LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
January 17, 2024
On if he has thought about what it will mean for the players if the team advances to the Super Bowl this season: “No, not that in depth with it. It’s more – I’m so much into the mode now and I want us thinking, ‘It’s the next one.’ And we’ve got three left and we’ve got to go get this one right now and so I think it’s, let’s do everything we can to put a good gameplan together for these guys where they can digest it, be ready to go, good practice and let’s go get this one. And then, man then we’ve got to gear up for the next one. So, I think it’s very much business as usual. I think it’s too early to start getting there. I think that’s where you’ve got to be careful, you get complacent. I think that’s great for everybody to feel good and love where we’re at. But for us, we can’t. We’ve got to just stay on the tracks here.”
On how much the Week 6 game against the Buccaneers matters and much they have evolved since then: “There’s a lot of similarities. They’re still doing a lot of what they’ve done. (Buccaneers Head Coach) Todd (Bowles)’s defense, first of all, I mean, he’s been there for a number of years now. And they’ve got a number of guys on that defense that have been together and so it’s evolved so much. And so, he’s got these things that they believe in, that they’re pretty good at, the disguises, the pressure. And so, you’re going to see that no matter what. It’s just a – maybe a different wrinkle to it, but they’re really good at all of that. So, they have so many things about themselves that he’s not going to go away from. Now, a lot of that is the fact that you can’t always see everything. It’s not easy to see. There is a lot of disguise, there is a lot of movement. But it’s like I said before, this is a better team than when we faced them. They’re playing better football, but we’re better too. So, it’s – and that’s the way it should be. Here we go man, we’re in the divisional against an opponent that only improved all year and so did we.”
On the confidence he thinks the Buccaneers have right now with the end of their season being comparable to the end last season for the Lions: “Well, I think everything they’ve been through is what’s made them who they are, no different than us. They really – they were pretty hot early and then they hit a tough spot in there and had to find a way to get their confidence back, do a few things better, take care of the football. And they’ve been able to do that because of it. Then, they got back on this – they’re another one of these hottest teams going getting into the playoffs. So, they’re doing things right. They had to find a way to get over the hump and clean a few things up, but they never got panicked and never went in the tank. And it’s very much (Buccaneers Head Coach) Todd Bowles too. Man, he is (steady motion). There is – I’ve got a lot of respect for Todd, just the way he goes about his business and you’re not going to get him frazzled or him worried, or – he’s all about, ‘This is what we’ve got to do, this is how we do it and calm down. We’ll be just fine.’ So – and that’s why his team’s playing the way it’s playing, one of the reasons. So, be a big challenge here, but they are, they’re playing with a lot of confidence.”
On the gameplan for the offense against the Buccaneers defense: “Yeah, there’s – look, I know that we’ve – there’s some things that we need to do because we do them well and we can’t go away from that. But at the same token, we’ve got to be smart about how we attack them. It’s – some of this, the sledgehammer against a steel door can only last for so long. We’ve got to be smart about it. I just bring up (Buccaneers NT) Vita Vea and then just them creating the edges here with their overhangs, they’ve got length, size, explosiveness. (Buccaneers DL Calijah) Kancey’s explosive up the middle. And then obviously, (Buccaneers LB) Lavonte (David) can run. (Buccaneers LB Devin White) 45 can run, (Buccaneers LB K.J. Britt) 52 can run and come downhill. (Buccaneers S Antoine) Winfield (Jr.)’s hell of a player. So, they just – their personnel and the way that they do things, their corners are really good, long, athletic. They just – when you’re able to pressure the way they pressure, you’re able to keep everything boxed in with your overhangs and you’ve got size in the middle and speed, it’s tough. It’s going to be tough. So, I think for us it’s – we have to find a way to stay efficient. We certainly can’t have TFLs. We know we can’t drop back 50 times in this game either, so. And look, our defense is going to need to play well and they can and they should.”
