When running back David Montgomery got back to the sideline after his third quarter touchdown run last week in Cincinnati, he was greeted by Lions running backs coach Tashard Choice.
Choice said Friday the first thing Montgomery said to him was, ‘Coach, don’t give me a minus on the ball security.’
But Choice did give him a minus because Montgomery’s ball security on the run wasn’t up to the standards established by Choice, who has developed five critical pillars for his room, as follows:
- Protect the football
- Protect the quarterback
- Run with physicality
- Catch the football and run defined routes
- Score touchdowns
Choice said those are the laws of the jungle in his room and his players know there are no compromises with him. He puts touchdowns last because he wants his players to positively affect football games and be good teammates. Protecting the football and protecting the quarterback are most important to him in that regard.
“For me, I’m OK with being that guy,” Choice said. “I have to be that guy. When you have guys who are really good football players who want to be great, they want to be coached to be great. Great players want to be coached at all times, even when they do well.
“I have to watch myself because I don’t want to be negative Nancy, but I have to be. I try to find stuff to critique them and get on their nerves about.”
