Transcript of Rod Marinelli after OTA practice:

LIONS HEAD COACH ROD MARINELLI   Opening statement: “We had a good day today; we kind of emphasized our redzone and we’re willing to work on that

LIONS HEAD COACH ROD MARINELLI 

  

Opening statement: “We had a good day today; we kind of emphasized our redzone and we’re willing to work on that area – that phase of our game. Our turnover/takeaway ratio has to be better than last year and the redzone (offense) has got to be better on both sides of the ball. We put a nice emphasis on it and it was a good start for us.” 

  

On what the biggest surprise has been in throughout the OTA’s: “All of the positive things have been kind of what I have expected. If you see it real positive, it’s going to happen that way – I believe that. I just think the consistency, each and every day, I’ve been pleased with that; coming out and being consistent in practice each and every day with different elements and different environments.” 

  

On whether WR Roy Williams was here today: “He wasn’t here.” 

  

On whether there was a reason Williams wasn’t there: “It’s not mandatory.” 

  

On whether he spoke to Williams before the practice: “It’s not mandatory; it’s not mandatory.” 

  

On whether Williams was spotted during the stretching period: “You might have – you go ask him. If you have an issue with it, you ask. How’s that? It’s not mandatory. I know don’t know how many times I can say that.” 

  

On the reporter just asking the question: “Good – then understand (the answer). Questions?” 

  

On what the biggest key is to improving the redzone packages: “One thing is just, especially on defense, tightening up our red-2 package – just all of the details that go into it. When you’re playing a lot of red-2, you’re in a seven-man front. So the run becomes more of a factor. So now you’re pirating and getting line-movements to stop the run which hurts your (pass) rush. So, its understanding that; we’ve got to play red-2 (better). That’s a heck of a deal and then just being efficient; with penalties and not turning the ball over (on offense) and all of those things.” 

  

On the importance of speed on offense: “It’s important to the whole team. Our defense is based on it; our offense is based on speed. I wanted to go out and get perimeter speed and we were able to secure that. Now, once we add defensive speed, you’re able to add overall kicking speed – that’s the whole emphasis.” 

  

On what his impressions of WR Marcus Robinson as a veteran receiver: “Well, he’s been banged up a little bit; so we haven’t had a great opportunity (to see). He’s a good veteran player but we haven’t had as much opportunity to see him yet.” 

  

On G Edwin Mulitalo: “He’s a massive guard who has got great movement; great experience. He played on a world championship team. He’s got them both in terms of a power run-blocker; but man, he can short-set at the depths of pockets. Those types of guys can keep the pocket from getting collapsed; big men like that: boom where they’re stopped and now you secure the depth and then obviously the athleticism at the tackle position secures the width – you like that. He’s a real pro.” 

  

On how the guard position is shaping up: “We’ve got a whole bunch of guys coming in – just like every position does. These guys come in work; we’ll see who the best players are.” 

  

On how important familiarity of coaches with players is: “I think, one, it is very important but sometimes the guys you’re very familiar with – you know Jim (Colletto) coached (Mulitalo) with the Ravens and had a great feel for him and what he can do. I think if there’s an either-or situation, when you’re looking out there, you have a tendency (to remind yourself): this guy knows me; he knows what I want and how I want it and how I want it done. You know the football character of a guy, so the chances of missing on that part of it should go way down.” 

  

On FB Sean McHugh getting more reps with the first team: “You saw him last year; I mean, he did a heck of a job. He came out of nowhere. We gave him an opportunity. The guy has been in the weight room; he’s at 270 pounds. The way we’re running it is a U-F situation; you can be on the line of scrimmage or you can be a guy as a fullback. That’s a 270-pound lead blocker that can catch the ball. He’s a smart guy; Casey (FitzSimmons) is the same way. Those are two big, athletic men back there for us. We really like them.” 

  

On whether McHugh is ahead of TE Casey FitzSimmons: “I try to always label these as teaching camps – we’re trying to teach them. As soon as you (start saying who’s ahead) it gets too physical. Guys are saying: ‘that guy had a better practice, how do I make it up?’ Then it becomes a competition. What I’m hoping to do each and everyday, and I’ve got to coach it everyday, is you’ve got to take some of the competitiveness out of this because that’s when you get injuries. I’ve told the players: these are teaching camps. We’re trying to teach our system. Now, what you do get to see is: how a guy learns; how he carries it over to the field; there’s a certain level of consistency each day that you’re looking for when a guy comes out here – for the consistency of who can do it every single day and line up and perform. Those are great evaluation tools there. But I’ve got to be kind of smart about when I’m saying whether guys are ahead of other guys because it gets to something I don’t want to get to.” 

  

On whether this is McHugh’s chance to show whether he can trust him: “Yeah – and knowing what you’re doing and how you’re doing things. We trusted him last year. He came in and he did a heck of a job. He came in and earned that right to come in and play. He did a heck of a job as Casey (FitzSimmons) did.” 

  

On whether the players knowing what to expect from him will help the team take a bigger step this year: “No question. I think they know what to expect; how we want to do business here. I think the biggest part is when they know how we want to practice; how we want to practice in helmets and shorts; how we want to practice in no helmets; how we want to practice in full pads; then it’s the terminology. Then they see it over and over and now you start making progress. It’s my job to keep it consistent; everything is consistent for them; how we do business. Then your growth starts. Right now, I’m expecting this to be a good team – a very good team. We’ve just got to stay the course right now.” 

  

On how the players knowing and learning the way of doing things now pays off in training camp: “It’s not just a line and a sign; it’s how you do things. I’m trying to teach how you do: landmarks, your gaps and all those things without making it too combative. Hopefully, the system, our rules, our tempo and how we do business each and every day is really established. I hope we established some of that at the end of the year last year, re-establish it now and then we start camp and that becomes a very physical contest.” 

  

On whether it’s fair to say that this team is further along now than they were at this time last year: “This is a good team; this is a good team. I feel very good about it. We’ve just got to go and continue with our day-by-day process and get better.” 

  

On WR Devale Elliss’ injuries: “I think it’s a sprained knee and a sprained ankle – that’s what they told me right off the bat.” 

  

On WR Shaun McDonald being held out of practice: “He’s been for a while. This time of the year, we’ll just be smart with them. If something is nagging, I just don’t want him to have to deal with it (getting worse); let him get (it healthy).”