On if he has liked their production in the backfield after overhauling it in the offseason and how important the run game will be against the Buccaneers: “Yeah, well yeah, we’ve loved what (Lions RB David) Montgomery and (Lions RB Jahmyr) Gibbs have done. And they’re a vital piece of the production that we’ve had on offense. They both bring something different to the table and I would say the vision that we had is – this is where it’s coming and it’s showing up. So, we are. We’re going to need to be able to get those guys involved. But I think this is one of those games – you’re going to need everybody, you really are. And we’re going to need to be able to run it, get it in the hands of those guys. But I mean, (Lions WR Amon-Ra) St. Brown’s got to be big for us. (Lions WR) Josh Reynolds has got to be big for us. (Lions TE Sam) LaPorta’s got to be big for us. This is going to take everybody to move the football against this defense. This is a championship defense we’re getting ready to face. This is one of the best ones in the League. It was when we faced them the first time and it still is.”
On how important Lions Mental Skills Specialist/Clinician Dr. Michelle Garvin has been for the mental health of players during periods of high pressure: “Well, I think it’s important, just when you start talking about player development, player engagement, that this is one of the resources that is good to have. And look, this is – I think she’s been very important. I think that this has been a three-year – this has taken some time because the players have to – that trust has to be developed between those two, between Dr. Garvin and whoever the player is. It can’t come from us, it can’t come from – they have to develop their own trust and what they feel like they need help with, can get help with and she’s done a great job of that. And I feel like, just as an organization, to be able to give them the resource and step back and say, ‘Hey, this is – it’s here for you. None of this comes to us. This is not a –.’ And I do think our players, every year, they’re using it more and I do think it’s helping in areas and I think it’s – in all regards. Everything – you’re dealing with time management, you’re dealing with family issues, you’re dealing with anxiety issues. You’re dealing with – and I think it’s just – it really is a great resource. She’s done a great job. And she always pokes her head up there too with the coaches. She’ll come around once a week, once every couple of weeks and she wants to make sure that we’re being smart, getting rest and that we’re resting. We just don’t have time to listen to her because we’re trying to get work done. So, but anyway, she’s been unbelievable.”
On how Lions TE Sam LaPorta performed against the Rams compared to his expectations through injury: “I was impressed. He helped us. He was not 100 percent, but he helped us win that game. He did exactly what we needed him to do for that game. And he’s coming along. He’s gotten better. He feels better than he did this time last week. That’s encouraging and so I just – I go back to this, it – I think that’s – for a young player that doesn’t know what this is and is not 100 percent to be able to – he knew he could get this done and he could help us. I think that goes a long way. That’s not an easy thing for a young player. And there again, this is – if we believed that this was going to be some, ‘Man, if you do this now, the odds of you – you’re going to set yourself back for years, or you’ll never be the same player.’ We wouldn’t put him out, we wouldn’t even talk about it. So, it’s about the way the player believes in himself and what he can get done and so he stepped up and helped us.”
On if his message of ‘grit’ was a tough sell for the organization three years ago: “Yeah, well no. I mean, I don’t – no because if it was, I didn’t notice it and I wasn’t going to listen to it anyway. It’s what we were doing here and the players that are here are for that reason, the players that have been able to stick. And it’s what we’re about. And it’s what we’ll always be about above everything else. If you don’t have that and you don’t have intestinal fortitude or mental toughness, resiliency about you, then it’s – you’re not going to be able to play here. That’s the bottom line, so. But no, our – and our guys believe that. The coaches believe it, the whole organization believes it. It’s what we’re – it’s the bedrock of what we’re about.”
