We’re still in the information-gathering phase of new Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, while we await his first media obligation following his hiring.
Thanks to some hard work by the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett, we have a lot more insight into Petzing. Birkett has been in San Francisco for the Super Bowl this week, and over on radio row, he’s crossed paths with a lot of players who have played under Petzing at some point in their career.
If you want to read full comments or see the full interviews with each person—and I would recommend it—you can see them below:
I’m also going to throw in some quotes here that Birkett got from Jameis Winston on new Lions’ offensive coach Mike Kafka—because there are some good ones in there, too. You can read that piece here.
But I’ve also transcribed some of the most interesting pulls from those interviews, as well, or just pulled the quotes from Birkett himself if he did not post a video of the interview.
Trey McBride
On what he told Sam LaPorta after Petzing was hired:
“I was like, ‘Man, you’re going to love it. You’re going to eat, you’re going to have a great career.’ I’m excited for him.”
On the use of 12 and 13 personnel:
“I think that’s something that, you’ve got to run the football and you put big bodies in there, tight ends, to do it and he did a great job of getting us open, running, passing, mixing it up with the 13 personnel stuff. I got a lot of respect for Drew and I’m excited to see what he can do at another team.”
Ameer Abdullah
On what the Lions are getting in Petzing:
“You’re getting a guy who is really surgical about making sure guys are on their cues with timing. I remember Kirk Cousins during those years had some of his best and most productive years playing the position of quarterback, and I think Drew was definitely a conduit of that.”
On why he considers Petzing a “mastermind”:
”It’s about timing with Drew. Drew understands it about spots. It’s not about where you are at a given time. I think you’ll see a lot of that in the offense where guys will be thrown in an anticipatory space, thrown open a lot more.”
Patriots WR coach Todd Downing
Birkett also picked up a great quote from Downing, who was on the same coaching staff as Petzing in 2018 when Downing was a tight ends coach, and Petzing was the assistant QB coach:
“I think he’s always hunting matchups, so if a lot of tight ends on the field hunts some matchups, I think that’s something that he’ll try to do. But I believe he’s going to put the best players out there and put them in the best position to succeed.”
Jameis Winston on Mike Kafka
On what Mike Kafka brings to the offense:
“When you’re bringing in a coach that played the game, I think he’ll be able to bring back what Ben Johnson had left there, the hunger, the intentionality and will to win.”
More on Kafka:
“Mike Kafka is the man. His ability to create exciting plays and concepts is going to be very beneficial for Jared Goff.”
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