Detroit Lions players meet with the media on August 13 | 2025 Training Camp Day 13

Detroit Lions players meet with the media on August 13 | 2025 Training Camp Day 13

like you were involved a ton a ton of touchdowns. Just kind of one of those days for you, huh? Yeah, it was it was a good day. Um, finally get to go against someone else. So, that was that was a lot lot of fun. Uh, you know, you go against the same guys every day in camp. You feel like they start to know, you know, the routes that we’re running, the concepts, what we like to run in one-on-one. So, to go against someone new, it felt good. Um, just feels like they don’t really know all the time what’s coming. So, that’s always that’s the fun part. But, just to go against someone else, compete is always a lot of fun. What do you think of the offense overall to say? I mean, you guys really played well today in really all periods. Yeah, I think we’re we just keep getting better, I feel like, each and every day in camp. Um, you know, you got new new coaches, new staff. It’s going to take some time to to ad get things figured out, but I think every day we’re getting better. We’re figuring stuff out. Um, I think the coaches are doing a great job of adjusting. We’re doing a great job of listening to what they’re what they’re coaching us to do. And we’re all just I feel like coming together and and trying to make things right. I think that’s what we’re doing. We showed up today. Um, and that was the biggest thing. Just wanted to go out there. I think we had a little bit too many penalties, but I think it was just a matter of, you know, having refs out there for the first time was a little different, but we just want to go out there, um, compete and try to be, you know, have the least amount of mental earth, just try to stay, you know, focused and and, uh, compete, like I said, and that was the biggest thing for us. Davis Taylor, if you guys needed a day like this, if the offense needed a day like this, do you feel like seeing another team with how camp’s gone so far, did you guys need a day like this? I think so. Uh, you know, like I said, we got a we got a pretty good defense, a tough defense. Going going up against them every day. Um, it’s tough. Like I said, you’re going against the same team. They’re getting used to our concepts, how we do things. I mean, we’ve been pretty much the same team for the past few years. So, Shep Shep’s dialing up, but to go against a different defense, it’s just it’s it’s refreshing. Um, something new. I mean, we’re going to be going against different guys all year, so we got to get used to it now. But, it’s always fun to go against, like I said, different guys compete. um see different defenses, maybe defenses we haven’t seen, we got to adjust too. So, it’s a it’s a lot of fun. Anything in particular at all? I mean, obviously coming off season where you had your own injury as well, you was pushing through. Was you was you work, you know, looking to work on anything in particular against the secondary? What was you seeing out of that Miami secondary? Um, you know, I know Jack Jones back from uh back from high school, he’s from California, so me and him go way back, but they got uh you know, I think they moved a lot of guys. Um, so they got a bunch of, you know, new guys I think on defense, younger guys and whatn not, but they competed. they played hard. Um, but for, like I said, for us as an offense, we just want to go out there and and do what we do. Um, execute, no mental errors, errors, um, you know, splits, alignment, depth of the route, everything, no penalties. So, that’s really the biggest thing for us is being clean and I think we were we were pretty clean. We had some penalties, but um, just executing at a high level because I feel like that’s what we’ve been doing here for the past few years. So, we want to continue to keep that keep that going. Jackson like that, you know, Jack. Yeah. Yeah. Jack. Jack. Um, you know, I think DBs in general talk more than than other guys. But yeah, I think, you know, he’s he’s a talker, but I think that’s just that’s what gets him going. There’s guys like that that, you know, they talk and once you talk back, that’s what they need to get them going. So, I know exactly what kind of player he is and that’s just, you know, every player’s different. That’s what gets them going. But today, did today feel more like the offense that you guys have made feel that? Um, I think I mean anytime anytime you’re you’re executing, you’re catching balls, you’re your run game’s going um you’re protecting the quarterback and you know you’re scoring touchdown game first, it always looks good. So, we haven’t watched the tape yet, but from from what I saw out here, I mean, looked pretty solid for us as an offense. Obviously going to be things that we need to clean up, but I think like I said, every day we just we want to get better. We want to keep getting better. That’s the goal. You honestly want to keep getting better until, you know, the end of the season. So, as long as we can keep as long as we can keep improving, um, that’s that’s the biggest