What They're Saying: Kalif Raymond Is Lions 'Iron Man'
The Detroit Lions are moving toward the regular season with intensity.
The team wrapped up the second week of OTAs and are now heading into mandatory minicamp, which begins Tuesday. The team practiced in front of reporters for the second time on Thursday.
The offense looks to be struggling, while the defense displayed a camaraderie beyond what it's had in years past.
Dan Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson addressed the media regarding the state of their team, explaining where the team is at on their journey to the 2023 season.
Here's what Campbell, Johnson and several others are saying after the second week of OTAs:
Dan Campbell
On the value of Kalif Raymond within the Lions' wide receiver room: "“Yeah, Leaf is our Iron Man. Particularly in that room, he is a guy that has been there for us and when we have needed him, he has always shown up. And I mean, Leaf and I talked about this, last year part of the plan was he was going to be a specialized player for us. He was going to get 15 reps a game. He is our starting punt returner. And it was we’re going to utilize him. keep him fresh, but be able to use his explosiveness, because he is explosive. Well shoot man, the injuries we had, he got thrust back into really a starting role for us. And he can play all of the positions. He can play the X, he can play the slot, he can play the Z. He is smart. He is tough. He is heads-y. He is a go-getter. He is resilient. He is a huge asset for us. Thank God we have him. So, he will be big for us while Jamo is out.”
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond
© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Ben Johnson
On the difference in the running back room after adding David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs: “Yeah, I don’t know if I can compare them to last year right now. I mean we have only been on the field here a couple of weeks and we don’t even have pads on. But what I can say about that room is that we have a lot of really hard workers. I’m very impressed with the professionalism of David Montgomery. He has come in from day one with a very deliberate thought process in terms of how he approaches the weight room, how he approaches meetings, how he approaches his field work. He just wants to be a really good player and that has rubbed off on some of the other guys in that room, not that they didn’t have it before, but they kind of have taken his lead, in some ways. He’s the oldest guy. He has had four years of really good tape in Chicago and so he brings a lot to the table there. And then we have some young guys in that room still growing. Jermar Jefferson, has been here. You see him get better every year that he has been here. Craig Reynolds has been Mr. Consistent from really day one since he stepped in the building. And then we have some rookies in there that are still learning and finding their way, but show some flashes right now, some big-time talent."
Penei Sewell
On the offensive line room's chemistry after the return of Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Graham Glasgow: "Well, those are two funny human beings, I can tell you that right now. The vibes (are) definitely up beat. It's very joyful in the room, never negative, so that's a positive. And, man, it's just all love, so we all have fun out there."
Cam Sutton
On what it means to be an 'Aaron Glenn guy': "Man, it's awesome. Just a guy who did it at a higher level and matched up with a lot of greats. Played in different schemes, very versatile, all the different things that we're preaching for us to be as a group that's gonna help us. It's just a mentality. Every time we step out there we know we have to do it as a group. No hands down. That's just how we approach the game, and the game starts and ends with us. About us getting off the field, about us making plays, about us getting the ball back to our offense at an efficient rate. Just being able to do that, week in and week out, defending every blade of grass, we'll be fine."
On his impression of the Lions' fan base after seeing reactions to his signing on social media: "Yeah, I've had a good, fair share of it. Being around the city, moving around, I love all the energy. I love all the connections, the relationships that I'm building in this small little window that I've been here over this time and obviously just looking to continue with that. It just feels like a second home, you guys have embraced me with open arms and just having that love and energy behind you makes you want to run through a wall for a city. So every time I step out on the field, you're not going to get anything less than everything."
Kerby Joseph
On finding a new celebration for interceptions: "Yeah, because (the coaches) said no more backflips. Y'all ain't seeing that no more, so I'm gonna stay on the ground but I'm always gonna still turn up. I've gotta work on it. I don't know what I'm gonna do, it's gonna be something fire though."
On how the defense has evolved from last year: "Even in OTAs last year, OTAs was kind of frantic. Now we're practicing like pros. So yeah, it's good. We're all falling together, we're all working together, communication's a lot better. From last year to this year, I feel like the communication has improved a lot more and the understanding of the communication."
Derrick Barnes
On the intensity of the team's OTAs and what they're focused on: "I would say the biggest thing right now is scheme. Getting the scheme down, understanding the playbook, understanding the defense and for offense, understanding the offense. Right now, it's all about schematics and coming out and knowing your details. Everyone's gonna fly around and go full speed. Right now, it's just knowing what you have to do because when the bullets are flying come camp, you want to get those small kinks out and be able to process it fast so I think that's one thing we're focused on right now."
