LIONS HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE WEEK 3

Detroit, MI—The Detroit Lions have named Mike Smith of Lapeer West High School the week three recipient of the 2013 High School Football Coach of the Week Program. Smith led his Panthers to a 19-13 victory over cross town rival Lapeer East on September 13 to claim their third victory of the season. This game marked the final game in the 39 year rivalry as both schools will be merging at the end of the school year. In his 29th season at Lapeer West, 16th as head coach, Smith has directed Lapeer West to 11 state playoff appearances. Smith was the defensive coordinator at Lapeer West when the Panthers won the 1995 Class A State Championship. This Friday, Lapeer West, ranked #7 in Division 3, will look to go 4-0 as take on Flint Metro League foe Swartz Creek. In addition to his accomplishments on the field, Smith and the Lapeer West Athletic Department are proactive in terms of promoting player health and safety. ImPACT Concussion testing is administered for every athlete during the pre-season of their 7th, 9th and 11th grade year. Coaches and the school athletic trainer have implemented a thorough return to play protocol for concussions as well a heat and humidity policy endorsed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. All coaches are concussion, CPR and AED certified.

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LIONS TO HOST MNF THIRD STRAIGHT SEASON, HOST PACK ON TURKEY DAY

LIONS ANNOUNCE 2013 SCHEDULE


Detroit to host Monday Night Football Game for Third-Straight Season; Set to Face Green Bay on Thanksgiving for 21st Time

Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced their full 2013 season schedule today. For the third-straight season, Detroit will host ESPN’s Monday Night Football when the defending Super Bowl Champions Baltimore Ravens travel to Ford Field Monday, December 16 at 8:40 p.m.

This season marks the first time the Lions will play on MNF in three-straight seasons since 1994-96 and will host a MNF game three-straight years since they had MNF games each season from 1981-84.

The schedule also features the Lions’ 74th Thanksgiving Day Classic Thursday, November 28 at 12:30 p.m. ET vs. the Green Bay Packers. This year’s game marks the 21st meeting between the Lions and Packers on Thanksgiving and the sixth time since 2001. Detroit has played Green Bay more than any other opponent in the Thanksgiving Day series and holds an 11-8-1 (.579) advantage.

In Week 1, Detroit will kick off the regular season at home for the second-consecutive season when they host the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field (September 9, 1 p.m.; FOX) in an NFC North clash. The last time the Lions opened at home in back-to-back seasons was 2005-06.

The 2013 season opener is just the second time in franchise history the Lions will host the Vikings on opening day. The teams have played four previous times on opening day, with the Lions traveling to Minnesota three times (1986, 1987 and 1996) and once at home (1971).

The Lions Bye Week occurs during Week 9 (Sunday, November 3) of the NFL season.

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DETROIT LIONS NAME MARCUS ROBERTSON SECONDARY COACH

Allen Park, Mich.—The Detroit Lions announced today that they have named Marcus Robertson as the team’s secondary coach.

This year marks his 23rd season in the NFL and his seventh season as a coach, specializing in the defensive backfield. From 2007-11, he coached five NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans where he started as an assistant secondary coach (2007-08) and finished as their secondary coach (2009-11).

Robertson’s first season assisting with the secondary was 2007. That season the Titans improved from 27th to 10th in pass defense and from 32nd to fifth in overall yardage allowed.

In 2008, three of the four Tennessee secondary players (CB Cortland Finnegan, S Chris Hope, S Michael Griffin) were invited to the Pro Bowl for the first time in their careers. Overall, the defensive backs collected 19 interceptions, which ranked second in the NFL in interceptions by a secondary. The Titans ranked ninth in pass defense and seventh in total defense.

Robertson was promoted to secondary coach in 2009, and the Titans finished that season eighth in the NFL in interceptions (20) and second in interceptions returned for touchdown (4). Over the span of his three seasons coaching Tennessee’s secondary (2009-11), the Titans were second in the NFL in average passing yards/completion (10.55).