thing. Was it acknowledged? Was it acknowledged in any of the offensive meeting rooms amongst the staff and coaches and players that you guys needed to have a good day offensively? Um, do you guys talk about it? Yeah, I mean, I think Yeah, I mean, I feel like we feel like every day we can be better. Um, but it it’s I feel like it’s kind of the you don’t need to say it’s a white elephant. I feel like as an offense, you know, maybe this camp there has been some struggles for us as an offense, but I think that’s normal. You got new coaches, different things, moving parts, um, and a really good, you’re going against a really good defense every day. So, things can get tough, but for us as an offense, we know, you know, the ability that we have, the playmakers, we have, the quarterback, we have the O line. Um, so it’s just a matter of time for us to just keep getting better, improving. Like I said, that’s the name of the game for us right now. And as long as we can just keep stacking days, I think we’ll be just fine. Physicality, these things boil over at some point. And there was a part where Tesla had some bite and he wasn’t afraid to go up. What do you like to see out of young guys investing in that moment? Yeah, you love to see young guys compete. That’s the biggest thing. Um I mean Isaac’s putting his head in there, he’s blocking and that’s something I feel like as a as a young guy, us older players respect that cuz that’s just telling us I mean when he’s out there if he’s with when he’s with her when he’s with us out there on Sundays, he’s gonna you know put his life on the line. He’s going to block go get that safety. The catching the running route that’s going to come easy for him. I mean, that’s what we do. We run routes, we catch ball. So, I mean, for young guys to go in there and put their head in there and hit guys that maybe they’ve never hit, you know, their first joint practice of their career. Um, things get chippy, guys start fighting. I mean, you don’t want to fight in joint practices, but it happens. Um, but just being being able to compete for young guys, I think this is one of the best things they can do. What about if at the end? Um, I mean, Jared’s Jared, he’s consistent. He’s the same guy every day. He brings the energy. Um, And I think, you know, if you give J if you give Jared protection, he’s one of the best in this league. So that’s that’s our our biggest goal is is protecting him, us getting open as receivers, um creating that separation. And as long as, you know, as long as he’s he’s in that pocket, he’s going to give us a a ball that we can catch and we’re going to do the rest. Can you grade your catch on 33? Uh can you just walk us through that? Yeah, you know, I haven’t seen it yet. I hopefully my feet were in. I don’t know how the refs call that. Um the last I feel like my the ball was on his helmet. So as long as that ball wasn’t moving, I think I’m good. But like I said, it was in the moment. I hope I was in. Um but yeah, it was it was a pretty pretty good catch catch and throw by by the signal. Okay, that’s all good then. That’s always good then. Okay. What happened at the end? Is there some bad blood with iffy in the receiving quarter? Yeah, I have no idea. You know, I was walking back and I just look back and I see Jone Ify, but I think I mean I’m not sure what happened. Like I said, I was late to it. Probably some um just competing. Probably some exchange some words. I’m not sure. But I think guys just, you know, competing at the end. Jam probably wanted to catch that. Um, so just guys competing. And you and Jack in one-on- ones. I mean, did you have Jack’s number back in the day, too? You know, Jack’s a good player. Um, he was a little bit older than me coming out of high school. Um, so, you know, I never really went against him in high school. Went up against him in college when he was at Arizona State. I was at USC. Um, but he’s instinctive player. I mean, you guys see the pick six he had. I think that was last year or two years ago when he was in the Raiders. Um, the one-hander. It was crazy. So really really instinctive. Um so he can definitely catch you catch you lacking if you you know he’s jumping on routes and stuff like that. But I’m I’m happy for him to see him. You know he’s bounced around a bit in this league but he’s still here and he’s completing. So I’m happy for him. Offense was terrific today. Just your evaluation. I know you always want to watch the film but just first impressions of how you guys went today. Uh I mean it felt good. You know it didn’t you can usually get a general vibe of how it how it went out there. Um the ball security still wasn’t there. That’s something we’ve been preaching. We still need to do better at that. But overall, the execution of the offense, the physicality, the finish, um, it it seemed like it was there. The best spell, I would say. So, I would say so. Um, one thing, uh, I mean, we have a really good defense that we practice against, so, you know, the yards are going to be tough to come by. Um, and then you get a new opponent and just with the way that we practice and the