LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL TRAINING CAMP DAY 15 QUOTE SHEET
August 16, 2023
Opening Statement: “Morning, alright, (Jaguars Head) Coach (Doug) Pederson’s done a hell of a job, Super Bowl winning coach. It was – what they did last year, turning that program around, was outstanding. This is a very talented team – very talented – across the board. This will an excellent test for us, and we’re looking forward to it. This will be two great days of work plus the game.”
On which position group he wants to get the most work out of over the next two days of joint practices: “Yeah, I think just overall for us, particularly in what we’ve seen to this point in camp with everything – I know defensively, their skill position is going to be a great test for us. This will be great. The receiver tight end position as a whole, and the pass game is going to be big, and this back. So, they – just what they do schematically with those weapons. This is really going to be some great looks for our defense, our backend, and our linebackers. And then our front. And particularly what I mean by that is our O-line versus this D-line. They have length they have ability, they’ve got speed on the perimeter – pass rush, so I think those two things are what I’m looking most forward to. There’ll be big tests for us.”
On what he learned about joint practices against the Giants last week and if they reaffirmed his appreciation for joint practices: “Yeah, well I think – I don’t know necessarily know what we would take other than the model will be very much the same. We’ll have more plays, more competitive plays. But I just think what’s awesome about going here last week is now you work out all the little kinks. A couple of things as to where we need to be at, stay back here, get off the sideline, we can back up here, let’s put the drill here. So, we’ll be better for that. But I just think it validates doing it. I just think you get unbelievable work, and the intensity that you do get, it’s hard to duplicate, particularly in this point in camp with your own guys. You’re trying, you want to, but man when you bring in fresh blood, it’s just different and it’s great for our guys. And there again, I mean (Lions T Penei) Sewell, you go against (Lions DL Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch every day, it only makes you better. But at some point, you learn each other’s – and to find a new opponent that does something a little different. Like this (Jaguars OLB) Josh Allen is going to bring something a little different. This is some speed, speed, speed off the edge. And we know (Jaguars OLB) Travon (Walker) and those guys with the length. It will be good.”
On which positions he would like to see grow this week: “All positions. So, we all need to grow.”
On the current state of the communication in the secondary: “I think it’s like any other group. I love where the communication is going. The more we can have all those guys back there, I mean – there again (Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson) Deucy has been back there working some safety, he’ll be doing a little more safety today with (Lions DB Brian) Branch playing some nickel. And so, just to have those guys in those spots communicating is big. The more you do it, the better you get at it. And we’re still in camp, so it’s about getting better at it. We need every area to grow and grow fast.”
On how Lions S Tracy Walker has performed this training camp coming back from injury: “Yeah, I think Tracy has done a good job, I do. I feel like – I’m not – I don’t feel like there’s a deficiency with the injury. I feel like he’s come back physically. I think he looks pretty good. I feel like his communication is back to where it’s been. I think he’s having a pretty good camp. I really do.”
On Lions RB David Montgomery’s performance in training camp: “Yeah, I like D-Mo a lot. He fits us. He fits us. And I think – he’s just very versatile, he’s smart and he’s just wired the right way man. He’s got a workman, workman mentality and he’s a lunch pail guy. But man, he’s got some shiftiness to him, he’s low to the ground, he’s got power. And he just – he can go all day long, like he wants to. And I think we haven’t even seen the best of him yet because we don’t really go live and he’s not in games yet. That’s when I think he’s really going to show up. I’m glad we got him. He’s going to be really important for us.”
On the qualities he values most in running backs: “Versatility. Versatility is big, but I think of running back and tight end very much in the same light as in it’s about the room, more than I do one player per se. Of course, everybody wants if you can find the guy who does everything and he’s got all the – but I think more importantly to have a room, and they all do something a little bit different. But I think in the running back position it’s important to have a guy that you know he can carry that ball 25-30 times a game, and he’s only going to get better with the more carries he gets. But he also is versatile enough to do some things out of the backfield, pass protect. Then you want electricity in that room, too. Somebody that you really believe is a mismatch in the pass game, you hand him the ball in the runs, he can take it the distance. So, I just think having different types of guys is important, but if you don’t have a bell cow, I think it’s hard to survive in this League in the run game.”
On where he believes Lions DB Brian Branch has grown the most: “I think more than anything it’s just communicating with his teammates and getting – understanding how they work, where they’re at, where he needs to fit. He’s got the instinctive side of it, he has that, he’s got the football side of it. Some of it is just, OK the next progression here is, understand where (Lions S) Kerby (Joseph) is going to be at, where (Lions LB) Alex (Anzalone) is at, and how that fits to you. Now don’t take away your instincts the way you play ball, but just understand a little bit on now the bigger picture which comes in time, that’s growing, he’s a rookie, but he is taking off right now.”
On the third offensive tackle position battle: “Well, I would say right now it’s open. It’s open, and those guys knew that coming in here and I think that (Lions T Matt) Nelson and (Lions T Germain) Ifedi are just going back and forth. I thought Nelson’s had a pretty good camp, but I think Ifedi played pretty good in this game last week, and he’s played a lot in this League. (Lions T Obinna) Eze’s really come a long way, there again it’s just about the consistency and getting reps and playing. So, I think it’s very much open, it’s open and they’re competing for that spot.”
On the importance of Lions C Frank Ragnow returning to practice: “Yes, just to have Frank back yesterday – or excuse me, two days ago, what is today? Wednesday – having him back Monday was great. Because you can feel him when he’s out there, you can feel him, you can feel his presence, the way he plays, I mean he’s a dude. He’s a dude. So, to get him out there, it’s good to have him, it’ll be good to have him out here today, and so when you get him in there with those other guys, it’s like all the pieces fall right into place and it’s good to have him out there. So, it’s important for those guys to work together, they’re no different than the backend, you ask about communication and working together and understand where each other are at, it’s big for that O-line. Because they kind of grow together, and that’s how you build trust.”
On the philosophy behind investing in running backs this offseason: “I don’t know about that, that’s a better question for (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes) than it would be for me. I think that for us, I just bring this up again, I know there’s this big hot topic on running back, we went after the best players and (Lions RB Jahymr) Gibbs was one of the best players in this draft and we’re sitting there and it’s like, ‘Let’s go get him,’ so that’s what we did. Made it pretty simple there.”
On how he keeps players fresh at this point in camp: “You have joint practices. That keeps it fresh. These guys will be excited, they’re excited to have another opponent come in. I bring it up again, if you’re a competitor, this is as good as it gets. In camp I’m used to going to the same old guys and you’re trying to beat that guy every day in practice, but now all of the sudden you’re going to give me a different opponent, and oh by the way, you and I, we’ve been going after each other for three weeks now, but now we’re on the same team again going against those guys. Even in practice it raises the level of play and intensity, it’s awesome.”
On how he evaluates players as a culture fit for the team: “Listen, I think that’s all very much a big part of what we are. And I would say he’s a Detroit Lion guy, more than about me. It’s about a (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad Holmes, Dan Campbell guy. It’s about Brad Holmes, Dan Campbell, (Lions Linebackers Coach Kelvin) Sheppard, (Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn) AG, we’re all – I mean these coaches wouldn’t be here if they didn’t think like I thought, so it’s very much about us. And Brad and I think very much alike, it’s a Lions way, it’s what we do, it’s our type of guys.” |