On if he sees similarities between how Lions QB Jared Goff and Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield have led their teams to this point: “Well, yeah, look, they’re both leading their team. They’re both the field general. They’re both the ones that are making good decisions. They both hit a patch there in the middle of the year where there were a couple of turnovers, right? And they settled in and corrected a few things, and now both of them are taking care of the football. I think they’re both efficient quarterbacks and so – and I think they’re both playing at a very high level. I think what you’re seeing is two guys that –there’s a reason why they were drafted where they were drafted, at what point in the Draft – and I think you’re seeing that. Man, these players are really giving you what they’ve got, so. Look, he’s – with the way he’s playing right now, he’s an issue and he gets rid of the ball fast, he’s accurate with it and if you don’t push the pocket on him, he can make these throws and he’s got receivers that can make plays on the ball, in the air and run-after-catch. So, look, I’ve always been a Baker fan from afar. I loved him when he was coming out. I tell this story – this, to me, said a lot about him and I went and worked Blake Andrews out when he was coming out of OU. They came out the same year, tight end. And so, I went out there – well, his quarterback, it’s cold, but he comes out there. I think he’s got flip flops on. It’s Baker, Baker’s going to throw for him. Well, Baker threw for every one of his guys that was coming out that year and I think he’d already had two private workouts the two days prior, and he had one that afternoon and I think the one the next day. So, that just says a lot about the guy. There’s no wonder why people rally around him and follow him, because he’s that type of teammate, right? I mean there’s a lot of guys who wouldn’t do that, ‘Well, I’ve got to save my arm. I’ve got so-and-so club coming in.’ That wasn’t him, so you can respect stuff like that now.”
On his level of optimism that Lions WR Kalif Raymond will be able to play this week coming off an injury: “He’s better, he’s better. I won’t – honestly, this is going to be one of those that comes down to probably Friday or Saturday before we know for sure. He’s improved a ton.”
On what he has said to Lions S Kerby Joseph after the backlash he has received for his hits in the Vikings and Rams game and if he has consulted him on the way he hits: “No, he’s – look, we – that’s how we play football here. Just keep your head up, see what you hit. That’ll always be what I tell Kerby. Just keep your eyes up so you don’t hit on the crown of your helmet and you hit a spine, you mess yourself up there. Just see what you hit. But no, I mean we’re – he’s going for the thigh board and staying away from the head and we’re – that’s how we play defense here. We’re not dirty. It’s just, we hit.”
On how he prepares his current staff for future coaching opportunities: “Well, I fill them all in on what goes on most of the time. I do – as much as I can, I try to just give them things that I’m dealing with, or have dealt with, or things to think about, ‘When you get this opportunity, or when this comes up, think about this. If I could do this over again, this is what I would do.’ So, I think, more than anything, I try to give them a piece of situations that I deal with on a daily basis and that they need to be prepared for and what I would do different, what I felt like I did right, or think about this, I just posed a question. Alright, ‘This is you. What would you do?’ And I give it to them. So, I think that goes a long way. I think that helps. And – because when you do that, now they’re forced into that situation. That’s something they have not even thought about, they don’t have to think about. But when you present it to them that way, now all of a sudden you’ve got to make a decision. So, I’ve always tried to do that.”
LIONS QB JARED GOFF QUOTE SHEET
January 17, 2024
On how he handles the heighted pressure: “Yeah, the games go on. The importance of them, the magnitude of them keeps on going up and this one’s no different. They keep on getting more and more at stake and yeah, you handle them just like all the other ones.”
On not being consumed by the pressure of a one-point game in a win or go home situation: “It’s what I’ve been doing my whole life. Just pitch and catch.”
On how much fun he is having: “A lot of fun. Yeah, this is the best. This is what you do it for is times like this. You work all season, you work all offseason to get to opportunities like this and we’re here now.”
On the challenge of facing Tampa Bay’s defense: “Yeah, they’re good, man. They’re really good, and they were really good when we played them the first time and made it hard on us. And yeah, we’ll have our hands full and they’ve been playing well.”
On if there is anything they can take from facing Tampa Bay earlier this year: “I don’t know. It’s so long ago and they’re such a different team, so are we. I mean there’s certain guys on our team then and on their team then that just aren’t the team anymore for whatever reasons. But yeah, it’s different teams, it’s a different time of the year, it’s a different location. There’s a lot of differences there, but I know they’re a good team, I know they’re a good defense.”
