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Below is a look at what Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz had to say after Wednesday's practice. (Quotes provided by the Lions.)
On if there is any update on DE Ziggy Ansah: "No. I think we have to have enough discipline to stick with our philosophy on that. We're no different than a lot of teams in the league that won't report unless it's on the league required injury report. There's no sense giving any of our opponents any kind of information on where we are with injury, starting lineups, how we're going to line up on kickoff team or anything like that. I don't have any updates on anybody's playing status."
On his feelings regarding the rotations on the defensive line if Ansah doesn't play: "It's hypothetical."
On if he can at least acknowledge if Ansah suffered a concussion: "When the injury report comes out, the injury report will be out. We have to have the discipline to stick with it. I know you guys have jobs to do and everything else, but you have to understand where we're coming from with this also. That's going to be my answer. You can ask them a million different ways. Like I said, as an organization we have to have the discipline to stick with that. I know that it doesn't serve your needs the best way you guys need it, but it serves our needs the best way that we need it and that's why we're going to do it."
On if captains have been named: "No. We voted on captains and we'll release those on Friday."
On his biggest concern for Game 1: "Everything. It's what coaches do. We're concerned about everything. It's about our team. Whether it's offense, defense, special teams, we have to play our best game. We have a very worthy opponent with some very talented players, but we have to play our game and that's what we're concentrating on right now."
On what would it mean for T Riley Reiff to have a good game against an elite rusher like Vikings DE Jared Allen: "That would be a lot for us to get him (Jared Allen) blocked. He's a great player and he makes a lot of plays. This isn't Riley Reiff's first start in the NFL. He started against a very good Houston team with some very good outside pass rushers last year and stepped in and did a nice job on a very short week. Played a lot of football for us last year. I'm sure that Jared Allen is going to be ready. Riley is going to be ready. All of our guys are going to be ready. That's a very important matchup in this game. Jared Allen is a guy that makes a bunch of sacks, turns the ball over a lot, can force you into holding penalties and stuff. Riley, or whoever is lined up against Jared Allen, is going to have to play their very best."
On what gives him confidence in the coverage units this year against the Vikings compared to last year's meeting: "We improved last year after that. That was obviously a low water mark for us when it came to coverage units. Our kicks are much improved, punts and kickoffs. We're certainly confident in our abilities and confident in our players, but we have to do it on Sunday."
On what's the value of getting days to get prepared for a game: "In training camp you work a lot of different groups and communication is important. There is something to sort of knowing how the guy next to you is going to do things. Whether you're offensive line, secondary, quarterbacks and wide receivers that kind of timing and unspoken communication, that stuff is very important to us."
On if he's encouraged by what he sees in S Louis Delmas: "I've been encouraged by what Louis has done all of training camp. We stuck to a plan. He's persevered through it. It's been a very difficult situation, but I think we're seeing the results of it. When he's on the field for us, he's a difference maker. I think you saw that in our third preseason game. We're going to do the best we can to keep him on the field and keep him making plays for us."
On how he gets the offense off to a more efficient start in the first half of games this year: "That's been so long ago that it's brand new this year. Different players this year. I think it is important from a defensive standpoint, to also start quickly. This is an offense that...I think they lead the NFL in scoring on the first drives last year. I think they had like six touchdowns and three field scores and they scored on nine at our opening drive. It's not just offense. Defense needs to start quick. We need to get stops and put our offense in good positions also."
On what RB Reggie Bush has brought to the offense so far: "A lot. He can take a short pass and make a big play out of it. It's been preseason. We haven't really seen a lot of game plan stuff. Calvin (Johnson) hasn't played in our preseason games, but there is a dynamic between those guys. I like what he can provide in the run game, but also the pass game. He's a weapon in the pass game. Like a lot of other players he has the ability to take it to the house any time he touches it and it doesn't have to be a long pass or something like that in order to do it."