tempo that we practice at, um, we play that way. So, when we get in games, it’s hard harder for other people to keep up. Um, and I think that pays dividends. You know, it’s it’s hard on you as a player. You got to recover. You got to take care of yourself. But when it goes to playing against other teams, I think it pays dividends. St. Brown’s been around for a while. You’ve seen a lot of good stuff. But did you ever marvel at just what he’s able to do during a practice with having the practice that he did today? Do you ever just sit back and marvel at it still? Uh, yeah. I mean, cuz you see all the the highlight catches he has. It’s um it’s cool to see a guy who, you know, he’s all pro. He’s the best. It’s cool to see a guy like that continue to go out here every day and like go do everything full speed, do all of his blocking full speed, you want to do one-on- ones against everybody. Like it’s I mean, he embodies like what our team’s supposed to be about. So, I mean, he’s incredible. Taylor, did the the offense need this at all? Like, was there any shadow of a doubt that you guys would get here? You know, just the way things kind of were choppiness early on in camp. Is this important to to play like that? Yeah, I mean, we’re not where we where we want to be for, you know, week one of the season for sure. And you know, there’s there’s been some moving parts. Like I haven’t I haven’t even really practiced until a couple days ago. It was my first like team reps in practice. Um and I’ve played with a lot of these guys a lot. So there’s a level of continuity and there’s been a little bit of a rolodex of players at left tackle and stuff like that. Um so having guys in and out and then like I said, we were playing against a really good defense. Our defense has a lot of good players and they’re playing at a high level. Um so we’re definitely, you know, not where we want to be uh like week one, but we got time. We we’re going to get there and we’re going to continue to get better. Um and this was a good one to build on and we got to come out and just do it again tomorrow. Tiffiness, I’m sure, you know, it wasn’t anything major, but you just kind of expect a little bit of that when you’re going for Yeah, I mean you you you get out there, there’s unfamiliar faces. They’re not necessarily your teammates. Um you’re not trying to hurt anybody, but you’re playing hard. Um and that’s just the nature of competition. You get a bunch of guys out here. I up until the end, it was pretty tame. It seemed like I don’t know what it looked like on the defensive field over here, but it seemed pretty tame for the most part. Um, guys just playing hard. What did happen? I didn’t see the start of it. I know it was Jiffy. I didn’t see the start of it. I just heard people start yelling and then I was the most tired I was all practice was there wrestling guys. How did it feel for you personally out there getting out there? Great. Yeah. What I guess what were you hoping to feel and uh like for me personally you’re saying? Uh, number one, hope hope my shoulder feels good. It feels really good. Um, and then the conditioning aspect of it. Uh, we did a lot of work on running stuff inside during practice to make sure once I was able to get in practice. I wasn’t going to have an issue with conditioning that was going to cause me to not be able to have reps. I mean, we’re building my reps up right now. Today, I probably got 20. Um, but that was the big thing, like, am I going to be in shape? Is my body going to feel good? cuz I think if I can get those things down like I I know how to play football. Offensive line has set such a high standard for yourself. The past three years really did today feel more like the standard you guys have come. Is that more what you guys want to do and want to look like? Yeah, it felt that way. You know, there’s always going to be stuff to clean up for sure. Um but it did feel that way and I think that’s good to see especially when you have some young guys and now you’re playing unfamiliar faces to see how they respond. Um because you know the level of intensity goes up a little bit. There might be a little nerves, a little anxiety. Um, so that was good to see that as a as a whole unit and kind of from like ones, twos to threes, everybody came out there composed, competed and executed. What does that feel like? Is that the push off the ball? Is it the fluidity with with the entire offensive line? Like what’s been out the most to you just feeling it feeling? I think uh number one is going to be communication and then physicality. You know, do you know what to do and are you physical when you’re going to do it? Um I I felt that. that I felt the push at the line and and again I we’ll need to look at it and see cuz I’m sure there’s plays here and there that don’t look as good as they felt but uh that’d be the two things definitely communication and just being physical saw the moment where Dolphins got up to his face and he really kept his composure like you had noted just wanting everybody for a young guy like that do you like that he’s holding his own and whailing a