Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell (11.21.21)
Opening statement:
“I thought our defense played their hearts out today. They played lights out and kept us in it. They controlled (Browns RB Nick) Chubb just like we said we needed to. They gave us a chance there. We ran it okay in spurts. Certainly (Lions RB D’Andre) Swift’s long touchdown helped. Special teams I thought played very well once again. Third down hurt us. Third down and then ultimately we had a couple of penalties that crushed us. They really hurt us. Guys played their hearts out, man.”
On the decision to kick the field goal:
“We talked about it, but I told myself the night before to be smart. Hang in there. If we play this game the right way like last week, we’re going to have an opportunity to get it back. Play smart. Don’t put ourselves in a bind. I was close, but then I chose to kick a field goal. I felt good about our defense.”
On the unsportsmanlike penalty on Lions G Jonah Jackson:
“He said something verbally.” Reporter question: To an official? “No, to a player.”
Reporter question: What did he say? Did you get an explanation? “I got an explanation. I don’t know what to tell you. It was something about somebody’s mother. There was a lot of talking going on out there, but it was a penalty.”
On how costly the unsportsmanlike penalty was:
“It hurt. He knows. He knew it when it came off. But there was a lot of talking going on. As a matter of fact, while I’m getting told that, I’m hearing talking, but that’s part of it.”
On how frustrating penalties are when you’re trying to capitalize on opportunities:
“They’re frustrating. They are really frustrating. There again, we’re just not that type of team that can overcome those. Some can. We’re not. There again, take any one of those away and it may change the dynamic of that game. Yeah, it hurts. It hurts.”
On Lions QB Tim Boyle’s performance:
“He was solid. He ran the offense well. We had no communication errors. He was efficient. Look, he was a little rusty. A couple of those throws. He and Swift were on the same page on the first interception. That’s not all him, that’s on both of them. The long pick that he had was a hell of a throw. Now you’d like to just pull that inside just a little bit. He pulled the trigger on it and he gave us a chance. It’s either got to be our ball or nobody’s, but you have to throw some of those. Look, I wanted to be smart too. I didn’t want to throw this kid to the wolves. That’s not fair to him, either. I thought for what we asked him to do, he was solid. A couple of those interceptions, or there again one of them, that’s the price to do business. You hope it’s not the price because like I said, it’s yours or nobody’s. The first one was just, ‘are you going in, are you going out? What are you doing? Don’t throw it.’ But no, I’m not disappointed in the kid. I’m not disappointed in him. He hasn’t played since August. He was better in the fourth quarter than he was
in the first, so when he got into a little bit of a rhythm, he was better.”
On finding the right amount of aggressiveness on fourth down and if they were all equally difficult decisions:
“The 4th and 1 was tough. The 4th and 9 wasn’t, just because I wanted to be smart with what we were doing. When you’re defense is playing like that, you want to be mindful of making sure that you’re being smart with your quarterback, but yet still having a chance to win, I felt like it was the right thing to do. I thought we’d get that ball back.”
On whether that’s why they ran the ball on third and long with Swift:
“Yes. That was to try and not put him under duress. That’s a pretty good rush team. (Browns DE Myles Garrett) 95 and (Browns DE Jadeveon Clowney) 90 on the edge and those guys in the middle. Now, I thought our protection was pretty dang good when we did throw it. I thought (T Taylor) Decker and (T Penei) Sewell and those guys up front did a pretty good job.”
On whether it is sustainable for Swift to keep putting up big rushing performances:
“We’ll find out. We’ll find out. This kid is pretty dynamic. I think more than anything it’s about the load that he takes. How many plays can he play a game? What kind of plays are those? Look, we have to be mindful, but at the same time, we’re trying to win a game. If he gives us the best opportunity to win, we have to find ways to get him the football.”
On Swift having only having 10 carries in the first three quarters:
“It’s tough when you can’t get first downs. It’s tough to get anybody in a rhythm. It’s easy to say we’ll give Swift the first 20 plays or whatever, but that’s not the reality of it. It really had nothing to do with him. It was more about where we were at. Shoot, I’d like to get (TE T.J.) Hockenson the ball. I’d like to, but when you don’t convert on third down, it just makes it tough. I think a lot of that is where we’re at in third downs. Those third and longs weren’t going to be conducive to us having success today. It was just the nature of the weather and where we’re at. I didn’t want to put Tim (Boyle) in tough situations like that until we had to. Our defense was playing outstanding and I wanted to hang my hat on that.”
