[accordion_item open=”true” title=”Head Coach Jim Caldwell”]

RE: View of “dirty” reputation of defensive tackles prior to coaching them and how it’s changed

“One of the things I think you find about our guys in the interior is they play the game the way it’s supposed to be played. They’re tough, they’re hard-nosed. I walked into this particular facility with a blank slate with everybody but I know those guys in the interior and Ndamukong Suh is as fine a person as he is a player.”

RE: If he leans on offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi this week with his history in the NFC South

“Certainly he knows the particular division extremely well and obviously we play all the teams in the division so yeah there’s no question about it. He has a real good feel for them and he understand what their strengths are and he’s been helpful to our staff because of that reason.”

RE: How Lions tight end Eric Ebron has done and how he needs to improve

“He plays a position that requires that he lines up in a number of different areas. Conceptually he has to be able to know all of the routes from about three different spots. Not only that he has to be able to deal with protections, the movements that we have in our scheme, all of those things he has to be in tuned to. Literally instead of learning one position, learning our tight end position is like learning three. So he’s a young player, he’s coming along and making good progress.”

 RE: Whether Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy should be allowed to play

“It’s not my position to pass judgment upon anyone about any of those situations. It’s being reviewed and being looked at by the folks in charge at the NFL office and they’ll make the right decision. Obviously he’s a talented guy and does a tremendous job of wreaking havoc upon the opposing teams and he’s a guy that we’re certainly concerned with in terms of making sure we can block him.”

[accordion_item open=”true” title=”Quarterback Matt Stafford”]

RE:  What are your thoughts on the Panthers defensive front?

“They are exceptional.  They’ve got guys that can really get after the passer, they are solid against the run, their front seven is as good as anybody we’ll see, for sure, maybe as good as anybody in the league.”

RE:  Was the second touchdown to Calvin Johnson just a showing of how comfortable both of you are with one another?

“Yea I think so, I think I try to know his limitations as best I can, even though there are hardly any, and as far as where you can put a ball and where he can go get it.  It was really impressive the way he changed direction and went and got that ball.  I tried to put it in a safe spot where either he catches it or nobody does.  I think he understands that whether I break the pocket or I hang in the pocket a little longer, to always be running and always be thinking.  I think everybody on our offense does that, just knowing that I’m not going to get too far with my feet, so I’m breaking the pocket to try to throw the ball down the field somewhere.”

RE:  Did you surprise yourself with how you were on your feet?

“I really didn’t even think about it until everybody started talking to me about it after the game.  I thought I was just playing the game and trying to make plays as best I could.  I guess it worked better than it normally does and I’m glad for it.”

RE:  Is the cutback your only move?

“Yea for sure, I don’t have Cam Newton moves, I just have one.”

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