line of physicality and exposure yeah I don’t think I don’t think that he’s scared of anybody um So that is not a concern of mine. Um he’s he’s got bite. He you know he’s not going to back down from anything. So that’s not a concern at all. Um was it a defensive back that did it? I mean it’s a defensive back. I mean they they can get choke slammed if they want to like um and then the other thing would be there’s a lot of eyes on us. So then the league the league’s watching like they’re if you do something they might want to find you or you know find the organization and stuff like that. Um, so yeah, we want to compete. We want to be physical. We’re not going to back down from anybody, but you you also have to have the composure aspect, too. Just your overall thoughts on practice. Uh, seemed like a pretty strong day for the defense. Yeah, no doub. I mean, obviously, it’s always tough to clean up. Uh, really liked how we came out here and competed. Feels good for, you know, our starters to be able to go against a different offense to see different looks. Um, man, it’s a good day, good days of work. Um, but obviously also, you know, got stuff to clean up, but, you know, that’s what practice is for. And uh you know we’re you know a couple weeks out from uh to you know what but you know it starts now and and coach hit it this this morning in the team meeting like we’re we have to put everything together starting today. So does a day like today reaffirm we’ve seen more days from the defense than the offense you know more dominant days and then you guys come in your dominant game today just kind of reaffirm what what you’ve seen from this defense all through training camp. I mean y’all see what happened when when we when we got a healthy defense. Um, that’s that’s that’s really what I can say about I mean like it just feels good. Uh, I know from my perspective for just the like I said last time just to look around and you see a bunch of dogs around you. Uh, and then we got depth, you know, we got guys that come in there and fill those gaps and those holes and and uh, whatever we need is always next man up mentality and uh, and I feel like there’s never a drop off. So, I mean, it’s it’s all of us as collective group, all of us on our defense, you know, not just the starters, but but guys that’s going in and doing their role and doing their job very well. Um, and I I love it. I love the, you know, how aggressive we are, the mentality we have. Um, I would just say our standard, our standard is really high and and even, I mean, out from the outside looking in, it might look great, but we know it’s a lot of stuff to clean up and and we want to we got to clean those things up to get where we want to go. So, does it feel like the defense might even be more aggressive than when AG was here? We know AG was aggressive with the blitz, but it feels like maybe you’re even more attacking this year. Um, I think, uh, sort sort of kind of. I mean, I think that, you know, uh, Chev has an aggressive mentality, uh, and we got people who can rush and people who can who can pressure, uh, you know, go against tight ends and running backs and pressure get to the quarterback. So, I mean, when you have those type of guys that can do that, you use those tools and and I think AG did a good job with that, too. But, I mean, I would say it’s a little we we a little a little more aggressive this year. So, and and I love it. So, I know you guys were going against, you know, Ty with Guald, but I mean, it looked like you guys were just in on most everything and really had them kind of bottled up for the most part to the point. Can you just describe, you know, what what the takeaway you had from from this practice, this practice? Uh, man, just man, the way we compete. I mean, when you sit out and even when like I’m not in and I’m watching everybody else out on the field, like just the way we compete, uh, how we win to get better, uh, how we learn from mistakes, man, I love it. I mean, it’s just, like I said, a bunch of dogs out there on the field on the defense, man. And, uh, like hungry for the ball, hungry to make a play. I mean, when you got a 11 guys on the field together that’s that’s wanting to make a play but also doing their job, man, the sky’s is the limit. But, uh, no, man. I I really really love the way we came out and compete. And how how encouraging was it to make stop after stop? I mean, you guys were, you know, basically again coming up from I mean, I just, like I said, I think it’s just our standard. I mean, we’re we’re we’re it’s our standard to do that. I mean, we should expect, you know, a three and out every time we step out on the field. I mean, stop the offense from, you know, limited points and things like that, but uh that’s just what we’re about. And, you know, I’m super excited to see where we go this year. So, hey Derek, we saw what this defense could do last year before all the injuries. So, was today against a really good offense what it felt like then? Yeah, 100%. I mean, like it just for me it just feels good to see everybody out there again uh with a with a healthy