LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
October 20, 2023
On how Lions DL Josh Paschal looks this week after returning from injury: “Yeah, he – I feel like he’s gotten better every day. We started his clock last Friday and he looks pretty good. So, I think the thought is we’ll probably get him going here and it’s good to have him back.”
On the impact Lions DL Josh Paschal’s versatility can provide: “Yeah, he does. He has versatility because he can play the big end, he can play three-technique, he can play one of the outside backers if needed. So, he brings A: a motor, B: he’s got power, he’s explosive, and he’s a pretty heads-y player. So, it’s just – it brings a little more ammo to the front that he’s playing pretty good right now. Certainly, it’s going to help us.”
On how Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs looks this week after returning from injury: “Yeah, he looks good. He looks good.”
On if Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs will play this week: “Yeah, I think he’s going to be a go. He looked pretty good yesterday.”
On how big of a matchup Baltimore’s proficient rushing attack will be against the Lions’ run defense: “Yeah, look, we look forward to it. I mean this is the next challenge and this is a challenging offense and as we’ve said before, it always starts with (Ravens QB) Lamar (Jackson). He’s kind of the secret sauce for them and he makes it very difficult because (of) his ability to run. So, it’s a challenge, but it’s a challenge accepted, and we know they’re going to commit to it. They’ll have plenty of those runs. They do a great job in the scheme that they run. This O-line plays hard, and backs run downhill and Lamar’s dynamic. So, it’ll be a challenge and we’ve got to contain it. We’ve got to contain this run game is what we have to do. And look, there’s going to be some things that are going to happen in this game, and we can’t let it affect us. We’ve got to go to the next play and ultimately, for 60 minutes, we’ve got to win more than we’re losing of those up front.”
On how similar Baltimore’s defense is to Tampa Bay’s defense: “Yeah, I would say it’s different in the fact that Tampa’s defense is outstanding, but I just bring this up again, (Buccaneers DT) Vita Vea – look, Baltimore’s got some good – these D-tackles in there now are a load, but Vita was – he’s a different player too, man. That’s a huge man in there that can move, and so he brings a certain element inside that you feel like shuts down a lot in there. These guys are similar. The backers run well, but I just think there’s enough – there’s a little bit of differences in regard to that. But look, we’re going to have to earn anything we get there. They’ve done a really good job, this defense has. They take a lot of pride in shutting down the run game. They play tight coverage in the backend, and they run and hit. So, it’s what they’ve always been know for, that hasn’t changed. They’ve been excellent on third down and in the red zone. So, look, we’ve got our work cut out for us, but I just bring this up again, we’ve been facing some really good defenses so this is kind of nothing new to us. I mean it’s the next challenge, it’s going to be a tough one, but it’s another challenge accepted.”
On how to guard audible calls signs on the sidelines to prevent opponents from catching on and how much that knowledge can help defenses: “Yeah, I mean you always guard yourself against them and that’s probably the name of the game. I think everybody’s looking for any advantage they can get, so you just have to have enough dummy signals and dummy audibles and things of that nature to where you keep them honest, they don’t entirely know what’s coming. But I mean that’s –.”
On if he changes audible calls every week: “Yeah, not everything, but they’ll be just a few things that we change every week. Not the whole – not everything, but enough to where if we feel like somebody’s getting a beat on us, we will, on both sides of the ball.”
On if there is a designated staffer to identify and change the audible calls: “Yeah, we all look at that. I mean that’s a – we have a number of guys that look at TV copies and everything else, just like they do. I mean they’re doing the same, every team’s doing it. See if you can pick up any little nugget, code words, quarterback says something, linebacker’s making a call, O-line, D-line. And so, any nugget you feel like you can pick up, you would like to use, but there again, there’s always – you’ll always sprinkle in on both sides of the ball dummy calls and that’s part of it.”
On his expectations for Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs after missing two weeks due to injury: “Yeah, I think certainly he’s going to need to take the load of it. We’re just going to have to see where he’s at. I’d like to say we want to be careful with him but the reality of it is, we need him. So, we’ll go as far as he can take us here, trying to be as smart as we can, but he’s got to go. And he’s ready, he’s ready.”
On how much they will change the run game based on Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs being a different type of back compared to Lions RB David Montgomery: “We really haven’t to be honest with you. There’s a few things we think he does well that certainly will carry, but ultimately, we’re going to keep what we do well and what our O-line does well, our tight ends and – because we believe he can – we don’t think he’s just some, ‘Hey, you just got to get on the perimeter. He’s not an inside runner.’ We don’t believe that. So, we’re keeping the identity of what we do and the core of what we do in the run game, so that won’t really change.”
On the level of concern he has about Baltimore’s ability to generate inside pass rush: “Yeah, look it always is. Those guys – and look, (Ravens NT Michael) Pierce is a – he’s a load in there too. He’s been a good player for a long time, so. But yeah, I mean look it’s – there again, we’re going to be challenged. This is another defense that is able to challenge you up front and you can only – you only have so many resources to try to help. And ultimately, the guy who gets a one-on-one has got to win for us. We can’t protect everybody all the time, but I feel good about our O-line and I think we’ll do a great job up there. These guys will battle.”
On if he has seen anything from Lions G Halapoulivaati Vaitai this week that would lead to him returning to the offensive line soon: “Yeah, I feel like he’s looked better. I feel like every week he’s gotten better and better since coming back from the injury. So, I think he’s close. I think he’s close. I think he’s close to helping us.”
On conversations with Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager Brad Holmes about the upcoming trade deadline: “Yeah, look, that’s – Brad, we talked yesterday just briefly in passing, so that’s – look, you know him, he’s always looking. He’s looking, he’s seeing if something’s out there, if (there is) something that makes sense, but ultimately, that’s – I trust him. He’s going to handle it and if it’s something that’s serious, he’ll bring it to me, otherwise, I just – I handle my business, getting this team ready to play the next week and whatever does or does not happen, I trust Brad 100 percent. It’s going to be for the better of us, betterment of our team.”
On if recent praise about Executive Vice President and General Manager Brad Holmes and him from other coaches and players means anything to them: “No. I don’t mean that negatively, it’s just – I mean a lot of people didn’t like us two years ago, so we don’t forget those and we’re the same two people, we’re the same team. We’ve just gone about our business. We haven’t changed anything. So, we’re worried about – all we care about is what our players think and the coaches and the personnel and me and Brad and that’s it. And so, we’ve got a job to do and we’re just going to keep doing it.” |
