Lions training camp: Teryl Austin's quotes from Day 4

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

On his impressions of the defense so far in Training Camp: "Guys are practicing hard, doing some good things. I think we need to get more consistent. I think we have to do a better job of setting edges on the defense. We've got a long ways to go, but that's why we have camp. We'll get there, it's just going to take us a little while."

On the defensive line thus far in Training Camp: "I think we have some talent up front. We'll be able to get the job done. It may work differently than it did last year, but we'll still be able to get the job done. We just need to make sure we're getting better every day as we go through Training Camp."

On how the defensive line will operate this year compared to last year: "Well, I think it's going to be different because we have different people. Nobody is going to play the same or look the same, so we'll figure out a way to get the job done. I can't say exactly how it's going to look, but it'll take shape as we go. But the one thing that's going to be certain is that we're going to play physical, play fast, and we're going to set edges on the defense."

On the different schemes the defensive line will use this season: "Yeah, we're going to try to stay multiple with our fronts. We're going to try to put our guys in the best position so they can have some success. What that is right now, it remains to be seen, it'll shake out as we get through camp and get a little closer to the season."

On LB Kyle Van Noy's role evolving this year: "That will be determined as we move on. Right now he's competing trying to earn a starting SAM linebacker position. We'll look at it from there and then once we get through camp and see how he performs in these preseason games, then we'll have a better determination."

On Van Noy's progress in pass coverage: "Well, it's a little bit different for him. We're asking him to do some more things than he probably did at BYU pass coverage-wise. But he's a bright guy. He'll pick it up just like a lot of people who have to have some reps at it. They have to see it one time, but once he sees it I think he'll be better."

On the setback for Van Noy after his injury last season: "It's a huge setback. As a rookie coming in, you miss basically seven to eight weeks of the season, and you're not quite healthy during camp. So when you do get back you're far behind in terms of the amount of reps you've had and all the looks that you've seen. So it's a major setback, so we're looking at it. He's had a complete offseason, he'll have a complete camp, and then we'll see where he is."

On generating a pass rush with this year's defensive line personnel:  "Well, I think it's all going to change because it depends on the personnel. We were really strong inside (last season). Those two first-round picks had tremendous talent. But we'll be able to get some things done. We might have to get it from different areas. It might have to come from the edge, it might have to come from the second level. We don't know exactly how we're going to do it, but we'll figure out a way to get it done."

On the battle between DT Caraun Reid and DT Tyrunn Walker for the starting position on the defensive line next to DT Haloti Ngata: "Those guys are both doing well. I think they're both practicing hard. They both bring a little different skill set, but they both can be effective at what they do. So it's going to be a heck of a battle. And the big thing I can say is they'll both play for us and they'll both play a lot for us."

On what he's looking for from the starter playing next to Ngata: "I think we're looking for, obviously, a good football player. A guy that can make some football plays. He's got to be able to hold his own in the run game. He can't just be a guy that's a pass rusher because even though we face a lot of sub defenses, we don't want people to run the ball on us. So we just have to be able to stop the run and then, give us a little pass rush. That's really what we will be looking for. That second guy that's going to be in there next to Haloti, he's got to be able to provide a little bit of pass rush for us."

On if he feels stronger at the nickel cornerback position: "Absolutely."

On why he feels the nickel position is stronger: "I just think that we have guys that have played nickel before in this league. With Josh (Wilson) having experience, Don Carey did a good job for us last year and then the young guy (CB Quandre Diggs) has played it his whole career at Texas and Nevin (Lawson) played it, so we have good competition, guys that know the position, play the position, so we feel that we are a little bit further ahead than what we were last year."

On CB Quandre Diggs' development: "I think he's a little ways away from being ready, but the games are going to be tremendous for him so that he can see the speed of the game, all the different things that happen that he has to be able to do. Every day it's a learning experience for the young guys, but I think he's more than capable of taking the step to be a quality player for us. When that'll be, I'm not quite sure, but he's moving in the right direction."

On the next step for Diggs: "Game. You got to see it in the game."

On what he's seen from recently added DT Jerel Worthy: "I will tell you one thing that does stick out is that he's extremely quick off the ball, which is something we really like in our defensive linemen, so that is one factor that he has. He has a really good motor for a guy, so we will just try to get him indoctrinated into our system and see where he goes here in the next few weeks, but he's really been a pleasant surprise."

On what he's seen from LB Stephen Tulloch coming off of an injury: "He looks great. He looks great. We all know what Tully is. He's a heck of a football player, heck of a leader, heck of a locker room guy and nothing has changed."

On how big of an addition Tulloch is to this defense: "It'll be huge. You're talking about a guy that has a lot of experience in a lot of big games. He plays, he triggers fast, he brings a calmness to the defense, so you can't underestimate that and you pair him with DeAndre (Levy), those two guys inside and now with the experience that you hear about last year, I think we have a really good core of guys with the competition from Kyle (Van Noy) and other things going on. I think he really solidifies that group and there's really no unknowns I don't think."