Robertson played 12 NFL seasons after being drafted out of Iowa State in the fourth round by the Houston Oilers in 1991. He played his first 10 seasons in Houston/Tennessee and finished his career with Seattle (2001-02). Robertson’s NFL career was highlighted by All-Pro seasons in 1993 and 1997. He played in 157 games (144 starts) with 851 tackles, 24 interceptions and 1.5 sacks.

After Robertson’s playing career ended with the Seahawks, he returned to the Titans as their Director of Player Development (2003-06). He spent the next four years assisting players with their career transition into and out of the NFL through continuing education, financial education and dealing with family matters through player programs. Robertson and his staff won the Winston and Shell Award in 2006 for their innovation and commitment to player development in the NFL

Robertson was inducted into the Iowa State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009, where he starred as a cornerback and totaled 257 tackles, six interceptions and nine forced fumbles during his four-year career.

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LIONS HIRE BRIAN XANDERS AS SENIOR PERSONNEL EXECUTIVE

Allen Park, Mich.—The Detroit Lions announced today that they have hired Brian Xanders as Senior Personnel Executive.

Xanders joins the Lions following a five-year stint with the Denver Broncos, including the last four seasons as the Broncos general manager. This season marks his 20th season in the NFL that includes him serving in a variety of player personnel, football operations and coaching roles while with the Broncos and Atlanta Falcons.

“As I indicated following the season, we are re-evaluating all aspects of our football operation," said Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Martin Mayhew. “As part of process, we are thrilled to announce the hiring of Brian Xanders who has a wealth of experience that will benefit our organization.

“Brian’s addition, given his diverse background, positively impacts all aspects of our team's football operations. He brings experience as a general manager and has worked in both pro and college scouting. In addition to his personnel background, he has experience in contract negotiations and expertise in the development and use of technological resources in player personnel.

“Brian will effectively improve on the structure we have in place and will add another set of eyes to the evaluation process.”

At the time of his promotion in 2009, Xanders was the youngest general manager in the NFL at the age of 37.

During his tenure as the Broncos general manager, Denver claimed the 2011 NFC West Division title. From 2009-11, the Broncos acquired 25 players through the draft and free agency that ended the 2011 season on the active or reserve roster. Denver became only the third team since the 1970 NFL merger to win its division and a playoff game with a new head coach following four or fewer wins the previous season.

In 2011, with the assistance of the college scouting and pro personnel departments, Xanders navigated the 2011 offseason that lacked organized team activities and acquired 19 newcomers that made the opening-day roster and helped Denver capture its first AFC West Division title in six seasons. Two of those newcomers—running back Willis McGahee and linebacker Von Miller—made the Pro Bowl, making Denver the only team in the NFL in 2011 to have a free agent acquisition and a draft choice make the league’s annual All-Star Game.

Nine rookies saw playing time for the Broncos in 2011, including seven individuals that started at least one game. Miller was named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and made the Pro Bowl after tying the franchise rookie sack record (11.5), and right tackle Orlando Franklin opened all 16 regular-season games and two playoff contests for the club.

The Broncos also signed several players through free agency in 2011, including regular starters in McGahee and tight end Daniel Fells. McGahee rushed for 1,199 yards and tied for the NFL lead with seven individual 100-yard rushing games in 2011. Defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, who was acquired via trade, solidified Denver’s interior and helped the Broncos improve in nearly every defensive statistical category from 2010.

During his tenure in Denver, he also supervised the day-to-day operations of the Broncos' equipment, medical, video, football systems and turf operations departments. He was originally hired by Denver as assistant general manager in 2008.

Before the Broncos hired him in 2008, he worked 14 seasons (1994-2007) with the Atlanta Falcons. Xanders served as director of football administration/ player personnel analyst (2006-07), director of football administration/ salary cap analyst (2002-05), director of football systems/ player personnel (2000-01), quality control – defense (1997-99) and systems information (1994-96).

