Here is a selection fromDetroit Lionsathletes and staff after their 24-17 defeat against the Miami Dolphins in their third exhibition match.
Dan Campbell
On the defensive side focusing on generating turnovers:
Yep, I was really fired up because that was a main focus this week—getting the ball on the ground, getting the ball up. Now, we didn’t come up with them, but they were hitting the turf, and that’s how it’s done. Once you get them on the turf, the ball will start going your way. The tough part is getting them out, so I mean, just by looking at it, I saw four on the turf. We didn’t get them, but I saw them and we had a chance to. We had another two that I noticed at the end, and you guys were talking about how we had our hands on them. We didn’t convert on the interception, but I’m saying—logically, we could have had six turnovers today. That’s good. It’s a positive step, so that was encouraging.
QB Kyle Allen
On the aspects of the offense that put him at ease:
It’s a strong attack, it’s trulycomplete offenseI believe I have solutions for every play, I understand where to take the ball against any defense, and I feel certain that no matter what play is called, or what they’re trying to do, I’ll know exactly what to do. It’s a complex offense, as we’ve discussed. There’s a lot of elements they do well in coaching, knowing where to go with the ball and positioning players correctly.
QB Hendon Hooker
On whether he would change anything about his interception that ended the game:
I wouldn’t change anything. He made an incredible play. My mind is still amazed, I’ve never seen someone jump that high to intercept a pass, especially when coming off the edge. That was an outstanding play he made. My choice was the right one. I was considering getting the ball to the flat, it might have been hot. We could have gained around seven yards, go out of bounds, and then have a chance to go for the end zone.
WR Isaac TeSlaa
On scoring a touchdown at Ford Field:
It’s amazing. I was here in 2018 for the Michigan state championship, Division 6, and I recall stepping out of that tunnel and thinking, ‘This is the best moment of my life.’ Then I went out there, I had a passing touchdown, two rushing touchdowns, a few interceptions, and I thought, ‘Man, that’s the best moment of my life.’ After that, getting drafted by the Lions was the best moment of my life. Now I’m walking out of the tunnel as a Lion, scoring a touchdown, I’m just so grateful. I’m really thankful to God for being so faithful to me.
WR Jackson Meeks
On his feelings regarding his performance during the training camp:
I have the feeling that I went out there andmade playsBut there’s a lot of things I still need to clean up. On that touchdown, I didn’t have enough depth. There were some defenders I couldn’t get through in the running game. It’s stuff I still need to fix. When I was out there, I took full advantage of my chance. But there’s still things I need to clean up.
RB Sione Vaki
On the main distinction between Scottie Montgomery and Tashard Choice:
Not much of a difference, they’re both intelligent individuals. I would simply mention that Tashard has experience in the position, so having the other side covered is beneficial.
On how it has been working with Choice during training camp:
It’s been great, buddy. What you witness on the field is exactly what you experience in the room. If you speak to any of the other guys, you’ll find out.
DE Isaac Ukwu
Rewatching last season’s movie to enhance performance for this year:
It’s simply something to reflect on and use as a foundation, identifying where you made errors and recognizing where others exploited your vulnerabilities. Then, focus on improving during the off-season. That was a significant aspect. I just wanted to understand what I did wrong, figure out my mistakes, and then work on those areas during the off-season so I could demonstrate that I could correct them and continue to improve when the next season begins.
CB/S Rock Ya-Sin
On how long it took him to recognize the character of defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
Most likely our first meeting in the spring, we already knew who Shep was. Our first meeting in the spring. He carries a certain amount of intensity. He’s an effective coach, he’s competitive. I respect him, he’s a solid coach.
More from Lions OnSI:
This piece was first released onwww.si.com/nfl/lions as What People Are Saying: Isaac TeSlaa Fulfilling His Dream.