On the final drive with Lions RB Jamaal Williams and Lions RB Godwin Igwebuike, and whether it was an injury in the series before that kept Swift off the field for a couple plays:
“He just got rolled out there. The second one we called for Godwin. The first one was a personnel group that had Jamaal in there, so that’s just kind of how it played out.”
On averaging around 70 passing yards in four quarters and where the play-calling falls into the strategy moving forward:
“Sure. Look, I get it. I’m sure there are a lot of people that question it and think that I was too conservative. Maybe I ought to throw it a lot more, but I’m just not ready to do that with where we were at here. Last week was a certain situation. This week was. I think you have to go where the game takes you. We have plenty of ammo in there but you also have to be careful. You have to be smart.
How do you get yourself to have the best chance to win at the end, when you’re in it? I didn’t feel like it was right. I didn’t feel like it was the right thing to do. We’re trying to win games – 14-13, 16-13, no, but we’ll do whatever it takes to win a game. I just felt like the right thing to do was try to run it a little bit and try to take a little stress off of Tim, and get him going. I mean look, it’s no secret that we need to be better in the pass game.”
On the one deep throw and how Lions WR Josh Reynolds handled it:
“Look, there again, you’d like it inside just a little bit more, just a tick more. There again, if you don’t come down with it, you knock it down. That’s all. Look, the defender made a good play on the ball too. I was just glad we got one up and down. We have to be able to do that stuff because everyone is just going to sit on their routes.”
On how to balance being smart with being aggressive:
“We’re playing Myles Garrett here. We can do that. I love Decker. Decker is a hell of a player, but at some point, the more you pass it, and you allow this guy off the edge, he’s probably going to make a play. That play could be the one that makes the difference. That’s a sack fumble. That’s a strip. I’ve watched the first eight games of it, and you watch last year. I don’t think that’s fair to us. I don’t think it’s fair to Tim for this game. Now, if you said Tim plays against Chicago, I bet he’s going to be a little bit better and I bet you can throw it more than you did. I just felt like that’s the way I needed to play that game. You don’t want to go there until you have to. When the defense is playing as good as they were playing, I didn’t want to do it.”
On who will play next week and how close Lions QB Jared Goff was to returning for today:
“We’ll see where (QB Jared) Goff is at and then assess Tim. Here’s what I do know, if Tim does (play next week), he’s going to be better than he was today. And if he plays a third week, he’ll be better than he was the second week.”
On whether Goff is the starter:
“He was our starter before he got hurt. If he can go, he’s going.”
Lions Players (11.21.21)
Lions QB Tim Boyle:
On his performance during his first career start:
“It is pretty quick after the game here, but in the short time I have been able to reflect, obviously, an incredible experience for me. Every play that I got, I was able to mentally bank and grow from. Early in the first quarter, (Lions QB) Jared (Goff) told me earlier in the week that the first quarter in your first game is kind of a blur, and he was 100 percent right. It happened quick. You settle into the game. Overall, good experience, but at the end of the day, did not play well enough to win, and that falls on me. A lot of room to grow in that department.”
On the throw to Lions RB D’Andre Swift early in the game:
“It was a choice route and a good learning experience for me. I have to be a little bit more patient with him. I could have taken a little longer to see and let the route develop. I think ultimately he made the right decision. That is why I am a little bummed by it. Just miscommunication, and like I said, it ultimately falls on me.
“I thought he was just going to sit it down, and he broke inside. Actually, right when he started breaking in is when I threw it, and I was like, ‘Oh, hopefully, he does not get caught, but he was bobbling the ball a little bit. It is a whole different ball game, even if that is an incomplete pass, we are kicking a field goal and it is a 13-13 game, and it is a whole different environment. As the quarterback, you have to reflect on the game, see how your choices and what you do with the ball impacts the game. Like I said, an incredible learning experience for me, but being on the negative side of one of these really does hurt.”