Xanders was a member of the Falcons' defensive coaching staff on their 1998 team that became the first in franchise history to earn a Super Bowl berth (XXXIII). Selected by the Falcons to attend Stanford University's NFL Program for Managers in 2005, he has given speeches at several universities on NFL player personnel issues.

During his previous 19 NFL seasons, Xanders has worked with 11 different head coaches, including Dan Reeves, Wade Phillips, Jim Mora, Mike Smith, Mike Shanahan and John Fox. He also trained under several different player personnel executives such as Ron Hill, Bobby Beathard, Rich McKay, Tim Ruskell, Billy Devaney, Phil Emery and Thomas Dimitroff.

A former middle linebacker who played for Bobby Bowden at Florida State University from 1989-92, Xanders was a member of four bowl-winning teams with the Seminoles that had a 42-7 combined record. He was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference academic team selection and graduated from FSU with a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's degree in business management.

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LIONS LONG SNAPPER DON MUHLBACH ADDED TO NFC PRO BOWL TEAM

Allen Park, Mich.— Detroit Lions LS Don Muhlbach was added today to the 2013 NFC Pro Bowl team. Muhlbach’s addition as the squad’s long snapper was made by Green Bay Head Coach Mike McCarthy and the Packers coaching staff, who are serving as this year’s NFC staff.

Muhlbach, the ninth-year long snapper, is the first-ever Lions specialist who did not kick, punt or return to play special teams in the Pro Bowl.

“Don is a huge part of my success and a significant part of our kicking game,” said K Jason Hanson. “He is as accurate and consistent as there is in the League. With the field goal process, it all starts with him. He works hard and takes great pride in what he does. This is a great honor for him and is well deserved.”

In 2012, Muhlbach was a key piece to Hanson breaking the team’s all-time single-season scoring record, as he snapped for 32 field goals and 38 PATs. Muhlbach proved exceptionally valuable on long distance kicks this year as his steady snaps aided Hanson when he connected on 18 40+-yard field goals, the second-highest single-season total in NFL history.

Muhlbach’s velocity and accuracy places him among the best in the league in his specialty, and he is a critical part of the Lions’ snap-hold-kick trio. During his career, he has played in 132 career games and recorded 32 special teams tackles.

Since Muhlbach has snapped for Hanson on the field goal team in 2004, that unit’s accuracy has improved with the most significant increase coming on long-range field goals. Hanson’s field goal accuracy with Muhlbach as the snapper has increased 5.8 percent on overall attempts. That improvement is 12.7-percent for field goals of 40-49 yards, 14.2-percent for field goals 40+ yards and 19.4 percent for field goals of 50+ yards.

With Muhlbach snapping, Hanson is 59-of-73 (80.8 pct) on field goal attempts of 40-49 yards, 81-of-107 (75.7 pct) from 40+ yards and 25-of-37 (67.6 pct) on 50+-yard field goals.

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CALVIN JOHNSON TALKS ABOUT BREAKING JERRY RICE'S RECORD

LIONS WR CALVIN JOHNSON ON...

 

How breaking the NFL record for single-season receiving yards feels with a 4-11 record: “It feels tough because we fought our way back a little bit and just couldn’t…it was just turnovers that kept us... I had a fumble. It was just turnovers. We took ourselves out of it. But at the same time man, it’s an accomplishment that took a lot of work man. You can’t take that thing away.”

 

What it was like to go to the sideline and give your father the record-setting football: “When you’re in the game you’re still in the moment. You’re still on the play that just happened so I was still focused in there. I was in my zone you know. So I went over there – I don’t think I even said anything to my dad when I gave him the ball. I just gave him a hug. When I think back on it, it was a special moment.”

 

What you were thinking as you were crossing the field and the ball was coming towards you: “The crazy thing is we ran the ball earlier, got walled off by the mike (LB Akeem Dent) and (Sean) Witherspoon and called the same route again and just bounced it around like coach told me. The biggest thing is I just like to see the ball. See the ball.”

