Live updates: Coach Jim Schwartz discusses Detroit Lions' loss to the Baltimore Ravens
Please note, all statements from Schwartz in this post will be paraphrased. Refresh often for updates once the press conference begins.
2:45 -- ALLEN PARK -- Join MLive.com at 4 p.m. for live updates from Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz's Tuesday press conference following his team's 18-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
With the loss, the Lions no longer control their own playoff destiny. Detroit could be eliminated from postseason contention as early as Sunday if both the Green Bay Packers (vs. Pittsburgh) and Chicago Bears (at Philadelphia) get wins.
It was the same story, different day for the Lions on Monday night as the team continued to shoot itself in the foot with turnovers. Quarterback Matthew Stafford tossed three interceptions, bringing his five-game total to 13 turnovers.
Up next for the Lions is the New York Giants, the only team in the NFL with more turnovers than the Lions.
4:00 -- The Lions have not considered making a change to Shaun Hill in the past or in the future. Schwartz says Matthew Stafford's struggles are the team's struggles.
4:01 -- Schwartz says all players are held to a high standard, but the team doesn't publicly shame players. That's no different with Stafford.
4:01 -- Asked about offering Stafford a short-term relief, Schwartz says, "When would you make that change?" The coach says not many teams shuffle out quarterbacks.
4:02 -- Schwartz feels Stafford is an accurate passer and doesn't feel the quarterback needs any additional coaches or gurus.
4:03 -- Asked if Stafford was impatient, Schwartz says the only throw that comes to mind was the botched screen pass to Joique Bell.
4:04 -- Schwartz says that Stafford's various arm angles are "just him." The coach says the quarterback isn't any more or less accurate with those throws. Schwartz again says the team needs to do a better job blocking and catching passes.
4:05 -- Schwartz said the team did consider taking a timeout before Justin Tucker's field goal, but felt good with having 38 seconds and three timeouts on offense. Had the Ravens been closer, the Lions would have definitely called a timeout, but at 61 yards, they weren't certain the Ravens would kick it.
4:06 -- The team does watch the opposing kicker warm-up, just to see what kind of range they're dealing with.
4:07 -- Sam Martin was feeling tightness in his groin before the game, which is why David Akers kicked off against the Ravens.
4:08 -- Brandon Pettigrew was injured at the end of the game. He's having tests on his ankle today.
4:08 -- It's possible Chris Houston and Darius Slay could be back this week.
4:09 -- Schwartz rejects the notion that the team has problems holding on to fourth-quarter leads.
4:11 -- Asked about Joseph Fauria on field goal blocks, Schwartz said the tight end couldn't be effective in the role with the new rule changes preventing pushing the line.
4:12 -- Schwartz said he's constantly evaluating where he can improve, but will leave it up to the media to choose where he needs to be better.
4:14 -- Schwartz talks about how perceptions of the game change dramatically if Tucker's kick stays wide.
4:14 -- Schwartz declines comment on when he last talked to the Fords.
4:15 -- Schwartz says he understand the media has a job to do, but says he doesn't see any value in commenting on his job security.
4:16 -- Schwartz said he's been in worst situations than this. References a season where the Titans started off 0-5 and had a chance to win on the last week of the season and make the postseason. The Titans also went the AFC Championship after starting 1-4.
4:17 -- Schwartz says talk of his job security definitely seeps into the locker room, but if he continues to talk about it, he doesn't make it any better.
4:19 -- Asked if the coaching message needs to change to eliminate discipline issues, Schwartz says he feels the team has cleaned up many of its penalty issues. He said everyone emphasizes takeaways and protecting the football, but that comes down to execution on the field.
4:20 -- On the empty-backfield on third down, Schwartz said the team has made a lot of plays out of that formation. He said Ravens stacked the box to take away the run and the team thought they could make a good play with a short pass. Again, Schwartz says the execution wasn't good on the play, but he stands by the call.
4:23 -- That's a wrap.
this got me
