ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Glover Quin waited in the end zone in the first quarter against Minnesota in Week 6. The Vikings were on the 15-yard line. Quin saw Minnesota’s formation. For the first time this season, one of his “crunch time” situations showed up in a game.
Quin knew what was coming. Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater didn’t. The rookie threw the ball to Cordarrelle Patterson on a post route.
“Like, he’s really throwing it,” Quin said. “A lot of times, a DB will be in a great position and make a great break and ready for a pick and the quarterback doesn’t throw the ball. When everything works out perfectly and you’re on it and the quarterback actually throws the ball, you’re like, ‘Oh, he threw it.'"
Quin’s film study along with plays he drills during the week -- crunch-time plays, he calls them -- paid off. A crunch-time play is where he checks pre-snap alignments and goes through the play in practice to see if he will be able to get to where he needs to be to make a play in a critical situation in a game. If he can, that’s a good sign. If he can’t, he figures out another strategy with coaches to make it work.
Quin intercepted Bridgewater, ending Minnesota’s drive. Working on those plays is part of Quin's preparation each week, as he explained in this week's How I Prepare.
Sunday night (after home games): Eats, relaxes and watches football. No prep work, although once the Lions staff puts Sunday’s game on the iPad, he watches to start making corrections while game is fresh.
Monday: Heads to Lions facility for full body lift along with stretching and cardio. Watches Sunday’s game again. Has practice. Decompresses with "Monday Night Football."
Tuesday: Stays away from Lions facility. Spends time with his wife. Doesn’t lift or run. Children go to sleep around 8 p.m., at which point watches about 30 minutes of film. Starts with his opponent’s game from the prior week. Then specific cut-ups of first and second downs loaded on the iPad. Watches quarterback mechanics and preferences. How the quarterback and the opposing offense like to handle runs and passes.
Wednesday: Up at 5:40 a.m. and is in the facility by 6:15 a.m. Starts with a lift -- functional work, explosive lifts, strength training and range of motion. If needed, goes for treatment. After the lift comes normal meetings and film study. Then practice.
“I’m the type of guy, I like to feel in practice, if there’s a play that I might have to make in crunch time, I try to get that rep in practice so that way I know if I have to pull the trigger in crunch time in the game, can I make it? Can I get there?” Quin said. “What look I need to get to make that executive decision that OK, this is it, I’ve got to go. This is all pre-snap stuff.”
After practice, works on catching passes -- a varied routine each week. Then goes home and after his children go to bed, watches opponent third downs.
Thursday: Up at 5:20 a.m. and in the facility by 6 a.m. Upper body lift along with movement work before a 7:45 a.m. defensive backs meeting. Hones calls and refines things from Wednesday. Focuses on third downs. Heads home, watches Thursday night football and watches “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “How to Get Away With Murder” with wife. Doesn’t watch film.
Friday: Arm lift -- focusing on biceps and triceps -- before special-teams meetings. Usually watches more film on opposing offenses in pre-practice meetings. Works on red zone. Before leaving practice, wants to feel good about what Detroit has to do Sunday.
“I want to feel pretty good about the game plan,” Quin said. “I want to feel good about my calls, my technique, my footwork, about everything.”
Massage at 1:30 p.m. to work out kinks in his body before family night.
Saturday: Envisions calls and plays in walk-through for Sunday. Then heads home, watches college football or takes kids to gymnastics before heading to the team hotel. Goes to a special-teams meeting, a defensive meeting and runs through calls. Then grabs a snack -- a turkey burger with cheese and bacon along with a bowl of fruit -- and heads to room. Stretches before bed along with drinking two Gatorades.
Sunday morning: Wakes up and takes a car with center Dominic Raiola to the stadium early in order to make sure everything is in order. Puts pads in his pants and reads over notes from the week one more time. Warms up two-and-a-half hours before the game. Stretches. Then it’s time to play.