 

If he knew as soon as you caught it: “Yeah, because the guys were telling me on the sideline I’m like four, five yards away so it was just like one reception and I’m there. So I’m like shoot, we’re going to knock this thing down.”

 

Who was telling you on the sideline: “Everybody – everybody was keeping record of it.”

 

If he his aim set on 2,000 yards: “Man, I don’t know where we stand but we got another game left so you never know what could happen. Like I said, just told the team, ‘Come back study film; we got a divisional opponent so we might as well go ahead and get our mind right.’ We’ll come in here and try to get this win this week and leave the season on a good note.”

 

How big a part of this record is QB Matthew Stafford: “It’s half his too. He’s the one delivering me the ball every week. When we both stay healthy man, we can do some special things out there.”

 

If he believed tonight would be the night he broke the record: “Never know because we’ve had plenty of 200-yard games. Like I say, when we’re on the field together, you know what’s going to happen. When we see our favorite coverage, we’re going to attack it. We saw some holes in there and my trainer, I was working with him before the game, he’s like, ‘We’re going to get this thing tonight.’ He had me feeling good before the game and we got it.”

 

The trainer: “My trainer from back home, Tom Bender.”

 

If the Falcons played you straight up more than most teams did: “They did. They did a game plan. They’re obviously a team that’s going to do what they do. They stuck to what they did and we saw that a lot this year. More than expected and we were able to take advantage of it sometimes but we weren’t able to get the record like we wanted. In the end of things, didn’t expect coming into the year to see this happen, but now that it has it’s a part of history. I’m sure it will sink in at some point.”

 

Where the ball is: “My dad got it right there. I told him not to let it go.”

 

The ball not going to Canton: “Oh no, that’s my ball. (Laughter)”

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IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR JOHNSON AGAINST ATLANTA FALCONS

Postgame notes from the Detroit Lions 31-18 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field, December 22, 2012.
JOHNSON’S RECORD-SETTING PERFORMANCE

With 11 receptions for 225 yards vs. the Atlanta Falcons, WR Calvin Johnson set several NFL and franchise records.

 

Single-Season Receiving Yards – NFL Record

• Johnson established a new NFL single-season record for receiving yards, now with 1,892 yards, by breaking Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice’s 17-year old mark of 1,848 yards in 1995. The new record occurred on his 10^th reception of the game that went for 26 yards with 3:05 left in the fourth quarter.
• He is now 108 yards shy of becoming the first player in NFL history to register 2,000 receiving yards in a season.

Single-Season Receiving Yards – Lions Record

• On the second reception of the game, a 49-yard catch in the first quarter, Johnson set a new franchise record for receiving yards in a season. He broke a team record set by WR Herman Moore (1,686) in 1995.

Season Receiving Yards Milestones

• Johnson is the second player to register over 1,800 receiving yards and the fifth player to record over 1,700 yards in NFL history.Rice (1,848 in 1995) and Johnson are the only players to record 1,800 receiving yards in a season, and Johnson joins Rice, WR Isaac Bruce (1,781 in 1995), Hennigan (1,746 in 1961) and WR Marvin Harrison (1,722 in 2002) in the group of receivers to record 1,700 yards in a season.

Yards Per Game Average - Season

• With 1,892 yards in 15 games, Johnson is now averaging 126.1 yards per game. His yards per game average is currently the highest among any players in NFL History to play at least 12 games in a season. His yards per game average increased today and moved past WR Charley Hennigan (124.7 yds/g in 1961) and WR Leroy “Cray Legs” Hirsch (124.6 in 1951).

Consecutive 100-Yard Games

• By gaining over 100 yards, Johnson set an NFL record with his eighth-straight 100-yard receiving game. He broke the previous record (7) by WR Charley Hennigan (1961) and WR Michael Irvin (1995).

