Detroit Lions: Bob Quinn, Matt Patricia speak at 2018 NFL Combine

Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia took their turns for a pre-NFL Combine press conference. Here’s the highlights.

As is custom at the start of the NFL Combine, today started a steady stream of NFL coaches and general managers to one of three podiums for 15 minute press conferences.

The NFL requires at least the head coach or general manager be made available, but the Detroit Lions decided to go with a double dose this year as both Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia spoke.

First up was Bob Quinn. Here is a rundown of what he had to say:

• Quinn acknowledged speaking with Ziggy Ansah yesterday but said he would not disclose any contract talks publicly.
• It’s been good working with Matt Patricia and working on the staff. They’ve been going through possible free agents the last week or so.
• The Lions have not talked to Haloti Ngata about a return yet but he said they’d have talks with all their free agents.
• Quinn said Kenny Golladay needs a good offseason to get his body ready.
• Lions will have four or five running backs on the roster every year. Said Ameer Abdullah has three down ability and they like him but has to prove himself.
• They want to be balanced between the run and pass but weren’t last season. Lack of balance isn’t good for anyone. There is belief they can get there with Jim Bob Cooter and the new staff.
• Quinn would not get into specifics about team needs. Said they have a good sense of where they’re going but wouldn’t spill any details.
• Underrated aspect of this running back class is pass protection. Quinn likes the group in this class, thinks it’s a deep class of running backs. Ability to pass protect is “crucial in this league.”
• Have to be able to adjust in free agency because a lot of guy you like now will end up re-signing with their original teams before ever getting to free agency. It’s going to be hard this year with the group that will be available because teams will be looking to re-sign their own guys.
• Teez Tabor was started slowly on purpose to get his feet wet but played well down the stretch. Guys like Tabor and Jamal Agnew were drafted for a reason and may be counted on to step up into bigger roles in 2018.
• Lions dialed back Jarrad Davis‘ responsibilities mid-season to let him just go out and play. Quinn was happy with how he played late in the season.
• Height/weight/speed is important but how good of a football player a guy is is more important.
• Good thing about Graham Glasgow is he can play both guard and center. They will see who is on the roster later on to determine where he’ll play.
• It was confirmed that Eric Ebron will be on the roster in 2018. Ebron’s fifth-year option was previously picked up but is guaranteed for injury only.
• Ziggy played well down the stretch. Offensive lines slide to him all the time so that more than half the time he has two guys blocking him.
• Every quarterback in the league has bumps and bruises. Matthew Stafford is extremely tough. He’s big into nutrition and taking care of his body. Quinn has seen that over the last two years he’s been there.
• Compensatory pick formula will not drive decisions. It comes up in conversations but isn’t a driver of decisions.

Wrapping up the Lions presence at the podium will be Matt Patricia. Here is what he had to say:

• Defense will be whatever it needs to be against the opponent that week rather than 4-3 or 3-4. 90% is sub-package anyway.
• Patricia called Ziggy Ansah a great player and said they’ll do everything they can to put him in good positions.
• Big picture is setting a schedule for the short term and long term for where they want to be.
• Getting staff together was the first priority, then evaluating players and getting ready for free agency, then the schedule for the offseason program.
• Nothing really surprised Patricia when reviewing the team because he went into it with fresh eyes. Just tried to evaluate everyone to see where they’ll go from there. Start from scratch and go from there.
• Patricia said he likes to start over every year whether he is head coach or when he was a coordinator.
• Noted a good group of hardworking guys.
• Lucky to have Bob Quinn along side him because this is his first time walking this path as head coach. Quinn and Patricia were able to quickly fall into their old ways from when they worked together before.
• Patricia loves to meet with players one-on-one, face-to-face. He’s all about the relationship, wants to know about players as people as a starting point.
• Means a lot to have other guys who have been through the process he’s going through now check in on him and be able to talk about things.
• Evaluating the defensive line is about looking at technique and fundamentals because some scheme things may not carry over. Also depends on what a player was asked to do because there is a difference between not being able to do something and not being asked to do something.
• Team needs are always changing but starts with competition and players pushing each other. Wants everyone in a position to compete for playing time. That’s good competition.
• Everyone needs to be multiple because if you can only do one thing you better be excellent.
• Jarrad Davis was thrown in the fire quickly – that’s extremely difficult to do. Said Davis went out and did it at a high level.
• “Balance” is a nice word but it’s all about doing what you need to win. There were times in New England they knew they wouldn’t be able to run so they threw the ball 50 times. Problem is if you’re always one sided.
• Patricia enjoys the offseason process with free agency and the draft, getting to know the guys and pick their brains. Chance to see how guys think and process.

Next: Why Lions leading NFL in cash spending means nothing

Video is available on DetroitLions.com if you’d like to go back and watch the press conference sessions.