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Lions quotes: Scott Linehan's comments from Day 4 of training camp

Quotes from Scott Linehan's media session on Day 4 of Detroit Lions training camp.

Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE

Below is a look at what Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan had to say on Day 4 of training camp. (Quotes provided by the Lions.)

On if RB Reggie Bush catches more like a receiver than a typical back: "Yeah, Reggie's a real natural. He's probably one of those guys that probably grew up, and probably played a couple years of little league ball at receiver and then next year he was a slot, and the year after that he was a tailback. He probably played every position on defense. He's just one of those guys that knows how to play football."

On if Bush can run under routes: "Oh yeah, he can basically run the whole route tree, especially from a slot alignment. You're not going to ask him to do everything you'd ask an outside receiver, but he has that ability and he has a background in his past of doing it, so it's a lot easier for him to say ‘OK, I did this before and I got it.'"

On the situation at running back: "We were in a spot a few years ago when Jahvid (Best) was here, where we had that guy that could be a versatile guy, a big play-in-space type back, and now with a couple young players to add to what we're doing now with Reggie (Bush) in the fold, everybody kind of brings something different to the table. They've all got experience. Reggie's got the most, and really, Joique (Bell) got a great year for us last year with the injuries and Mikel (Leshoure) being there too. Having those three guys, they all do things very well and they're all three very different. They complement each other and they'll be seeing some snaps for us."

On the competition at right guard: "We're still just in the rotation, there's really nothing specific. There's no, ‘it's these two guys vs. these two guys.' We're giving guys a chance, basically to get out there and show what they can do. We're working different guys in different groups. It's going to settle itself once we start playing the preseason games."

On the tight ends: "For our offense, we would probably like to see us get more production in the end zone. It's funny you say our tight ends weren't productive. I think we still had a lot of completions to our tight ends. One of my goals is to utilize their ability and their size for matchups. We have such great length at the tight end position but I think we can put together some things that could really help us down in the tight areas, the red zone, even third down. I am really happy with the different types of tight ends we have this year, too. It's going to be fun year."

On changing the playbook year-to-year: "I think you're always tweaking it, everybody does. Problem is it just gets bigger and bigger. I think you are always adapting to where you are personnel wise, it doesn't necessarily change but there's little bits and pieces in a lot of places in the playbook. Just depends where we are personnel wise."

On replacing three starting offensive linemen: "We really have a lot of confidence in the players that are moving into those guys' role. Those guys gave us some great years but it's time for the younger players to get in there and show us what they can do. It is a fun challenge I can tell you that."

On his decision-making process for the offensive line: "It will work itself out. We haven't even played a game yet. I think that we have guys that are working in there and as soon as we get a chance to see everybody get good weeks of training camp and a game or two, I think we will start zeroing in on who's going to be the guy there."

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