100-Yard Games - Season

• Johnson’s also tied an NFL record with his 11th 100-yard receiving game this season. He is currently tied with Irvin who had 11 in 1995.
• With 11 100-yard receiving games, Johnson broke the franchise record of 100-yard games in a season set by Moore (10) in 1995.

200-Yard Games

• With 225 yards vs. Atlanta, Johnson registered his fourth career 200-yard game and became the fifth player in NFL history with four career 200-yard games (WR Lance Alworth, 5; E Don Hutson, WR Charley Hennigan and WR Jerry Rice).
• His four 200-yard games are tied for the second-most in NFL history.
• Johnson’s 225 yards are the fourth-highest single-game total in Lions history and the second-highest of Johnson’s career.
• Johnson registered two 200-yard games in 2011 and in 2012, becoming the first player in NFL history to record two 200-yard games in two different seasons.

Consecutive 10+-Reception Games

• Johnson’s 11 receptions was his fourth-straight game with 10+ receptions and he became the first player in NFL history to register 10+ receptions in four-straight games.

Season Receptions Totals

• Johnson’s 11 receptions increased his season total to 117. He is the second player in team history to record 110+ receptions in a season. He surpassed WR Herman Moore (106 in 1995) and WR Brett Perriman (108 in 1995) for the second-most receptions in a season by a Lions receiver. Moore holds the all-time team record with 123 in 1995.
• With 117 receptions, Johnson is now tied with WR Torry Holt (2003) for the ninth-most single-season receptions in history.

Two-Year Dominance

• Johnson is the first player in NFL history to record over 3,400 and 3,500 receiving yards in a span of two seasons. He extended his NFL record for most receiving yards by registering 3,573 yards since the beginning of the 2011 season.

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Lions Saturday Night Half Time

More than 400 children from Metro Detroit elementary schools will participate.

Allen Park, Mich.—Ford Field will transform into a giant recess during halftime of the Detroit Lions’ game against the Atlanta Falcons, Saturday, December 22. Approximately 400 metro Detroit elementary students will be teaming up with Lions alumni to highlight Living for the City’s Play 60 partnership with Playworks Detroit.

 

“Along with our partners, Playworks Detroit, XBOX Kinect and Blue Cross Blue Shield, we have a fiduciary responsibility to help support physical activity and play,’ said Detroit Lions Team President Tom Lewand. “This halftime program is a great opportunity to share our dedication to improving the health and wellbeing of Detroit area students with our fans.”

 

At the conclusion of the first half, Playworks Detroit will lead children in traditional recess activities including hula hoops, jump ropes and a game of ‘spiders and flies,’ a style of tag that will span the entire field. Lions alumni Lamar Campbell, Damien Gregory, Ron Rice and Cory Schlesinger will join the students during the halftime event.

 

"There is nothing like seeing the joy on a child's face when they are safely playing at recess", said Jeannine Gant, Playworks Executive Director in Detroit, "Playworks is so glad the Lions see the value of play in helping children get physically active."

 

To measure the combined movement of the whole recess group, select students will be wearing MOVbands, donated by MOVABLE. MOVbands are fun and simple wrist-worn activity monitors that can be used with MOVchallenges in schools to promote increased movement and goal-setting. An estimate of the students’ total movement will be made in the third quarter of the game.

 

"Having awareness of our daily physical activity is a key component to creating a healthy and active lifestyle. We are very excited to have this opportunity to use MOVbands to show how easy and fun it can be to increase your movement," Blake Squires, Founder and CEO of MOVABLE.

 

Playworks Detroit is a nonprofit organization that supports learning through safe, inclusive play and physical activity in schools through organized games and activities. They aim to teach valuable lessons such as cooperation, conflict resolution and social skills and through their partnership with Living for the City’s Play 60 initiative, Playworks is helping local students become active and play for at least 60 minutes a day.

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FORD FIELD GOES WIFI

DETROIT — Detroit Lions fans with Verizon Wireless service will have access to free WiFi at Ford Field beginning December 22 when the Lions take on the Atlanta Falcons. Ford Field becomes the ninth WiFi enabled NFL stadium.