On if this gives him more appreciation for NFL quarterbacks and if it blows his mind what they do week to week:
“It does. It does not really blow my mind. I have been in the NFL for four years now. I am not a rookie. It is my first start, but I have been around it so I appreciate it. When you are in there for four quarters, it gives you an appreciation. Ultimately, they called my number to come play well. I did not play well enough, which is the unfortunate part, but like I said, a good learning experience. I am going to bank all of those reps, and I’m going to be better for it.”
On if Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell called too safe of a game:
“No, I think he did a great job of calling plays today. I really do. Football games are so fluid. Every play dictates the next, and I think he called a great game. To answer your question, I do not feel like he was too reserved or too demanding of me. I think he called a great game, and he called his shots when they were there and some drop backs when they were there but like I said, ultimately, it falls on me and I got to be better.”
On working with the Lions first team offense this week and today:
“In reflecting, it was my first time playing with all of those guys. I got a couple of starts in preseason. I do not think I had a bunch of those guys. First time throwing with Swift this week (Lions TE) T.J. (Hockenson) this week and getting timing down, and we worked through those as the week progressed. I have not played football in 10-11 weeks. Not an excuse at all, but the fact that I started today and that I have these reps in the pocket with the incredible pass rush that they have, it was a great learning experience. It is something I will remember forever but a loss does not feel good.”
More on his performance:
“My expectation is to play well every week. That is my expectation as a player. That is what the team expects from whoever is playing quarterback for the Lions. Ultimately, the quarterback touches the ball every play, and it is up to me to go get the win. Great learning experiences today. It is frustrating, but looking back, all you can do now is reflect on what you did, watch the film, be critical and grow. I do not want to sit here in self-pity and feel bad for myself. What I can do now is recover, learn from my mistakes and be a better player for it.”
On CB Denzel Ward’s interception:
“I saw the safety cut the crosser that T.J. was running so I knew it was going to be one of those 50-50 balls. Really good corner in the boundary there by No. 21. Going into the game, he was one of those guys that we said we should be cautious of. Throwing up a 50-50 ball and expecting (Lions WR) Josh (Reynolds) to go make the play, but stuff like that happens sometimes. A good corner gets paid a lot of money and steps in front of the ball. Another great learning experience for both of us.”
On another missed connection during the game:
“Ultimately, that falls on my patience with the play and being a little more patient and letting the route develop so I am not – I do not want to say guessing – but I can do a better job of reading his body movements in certain choice routes. Ultimately, I think he made the right choice and I can be more patient.”
On how to make improvements with a short week:
“I do not think it limits much. The growth happens in the mind. Physically, we all have the talent. It is the NFL. I think the part that I on a short week and every quarterback on a short week is evaluating yourself in a game and have such a short turnaround and getting ready for now the Bears. I do agree that with every rep that I get, whether it be a start or if I am out there for a single rep, I am going to continue to get better because like I said I have been in the NFL for four years. I think before this game, I threw four passes and I completed four of them, and I do not have a bulk of experience in the NFL so with every opportunity I get, I am going to continue to get better and I firmly believe that.”
On the night and week before his first start:
“It was kind of a rollercoaster at times emotionally. You get amped up, it is your first start and you are away at a cool place like this where the fans are going to be loud. You kind of have that kid like energy, but also at quarterback, you have to be calm, cool and collected, and you have to think clearly. All week, it was kind of just a matter of finding the middle ground between those two. I think I did a good job leading up to the game. Last night, I had a great session with our practice squad quarterback Steven Montez where we went through every single call on the play sheet. I felt really good about the plan. Ultimately, at the end of the day, we did not get the win, and it falls on me. It really does. We will be better for it but we are looking forward to Chicago.”
On if he did anything in particular to draw the Browns defense offside multiple times and if that was part of the gameplan:
“No, not necessarily. We knew they would be a jumpy group just because it is such an aggressive pass rush. Under center, when I was able to use my cadence, I tried to mix it up just to help our tackles out. When you have two edge rushers like that, it is tough. I knew going into the game I had to switch up my cadence, but I do want to credit (Packers QB) Aaron Rodgers for that one. Being around him, truly, that is really where I learned my cadence, understanding voice inflections and understanding what defensive guys are trying to hear. He is one of the best to do it. I credit that to him. It was good to see it happen in a game, and we were able to get a couple of free downs.”
