Lions head coach Matt Patricia spoke to media at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine Wednesday for the first time since his introductory press conference.

Patricia said his first few weeks have been a whirlwind, but he's enjoying the challenge.

"It's all been unbelievable from the standpoint … everything that you're involved in and kind of trying to make decisions on, which is great. The big focus is getting through the process," he said.

"Just setting timelines for, 'OK, we're working on this this week. Next week we've got to move on to that.' And really putting a schedule together for the short term and long term, looking at the big picture where we want to be, say, in a month or two months, and then where we are and where we want to be in a week.

"So it's been fun and challenging, all kind of wrapped into one."

Patricia still wouldn't give too much away on what to expect from his defense in 2018, other than to reaffirm the scheme will be multiple.

"We're going to do whatever we need to do that week to win," Patricia said. "As we go through and analyze the opponent, take a look at what they do from and offensive and defensive perspective ... however we think we can do a good job to be productive, that's what we're going to do."

When asked about Patricia's defenses from his time in New England, three NFL head coaches had the same conclusion: No matter what they looked like, they worked.

"He's always challenging to go against," Dolphins head coach Adam Gase, who is 1-3 against the Patriots, said. "There are games where you feel like he knows what you're calling before you call your plays."

LIONS TAG ZIGGY ANSAH:
The Lions announced Tuesday they designated defensive end Ziggy Ansah as their franchise player. The move will keep Ansah in Detroit through 2018.

"The thing about Ziggy that I think kind of really needs to be put out there, when you really watch the tape, like the offensive lines slide to him all the time," general manager Bob Quinn said Wednesday. "So, you go back and watch this guy, there's two guys trying to block him more than half the plays.

"So, we talk about production, this production on paper, this stat line, his sacks, his hurries, all that stuff, that's great. But when I watch tape and coaches watch tape, is he doing his job? Is he occupying two blockers and Anthony Zettel's making a play, or Kerry Hyder or A'Shawn, or whoever? So, I think that's part of the stuff that when you really dive into it and watch it, I think he had a productive year."

RUNNING BACKS IMPRESS
One thing almost everyone at the Combine can agree on, Quinn and Patricia included, is that this year's running back class is deep and talented.

"It's a deep class," Quinn said Wednesday. "Those guys weighed in this morning. I just came from there. It's a good looking crew. It's guys that have different skillsets. Guys that can carry the ball. Guys that can catch."

The class is led by superstar Saquon Barkley, who could end up going number one overall, but there is talent to be had on all three days of the draft.

One prospect who could interest the Lions is Nick Chubb. Chubb racked up plenty of experience in four years at Georgia, and could make sense on day two of the draft.

"Coaches I've talked to me have told me, 'It doesn't matter where you get drafted,'" Chubb said. "You've got to work hard, and work your tail off.

"A lot of free agents have gotten a lot of playing time because they work harder than any other guys."

The running backs lived up to expectations in on-field workouts Friday, posting a lot of impressive times in the 40.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEMS:

• The Lions announced Friday that they added Derius Swinton to coaching staff as offensive assistant.
• The draft is deep at interior offensive line this year, and the Lions could look to it to add a lineman to their ranks.
• See what the NFC North general managers and head coaches had to say down at the Combine this week.
• Defensive line prospect Harold Landry likes the idea of potentially reuniting with his former coach and current Lions defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni.