7 best quotes from Detroit Lions coordinators in Texans week

Special teams coordinator Dave FippOn Jake Bates' perfection:

"He's got such a big leg that even with wind and weather and all that stuff, he really just has to hit one ball, and if he can just hit that one kick and just hit it right down the middle and just get very consistent at that, he's going to have a lot of success and be consistent. So, a lot of his success if because of his talent. He's so talented and he strikes the ball so hard and powerful that it's going to go straight no matter what the conditions are, as long as he hits it right and he's just gotten better and better at that. We've kept kind of his focus very narrow, and he's done a good job of focusing on that."

I thought this was a really neat look into their developmental process with Bates. While some kicker may kick a 40-yard field goal differently from a 55-yard field goal, it sounds like the Lions have simply told him: kick the crap out of it, because that's when it goes straight. Can't argue with the stats. He's 12-of-12 on field goals and 30-of-31 on extra points.

On Houston's special teams:

"This group is very explosive. They have a bunch of quick, fast athletes, their returners are very good, physical kick returners, punt returners very explosive players. They have a lot of experience in their group. Their linebackers run really well, they run and hit. Their safeties and their corners can fly on the outside, so their gunners are really fast, or jammers are really fast. Overall, a very talented group."

Of note: the Texans are second in the league in kickoff return average (31.3). So don't be surprised if the Lions just boot it through the end zone this week.

Offensive coordinator Ben JohnsonOn the Texans' pass rush, both on the interior and edges:

"They're really good at it, they disrupt the quarterback, they make it hard on offensive linemen, they make it hard on tight ends with the defensive ends going right through the V of their neck half the time, so it's a lot going on and, just like you said, the edge guys get a lot of attention, but interior, they can push the pocket and get on the quarterback's lap in a hurry. So, I think a testament to that would be third-and-7 to 10 this week, I've got, call it 27 clips on my cut up, only three conversions and eight sacks. I really haven't seen anything quite like that, so they're doing a phenomenal job, not just on third down, but really throughout."

First of all, it's impressive for Johnson to pull that stat out of his back pocket, but I think it highlights Detroit's eagerness to stay out of third-and-long this week.

On going from one of the worst teams in drops to one of the best:

"I believe if you looked at number of different stat sites, we were on the bottom five on a consistent basis a year ago in terms of catching the football, we had a number of drops. And so, (we) highlighted that in the springtime, made it known to each position group. They were all at fault, receivers, quarterback for ball placement at times, tight ends, running backs, it was really everybody. And so, we've made it a big emphasis and so far, we've seen some results from it. But that particular game (vs. Packers), I was kind of coming out in pregame expecting to see us struggle a little bit more, but they, between wearing the right shoes, not slipping, focusing on the football, securing it after we caught it, I mean, I thought they did a phenomenal job."

Last year, per Pro Football Reference, the Lions had a total of 35 drops (2.1 a game), which was fifth-most in the NFL. This year, the Lions have just four (0.5 a game), ranking second in the NFL. Coaching matters.