On how much he would like to have Campbell call more deep pass calls:
“Whatever call he calls is going to be great. It is up to us to execute what he calls, and we all trust him. He is an awesome head coach. We love playing for him. We love fighting for him because he fights for us. He really does. When that play comes through my helmet, it is confident and it is my job to relay that confidence to that group in the huddle. I think that happened today. In the second half, we got it going, but we just fell short.”
On potentially playing on Thanksgiving Day:
“I remember watching Cowboy games and Lions games when I was a little kid. Just the fact that I get to partake in and just be on the roster of an NFL game on Thanksgiving is just a going to be so special. It is interesting because it is the shortest week in football. We have a noon game. (Lions QB) David Blough let us know it is the shortest week in football, and we have to turn it around. He is right. Thanksgiving is going to be special. It really will be. I was actually talking with one of my cousins, and every Thanksgiving, we got together as a family and we used to watch the games. He said, ‘Just the fact that you are going to be out there and that it is going to be you out there on the field on the team is going to be so special.’ Thanksgiving is a special day, and I am looking forward to it. I really am.”
Lions CB Amani Oruwariye:
On how tough it was when a couple of third down penalties gave the Browns opportunities:
“Yeah, it is tough. We always talk about the position we are in as a team. We can’t afford to have any mistakes. I know that is unrealistic being in the NFL, but that is the standard we have to have. Too many penalties in the first half. Third down, could not get off of the field. We definitely were a lot better in the second half, but just maybe that little thing could have been different.”
On what turned the game in the second half:
“It was not a lot of adjustments to the gameplan. It was just executing the call. Less penalties, like I said, wrapping up tackles and getting off of the field. Just executing. That is all it was. Like you said, we did better in the second half.”
On how difficult it is to play perfect in the NFL when the offense is struggling:
“We try not to even worry about that. We have our hands full on defense to even worry about what they are doing. They are going to get it going. We have the mentality that if they do not score, they do not win. They scored 13 points.”
On Lions defense’s effort:
“I feel like since Coach got here, we have a standard and mentality we want to play with on defense. It is not just for now. It is for the year to build on, and I feel like we picked it up a lot as the season has gone on but still is not where we want to be so we will clean up the film and improve.”
On his interception:
“Just right place, right time. That is all it was.”
On the team’s mood in the locker room:
“It is crazy. You would think we would be down and out, but we are not. You have a lot of guys in there who are still believing and fighting their tails off, and we know we are going to be on the other side of this at some point. We just have to keep doing what we are doing.”
Lions RB D’Andre Swift:
On the Lions offensive performance in the second half:
“A lot more opportunities out there in the second half. I feel like the first half went fast, I do not even know how many possessions we had. We just have to start better. Sustain more drives. We get off the field too fast.”
On how he feels physically:
“I am good. We have a short week. Have to get recovery on my body, but I am fine.”
On his 57-yard touchdown run:
“Tried to set it up inside, bounced it out a little bit. The safety came down, made him miss, and started running.”
On his amount of carries and if he should have had more:
“That is not up to me. I can’t do anything, but do my job – my job when I am called on.
On if he gets into rhythm when he has more touches:
“Most definitely. I feel like that is for any position. The longer you are out there, the longer you get a feel for the game. Yes, you definitely get into rhythm.”
On what he feels to have back-to-back 100-yard games and the Lions losing both contests:
“I feel like I am not doing enough. We are not winning. There is always opportunities to get better. Look at the film and see where I could have scored again, where I could have done something else, got a few more yards. It was not enough.”
On the level of frustration with the Lions now 0-9-1 on the season:
“It is really frustrating. Nobody likes to lose. Play to win, hate losing. We just have to find a way to win. Keep going. Keep pushing. Like (Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) always says, you can’t grow numb to it. Can’t be an ongoing thing. Have to keep going and find a way to get one.”
