Jim Caldwell Comments on Detroit Lions Loss to Bills
By Zac Snyder
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell met with the media following today’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. Here is what he had to say, as provided by the Detroit Lions.
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Opening Statement: “Obviously, a tough one to lose. You certainly have to give credit to Buffalo. They did a nice job of containing us in the run, put some pressure on our quarterback as well and did a nice job overall. But then also when you look at us, anytime you leave points on the table in this league, obviously it’s bound to come back and haunt you. They did a great job of taking advantage of those opportunities. The interception that they converted to points was also obviously one of those turning points where they get a good feeling that they’re back into the ballgame. But nevertheless, in this league there’s no lead that’s safe. If you can’ extend it, you’re going to have some problems down the stretch. We had some difficulty in our kicking game, which is obvious, which is an area that we’re going to have to look at to continue to try to improve, that’s key. But there’s a couple of things that this game told us and one of them you already know, the other is obviously something we don’t. Number one is that regardless if we won or lost this game, we still have to go back and go to work. We’ve got to work on our weaknesses and the areas where we didn’t perform well and that’s something that’s extremely important in this league. You’ve got to continue to improve every single week. Number two, all this tells us in terms of this loss is the fact that we won’t go 15-1. No other guarantees beyond that. You don’t know what it’s going to look like in the future. Nobody knows beyond today, but it’s up to us to pave our way and to come back from this particular loss. Right now, we’ve got a few guys that are banged up, we’ve got to lick our wounds, get ourselves back in order and come back out ready to go next week.”
On missing three field goals: “One of the things that I’ll continue to say and that goes for me or anyone else that plays this game, in this league, it’s a performance-based league, plain and simple and you have to perform. Anyone that doesn’t, we take a look and see if we can improve that one way or another. That’s our obligation to obviously our fans, our team, our organization. So, we’ll do just that.”
On WR Calvin Johnson’s health status: “I won’t be certain if it’s a long-term issue, but he did take a pretty good whack right there on the side of his leg. They looked at it, but they’ll evaluate him further probably tomorrow and will get a good look at him. Reggie (Bush) is probably another name you’ll ask about because he obviously came out of the game and we’ll also see what’s happening with him as well.”
On why the team has had kicking issues and if he can pinpoint the problem: “I wish I could. It’s just the way it is. It’s a performance-based issue and we haven’t performed very well in a couple of ball games, and in those couple of games it’s cost us.”
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On the offensive line’s play today and QB Matthew Stafford not having many opportunities to throw downfield: “I think I have to look at that and kind of take a look. One of the things that you have to understand too is that sacks are sometimes due to coverage and nobody getting open. Obviously, the timing is off a little bit. It also has to do with the protection phase of it. It may not only be the offensive line, it could be tight ends, it could be backs. It’s also the timing of the quarterback too in terms of getting the ball out as well. We have to look at all of those things and I’m sure we’ll be able to look at it and narrow it down and get back to where we should be in that area.”
On how he would evaluate Stafford’s performance and completing 17-of-30 passes: “Overall, I’m not certain if that was exactly what it was, but I know without question he’s played better. And I know he thinks he can play better, but he can’t do it alone either. We have to look at all of those things. Matt will be alright, don’t worry about him. He’ll be fine.”
On how Stafford is physically: “At this point he’s ok, it appears. Often times you have to wait 24 hours before you get a real sense of where you are physically.”
On what he was trying to accomplish on third down after WR Golden Tate’s long play: “Get a first down, that’s what we’re trying to accomplish. We’re trying to convert it. If we could, we’re in good shape. If it wasn’t too long to go for it on fourth down, we may have considered it. But it was within range and we just didn’t perform, didn’t get it done.”
On if 50 yards is within K Alex Henery’s range: “It was within range, yeah.”
On if he had any thoughts of going for it on fourth down instead of trying the field goal: “Not in that situation. Not where that one is. You’ve been around football a long time. I know you’re just asking a question because you have to ask it, but in that situation, with the game in the situation it was with the score as it was, your opportunities kind of narrow down a little bit. Your choices are narrowed down.”
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On why he called a play before the two-minute warning on third down: “Trying to get an extra play. That was our issue there. We were trying to get another play, trying to get something going in that situation and we had scoring on our mind more so than anything else rather than trying to play for the tie. That didn’t hurt us, we ended up catching the ball and going down the field if you zero in on that play. You’re just looking for something to write. That play had no bearing on it. Nevertheless, we’ve got to get better. That’s the plan, basic fact.”
On what he told Henery before and after his last field goal chance: “It just kind of depends on the situation. I certainly don’t want to talk to you or tell you what I said to him in private. That’s between he and I and the rest of the coaching staff. This is the big leagues, plain and simple. If I don’t do my job right, the same thing will happen. All of us are called into question in that regard. We’ve got to perform.”
On RB George Winn’s performance: “I thought he was gritty, which we knew we’d get a real gritty performance from George. He’s a good, tough runner and he’s going to try to get you the tough yards. I think he did that. Was he perfect? No, but I do think he gave us a yeoman’s effort.”