defense and you know, and credit goes to the guys who stepped up when when uh the starters last year got hurt because they did a phenomenal job, too. And that’s that goes all the way back to the depth I said we had. But man, just to, you know, come out here and and be with our brothers once again and everybody, you know, our chemistry together, uh, linebackers, Dline, DBs, man, it feels it feels great. The chemistry between you, Jack, and Alex is is pretty clear. But like schematically, when you’re out there together, what do you like most about the way you guys play as a trio? I would say that something that that the offense don’t know is they never know what we’re doing. All three of us can do everything. like all three of us can do everything. We can we can pass rush, we can quarter, I mean we can we can uh we can cover lineback I mean cover running backs and tight ends. Uh we can run and hit like we all of us do the same thing. So to have all three of us out there on the field at the same time like to give the offense a different look and they never know where we end. So that’s that’s the biggest thing is just we always know what each other’s thinking always talking on and off the field about how can we make this better and that better. Uh it feels good and that’s with the whole linebacker room. I mean, all all that chemistry is is is great and no, it just feel good to be back out there with those guys. Did it feel like you guys were beginning to show that last year before you got hurt? And how refreshing is it to be back out here kind of picking up where you left off as opposed to especially? Oh, man. It’s uh it’s amazing just like I said, pick up pick up where I left off and uh man, it feels good once again for all of us to be be healthy, be back out on the field together. So, typically you want to do some practice to you guys. They had a really good day out there that you guys see a ton of, right? Also had white elephant in the room was offensive to pick it up. Is there anything you can see defensive wise that they just needed to do a little bit better to really get on the horse again and get everything? I mean, not really. I mean, they like our offense, you you guys know that I I expect the same thing our offense did last year, same thing to happen this year. How explosive and and and explosive plays they get, how how dominant our our our offense is. And I they will continue to do that. I mean, this, you know, we got new offensive coordinator. I mean, it’s it’s it’s normal for for for things to, you know, kind of navigate towards picking up if if that makes sense. Um, I think that once they get everything down and once they get the chemistry going, I think it’s the sky’s the limit for them. I mean, there’s always something to learn each and every day. Like I said, I expect nonetheless from our offense. Our offense is going to go out and dominate. So, um, I’m not worried about that at all. But, um, no, man. I’m I’m super excited for them. Got some young guys over there that are phenomenal, and I’m super excited to to see them pick over they pick up where they left off last year. Is it all that like, hey, well, this is half day. You guys are beating up on them so much. That like, hey, they’re still our team. Maybe Oh, 100%. When we go to joint practices, even in games, it’s like, man, we rooting for them as much as they root for us. I mean, like, this is this is what we we go against. I feel like we we go against the best every day and then and come out and do it for do it to another opponent. We’re in a locker room and we telling each other, “Let’s go.” Usually, we don’t we don’t speak to the offense when it’s uh when it’s regular camp practice, but uh today, man, it just, you know, we feed off each other, man. the energy like we can hear them over there the the crowd over there cheering and they can hear the crowd over here cheering and that just that just gets you going. So for you guys, what was your favorite play you made today? Is there one that that comes to mind? Uh proud of I would say I would say they gave me the sack. I don’t know if they did or not when I got held on uh one of the one of the uh the games we ran. Uh got got through there pretty good. Raning good, but uh no man, it just feels good. I think it’s with Davenport, you know, we kind of always talk and sit down and talk about, you know, rushing and stuff like that. So, no, it was that probably one one of my one of my favorite places today. A lot of stuff to clean up. Uh, wasn’t my my best practice, but that’s what practice is for, and I’ll pick it up tomorrow. So, a lot of question a lot of people say that this is made to be as close to a game. That’s 100%. How close is it, though? Like, because I mean, you don’t have the the traditional processes of a game, Dave. But, how close is the action? I mean, it’s it’s close. The ticity is close. Only thing you’re not doing is bringing guys to the ground. Um, I mean, you have to treat treat this like a game. I mean, it’s a diff different opponent. It’s not just our offense. It’s going to get a different offense. So, uh the intensity has to