“We were excited to collaborate with Verizon to provide our shared customers with free WiFi at Ford Field,” said Detroit Lions Team President Tom Lewand. “It’s another opportunity to enhance our stadium experience and, along with the Detroit Lions mobile app, engage our fans like never before.”

The new high-density WiFi system, designed and built by Verizon, supplements its traditional cell sites that provide wireless coverage in and around Ford Field as well as its existing in-stadium distributed antenna system (DAS).

Verizon’s DAS, which is the standard for densely populated areas where volumes of wireless demand are high, was built into Ford Field in 2006. At the start of the 2012 football season, Verizon began redesigning and expanding its DAS to increase capacity for fans.

“Our Network team worked closely with the Detroit Lions to construct this new WiFi system that will provide our customers with even more capacity at Ford Field,” said John Granby, president, Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region, Verizon Wireless. “Sports fans are increasingly reliant on their wireless devices for streaming video, accessing social media and downloading their favorite team apps and other content. We built this high-tech network to offer our subscribers another reliable solution that works in tandem with our existing network.”

Approximately 10 miles of blown fiber-optic cable and 15 miles of copper cabling were used to build the new network, which is the first of its kind in any major sports arena in Michigan.

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LIONS - CARDS, HIGHTLIGHTS - LOWLIGHTS...

THE HGHLIGHTS...


WR Calvin Johnson
WR Calvin Johnson caught 10 passes for 121 yards at Arizona (9/16). With his effort against the Cardinals, Johnson reached or surpassed several individual, team and NFL milestones. On the season, he has a career-high 106 catches for 1,667 yards.

PACING THE RECORD
With 1,667 receiving yards through 14 games, Johnson has stayed on pace to break the NFL’s all-time single-season record for receiving yards set by Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice with 1,848 yards in 1995. Johnson is now 181 yards shy of Rice’s mark and needs to average 90.5 receiving yards per game in the team’s final two games to tie Rice’s record.

Johnson trails WR Herman Moore by 20 yards for the Lions’ single-season record. Moore set the franchise record with 1,686 yards in 1995. Johnson finished the 2011 season just five yards shy of the mark when he recorded a career-best 1,681 yards.

SEVEN-STRAIGHT 100-YARD GAMES
With 121 yards at Arizona, Johnson registered his seventh-straight 100-yard receiving game and tied the NFL record for consecutive 100-yard games (7; WR Charley Hennigan in 1967 and WR Michael Irvin in 1995).

He broke the Lions franchise record for consecutive 100-yard receiving games previously set by WR Pat Studsill (6) in 1966.

Johnson garnered his 10th 100-yard receiving game this season and is now tied for the second-most during a season in NFL history (10; WR Charley Hennigan in 1961, WR Herman Moore in 1995, WR Marvin Harrison in 2002 and WR Torry Holt in 2003).

By reaching 10 100-yard games in 2012, he tied the Lions franchise record of 10 set by WR Herman Moore in 1995.

He tallied his 31st career 100-yard receiving game and 18th over the past two seasons.

SEASON TOTAL OF 1,667 YARDS
With 1,667 receiving yards in 2012, Johnson has surpassed 1,600 receiving yards this season, becoming the first receiver in NFL history with back-to-back 1,600-yard seasons.

He joins WR Marvin Harrison (1999, 2001) and WR Torry Holt (2,000 and 2003) as the only players in NFL history with two 1,600-yard receiving seasons.

Johnson is only the third player in NFL history to register 1,600 yards in the first 14 games of the season and the first to do so since WR Lance Alworth (1,602) in 1965. He has the second-most yards through 14 games behind WR Charley Hennigan (1,746 in 1961).

100 RECEPTIONS
With 10 catches today, Johnson moved his receptions output on the season to 106. He is now the third player in team history to record 100 receptions in a season. Johnson is the first to accomplish this since WR Herman Moore had 104 receptions in 1997.

