve got an opportunity. We’re in year three of this program, we’re 5-1 and we’ve got to go earn the next win, so everything that happens, happens for a reason and it helps you grow, and if it doesn’t, it’s because you don’t know how to grow. So, we’ve taken our lumps and we’re going to be better for it.”

On if Baltimore’s defense tries to make their opponent one-dimensional by taking away the middle of the field: “Well, I think they’re – when you watch them over these last five weeks, they’re different on how they play every opponent. They were different in the way they played Pittsburgh, they were different in the way they played Tennessee, they were different in the way they played Indianapolis. So, this coordinator is going to – he’ll have what he feels like is a recipe for us on how he wants to attack us. Some teams it was almost all shell, it’s all two-safety, no pressure, some it’s all man-to-man, some it’s high pressure, no two-safety looks, they’re all one-safety, there’s some zeros in there. So, he’ll have a recipe and he’s got to decide what he wants to stop for us, what’s most important. Is it the explosives or is it our run game? But we’ll be ready to adapt and adjust with whatever and we’ll know during the game what’s going on. So, I would say it’s evolving. He changes it up every week by opponent.”

On what has allowed the team to stay poised under high pressure: “Well, we’ve been talking about it for three years. So, the core group here is – this is what they’ve been bathed in. So, we talk about it, we’ve preached it, we’ve lived it and we constantly try to put ourselves in those type of situations. We talk about it. That’s when your heart rate should start to level out when everybody – the perceived pressure goes up and it’s high stress, your stress levels should go down and focus on the moment. And our guys have done a good job of that, man, they believe in that. And I think it’s one of the reasons we’re having success on the road and – but ultimately, this team is built to handle these things. I believe that. It’s built to handle adversity and anything that comes. And look, this season isn’t over. I mean we know that. We’re going to hit a tough patch at some point here. I don’t know when it’s going to be, but we’re going to hit one and we’re going to have to get back through and get back on our feet and that’s fine. We’ll be ready for that.”

On if he sees Ravens QB Lamar Jackson when he wakes up: “Well, if I was dreaming about how to stop these guys, he’d be the first one I would think of if I was coming out of a nightmare. He is dangerous, so, he is dangerous. And like I say, they don’t ask him to do as much as he did before with his legs, but there’s plenty of it still in there and he’s throwing it pretty good. They’ve made a concerted effort to do a little more dropback with him and he is, he’s throwing the ball well. And he’s got guys that are making plays for him, but if it’s not there, he’s still – he’ll take off and he gets up the middle, he gets the edge and he’s going to hurt you, get a first down and there we go or an explosive. He’s extremely dangerous as always. That’s not changing right now, so that focal point will always start with him, especially defensively.”

On Ravens QB Lamar Jackson being on pace to rush for 1,000 yards this season: “That’s just average for Lamar, right? I mean that’s all. He’s just on pace to – yeah, believe me, he’s still dangerous. I’m just saying that they’re not – that run game is not what it was. I’m not saying they don’t still – believe me he’s still dangerous. He is very dangerous. Yeah, it’s just a different style of what they do. Plenty of – there is some carryover, but there is a little different façade to it.”

On if he carries cash with him at practice or just on gamedays after pulling out a $5 after the win against Tampa Bay in the locker room: ”No, well, that was just in my pocket. I don’t know how long it had been there or where I went with that.”

 

Lions head to Baltimore to take Harbaugh's Brother's Ravens.

Game kicks off at 1:00pm on WBRN 1460am, 107.7fm, and 96.5fm.

 

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