be be like a game. And uh this is where this is right here is where shows you what what the year is going to be like. So guys are are laying it all out on the line and trying to get better. So we know what we got going into this year. So yeah. How much do you pride yourself on being I guess a guy that fires other guys up with your play? I mean to be honest as soon as the whistle blow I can’t think about nothing but what’s going on right then and there. So, um, but you know, I’m a teammate that my my teammates make a play, I’m always, you know, get excited for them. So, if I can make plays, I know that that’s going to help us. That’s going to help the energy. You know what I’m saying? So, just try to fly around, hit folks, do my job. All right, KJ. What’s the feeling, I guess, you know, on the side, even on the field, like as you guys were making stop after stop, I guess. Like I said, man, it’s uh it’s one of those things where you’re you’re happy to see it play out. Um, you’re happy to to know that your hard work is is doing something uh going against somebody new. Uh, but at the same time, there’s little things in there we need to clean up. You know what I’m saying? So, that’s that’s what we can focus on. I think our effort was phenomenal today. Our competitive edge was where you would expect. Uh, but little bitty things that I think we can clean up as a defense. Yeah. Did you get the sense they were getting frustrated, guys? The fact that you were gumming it up just as much as I mean, no, not really. I just be focusing on us. You know what I’m saying? It’s about us. And uh you know we we’ll be frustrated if they get any f first downs, you know what I’m saying? So that’s you know our goal tomorrow. It’s our goal every play to make a stop. You know what I’m saying? So there was times where we didn’t. And you know even though we maybe had more stops than not, we want to stop every time, you know, especially we’re out here on the practice field. Maybe there’s a little bit more communication from the sideline and stuff like that. So definitely want to try to just up that a little bit tomorrow when it comes to the details. teams have to adjust to your practice style when they come in here during practice or just the rest of nature. I mean, I think I think everybody’s got to make a decision. You know what I’m saying? Like, you know, you come out here, it’s a little humid. It’s a little later than we usually practice. Maybe Miami is a little bit more used to it. Uh, but for us, you know, I think everybody’s got to make a decision on both sides. You know, what type time we going to be on when we step on the field? What type player are you going to be during this play? You’re a little tired. You’re a little groggy. So are they. And I think that that’s something that we harp on every day. So, I think our guys our guys did a good job for sure. What do you love about the compet competitive environment of these practices, man? Um, you know, it’s uh I would say like when I’m practicing every day, maybe I know the route concepts of the Detroit by now. Maybe I know Shane Zilstra’s one-on-one goto. You know what I’m saying? But some of these guys, you know, you you’ve never seen them before. You know, it’s brand new to you. So really being able to see your skill against their skill, your effort and and and talent against their talent. And uh so tomorrow I think it’s one of those things where it’ll feel a little bit more like normal practice where oh I remember what that guy did last one. So maybe he’ll do something different or something like that. So yeah man, every day every day we compete here. So it it didn’t feel like anything new for sure. Yeah. I guess right on how good you guys are, what you need to work with the offense in terms of like able. Yeah, for sure. I think that uh that’s one of them things we get in the film room, maybe it wasn’t as good as we thought. You know what I’m saying? Maybe there’s some things we can clean up. Like I know myself there was a couple times where maybe I made the play, but maybe my man was way over there wide open, you know? So, little things I think we can tweak and make sure we’re staying solid to our fundamentals regardless of what’s going on on the other side of the ball. Just first impressions or seeing the film, what’ you think of how you guys see out there from the outside looking at end pretty dominant. Yeah, I think we were very physical. I think we were very confident. Um, and you know, I just tomorrow I want to see the consistency go up from us from from that first group to the second group to the third group. Everybody out there, you know, we expect no drop off. So, I think we can improve on that tomorrow for sure.

Hear from Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, tackle Taylor Decker, linebacker Derrick Barnes and linebacker Grant Stuard. As they speak to the media on August 13, 2025 at Detroit Lions Training Camp presented by Rocket.

0:00 – 7:11: Amon-Ra St.Brown
7:12 – 12:43: Taylor Decker
12:44 – 20:19: Derrick Barnes
20:20 – 23:53: Grant Stuard

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