On what makes Tampa Bay’s defense so tough to face: “They do a lot. They do a whole hell of a lot. They’ve got really good players. I think (Buccaneers S Antoine) Winfield (Jr.)’s as good as it gets at safety. I think both the linebackers are as good as a linebacker duo gets and I think (Buccaneers NT) Vita Vea’s as good as it gets upfront. So, they’ve got a lot of good players all over the place and it’s a good defense.”
On if it is a relief to just talk about football this week without extra storylines around the game like last week with the Rams: “Yeah, it’s nice to not have to deal with those questions from you guys as meaningless as they were and be able to have more meaningful questions, for sure.”
On if Tampa Bay having seven players all with at least four sacks poses more of a threat: “Yeah, they’ve got a lot of guys. They’ve got a lot of great players and I only named a couple there. There’s more on that that are great players and that can give us challenges.”
On how he felt emotionally when he found out Green Bay won and they would not have to travel this week: “Well, I knew when Green Bay had won that if we had won, we get another home game. I don’t know if I felt emotional about it at all, but excited in knowing we get another one in front of our fans.”
On the level of respect he has for Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield: “He’s had a hell of a career and him being able to find himself in a place that feels like home to him and playing as well as he has, particularly late in this year, him getting hot and doing what he’s done. It’s been fun to watch and I’m a fan of his.”
On having a similar path to Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield: “Yeah, similar.”
On how it feels to write new chapters in Lions history: “Yeah, it feels good. I mean we’ve been saying it all year, it’s about this team. It has nothing to do with the last 30 years here. And obviously, that’s the case for the city and the fans and a lot of you guys, but to us, it’s about us and winning games and being in a spot now in the playoffs where we can continue our season every week and have those chances is important.”
On if he is grasping the idea that he is giving a winning culture to a new generation of Lions fans: “Yeah, I’m happy for them. I’m really happy for our fans and our city to be able to experience this and to be able to be a part of the team that’s providing it to them for the first time in so long.”
On the viral video of him leaving Ford Field after a game with fans surrounding his car and cheering: “It’s funny, that was from the Saturday night against Denver, that video. So, that was five or six weeks ago, but yeah, the fans have been very supportive. The outpouring of support last week and this week has been fun to be around and certainly special to me.”
On if he feels more accepted in Detroit as the Lions quarterback after a playoff win: “No idea. Don’t care. Love the fans here and they love me, so I feel great.”
On how he stays so level despite chaos around him: “I mean I’ve been doing it my whole life. I don’t know. It’s just football. It’s fun and I don’t know what chaos you’re talking about.”
On the chaos of all the excitement that surrounds him and the team: “Yeah, it’s fun. It’s exciting. What else do you want? You’d rather be in this spot than another spot, but it’s – yeah, it’s been fun, it’s been exciting, and yeah, it’s been good.”
On how to keep the momentum going and energy up while keeping the team level: “Yeah, well getting the win this past week – sorry, I’ll come back to answer your question, but I got the question a lot prior to this past week, ‘How will these guys handle this, a big game and all these guys not playing in a big game before?’ I’m happy I don’t have to answer that question anymore because we won a big game and these guys can handle all this, so it’d be the same thing with this week is, yeah, it’s another big game, it’s another playoff game and these guys have played in big games. We just won a big game last week and we’ll be ready to go.”
On if playing big games in college carries forward to preparing to play big games in the NFL: “Yeah, and then this past week. So, now that when you guys move forward, you can add the Wild Card win we just had to what this locker room has done.”
On what the moment was like for him when Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell threw him a game ball after the Rams game: “That was special. It was really cool. Obviously, love him and appreciate him, but yeah, it was special.”
On what Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell has instituted with the team that has worked so well: “A ton, a ton. He’s a great leader, he’s a great culture-setter and has done a hell of a job with us.”
On the confidence Tampa Bay is playing with right now having gone on a hot streak at the end of the regular season: “Yeah, they got hot. I think the season’s – everyone’s season’s different, but they went through that lull in the middle and then are coming out of that now, playing well, playing good ball, both sides of the ball and are a tough team, really tough in all facets. So, we’ll have our hands full.” |
