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Below is a look at what Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz had to say after Monday's training camp practice. (Quotes provided by the Lions.)
On if CB Chris Houston is day-to-day: "Everybody's day-to-day. We don't have anybody that's anything more than day-to-day."
On the punters hitting roof shots today: "The idea is to not hit the roof. It's to get distance, hang time and direction. I think they were doing a pretty good job with that. We weren't as consistent as we had been in the past. It's the first time that our luck ran out with the rain. First time we were inside. A lot of those kicks, the other days, would've done the same thing. You just don't notice it when you're not inside."
On P Sam Martin and P Blake Clingan: "They're both quality punters. They're both kicking very well. They are competing well and they both performed well in the game."
On if it's beneficial or a hindrance to have many guys at one position: "It's not ideal. You'd like to have continuity in a position, but it's life in the NFL. There's always going to be times where you're not able to get them all on the field at the same time. We'll work them. We have 90 guys in camp so we're generally not left without guys. At some point it would be good to get all guys on the field together and get some continuity and good communication. They're all working and getting equal reps, but that can be an issue at times. "
On the most noticeable difference DE Ronnell Lewis has made from last year to this year: "I think the biggest thing is he's been available. When he came off the PUP (list) he's been available now to practice and play. Last year at this time, that wasn't always the case. He was in and out of the lineup and games. I think that it's a little bit different this year."
On the challenges posed evaluating talent when you're playing against your own guys: "When you're in practice, they are very rarely ever going at full speed. Even in a 7-on-7 guys are very careful about trying not to trip each other up or leave their feet. You want to see technique, positioning, communication, and guys executing the scheme. You need to sort of judge that. We don't sack the quarterback in practice, but you can tell if a defensive lineman has won. There are times where the defensive back will be in pretty good position, but won't layout to go knock a ball down. You can tell if he could have. You can evaluate an awful lot, but that's where the games come in. Being able to finish to the quarterback. The sack-strip that DE Devin Taylor had in the game, that would never occur on the practice field because we don't stick our arms and try to knock the ball away from the quarterback. That's something that maybe he's been in position, but he doesn't accomplish it in practice. He can still work on his rush and technique. The game is a great time for guys to finish those plays. Same thing with running backs. The first guy thuds them, then they run. You really can't see them break tackles because we don't have guys tackling.
On QB Thaddeus Lewis: "He's got a really strong arm. He's a good athlete. He has command over the offense. When you have four quarterbacks in camp, it's difficult to try to get everybody the reps. Shaun Hill and Matthew Stafford have been healthy through camp. They haven't missed any. We have had a couple days where we cut their reps down a little bit, but it just makes it difficult to get those guys reps. That is no reflection of him as a player. It's just numbers at a position. We probably have some of those same situations go on for some wide receivers also. There are some wide receivers that don't get a lot of reps and maybe get them at the young guns period. You have to show when you're time comes regardless of where those reps come."
On S Don Carey: "I thought he stepped in for us and did some good things for us last year. This is a whole new year. He's got more experience at the safety position. Last year we were trying to get him experience at the safety position, particularly at camp. He's comfortable with the terminology. Like a lot of players, he still has things that he needs to work on. We need to see a big improvement from week one to week two. Not just with Don, but with most players. Like I said the other day, we have very few players that played what we thought was there best football. We need to see improvement from week one to week two."
On RB Theo Riddick performing at kickoff return: "He's in the mix. Most running backs have done that at some point in their career. He's in that mix. He catches the ball well. We'll have good competition there. The thing that's difficult is for preseason games, it's hard to get guys a lot of opportunities to return kicks because of moving the ball up to the 35 and how deep guys can kick balls off. Some of that we'll have to see in practice, but he works it every day."
On the development of T LaAdrian Waddle from his nontraditional blocking scheme in college to now: "It was a little bit nontraditional, but it was probably early in his college career. He's got great size, gives great effort, improves every day. I thought he did some really good things in the first preseason game. Like everybody else, we need to see improvement from week one to week two. He's a good young player. I wouldn't make too much of his college background because there are a lot of guys playing a lot of different schemes. There's read option and all those different things. He's been here long enough and he's been coached on what he needs to do and he's done well at it. What he did in college really has no effect on where he is now."
On WR Cody Wilson: "It's funny you mention him because he made some plays today. Cody is a guy that is very assignment-sound. When you talked about getting Thad (Lewis) some reps, some of those wide receivers are very difficult to get reps also because our numbers have been good. We haven't had very many injuries. He had an opportunity today and there were a couple of opportunities that were missing some reps and he made plays. That's all you can ask from guys to go in and make plays. The young wide receivers of the last series of the game didn't get very many reps, but I think all of them did well. Their technique was good and they sort of carried over what we wanted from practice into the games. Hopefully they can get some more reps over the course of the rest of the preseason."
On LB Jon Morgan: "He's really smart. I think that's probably been the number one thing that has stood out about him. He's very assignment-sound and a great communicator. When the game came on, he was around the ball and made plays. He didn't get a lot of reps, but he was very productive in the reps that he got. Taking command and executing the scheme are both very important for linebackers. It's a moving world and there are a lot of things going on. He showed very well in his first action."
On C Darren Keyton: "He's done well. We're getting him center reps also. He's played a couple different positions along the offensive line. Particularly as an offensive lineman, it's good not to notice when they go in. I think that's been the way with him. He's just like a lot of the other guys, there are things that he needs to work on. We need to see improvement from week one to week two. Individually and also as a team."