Johnson’s 106 receptions are tied with Moore (106 in 1996) for the third-highest single-season total in Lions history.

It is the fifth season a player has registered 100+ receptions in team history

10 RECEPTIONS
With 10 receptions at Arizona, Johnson registered his fifth game this season with 10+ receptions and set a new franchise record for most games of 10+ receptions in a single season. He broke the team’s record previously set by WR Herman Moore, who had four in 1995.

His 10-catch outing at Arizona was the third consecutive game with 10+ receptions (13 vs. Ind 12/2; 10 at GB 12/9; 10 at Arz 12/16), tying a franchise record set by WR Brett Perriman in 1995 (10 at TB 11/12/95; 12 at Chi 11/19/95; 12 vs. Min 12/23/95).

Johnson registered his eighth career game with 10+ receptions, which trails WR Herman Moore’s career franchise record of nine.

JOHNSON’S TWO-YEAR TOTALS
Johnson now has tallied 3,348 receiving yards since the beginning of the 2011 season. He has set the NFL record for most receiving yards over a two-year span. He surpassed the previous mark of 3,347 yards by Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice in 1994-95.

7,500 YARDS THROUGH 90 GAMES
Johnson now has tallied 3,348 receiving yards since the beginning of the 2011 season. He has set the NFL record for most receiving yards over a two-year span. He surpassed the previous mark of 3,347 yards by Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice in 1994-95.


THE LOWLIGHTS...from Today's Presser.

LIONS HEAD COACH JIM SCHWARTZ ON...

The most disappointing aspect of the loss to Arizona: “Well, we’ve had a lot of games this year that came down to one play. You know, one critical play in the fourth quarter that you look at and say, ‘Hey, if we made that one we would have won the game.’ We can’t be naïve to think that this was one of those games. Even though we have a chance to pull within seven with six minutes to play, that really wasn’t the case in this game. There were way too many errors in this game to have a chance to win and it showed on the scoreboard.”


If the mistakes on the field have been mental errors: “We had very few mental mistakes in the game. You know, we had a couple false starts with crowd noise. I mean, we need to do a better job with those, but we had very few times where guys weren’t in the right position or stuff like that. I’m never going to get up here and say that talent’s our issue. I have confidence in our players. If we put them on the field, we have confidence in them. You know, you might not always have a full complement of players, but it’s our job as coaches to put those guys in position. Try to find the combination of guys and try to find a way to get it done. We were short a defensive lineman this week. We went to some three defensive lineman packages. We’ve always adjusted and that’s just our job as coaches, and it’s players’ jobs as players to make those adjustments.”


If the coaching staff is preparing the team well enough: “We’re all in this together and this team goes out and works hard and prepares every single week. We haven’t always gotten it done on Sundays, particularly these last six weeks. And we’re going to work hard to get that right.”


What responsibility he takes as coach: “One hundred percent. I appreciate it when a quarterback wants to take blame for it, but ultimately it’s the head coach’s responsibility. I mean, head coaches always have a record. Other than playoffs I don’t know if I’ve ever seen quarterbacks have records. Usually it’s playoffs, ‘Hey this guy is whatever in the playoffs.’ The ultimate responsibility of the team is the head coach and I need to do a better job, 4-10 isn’t good enough.”

How disturbed he is by a six-game losing streak: “Well, we’re not happy about it. It’s been a long time since we’ve won. We’ll work hard to get that right but it’s certainly not something we’re happy about.”

LB Stephen Tulloch’s comment about players on one-year deals having that on their minds on the field: “I don’t think that has anything to do with our coaching staff. Players, I mean, it’s a real dynamic as far as the business of the NFL when it comes to players. I think all our players are professional and they leave that aside when it comes to playing in the game. I don’t want to speak for Stephen but I haven’t seen any sign of that. I think we have a lot of guys that are on the last year of the deal that are having some of their best seasons.” 

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