LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
October 11, 2024
Opening Statement: “Just thinking about these guys over there a little bit, and they’ve done a nice job, particularly these last two weeks. That team’s played some physical teams, they’ve grinded it out, two big wins. (Cowboys Head) Coach (Mike) McCarthy’s doing a great job, has for a long time now. (Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Mike) Zimmer we talked about the other day, have a lot of respect for him and what they’re doing. And this quarterback is as good as they come, so this is going to be a challenge and our guys know that, but we’re looking forward to it and we’re in a good place right now and we’ll be ready to go.”
On Lions S Kerby Joseph’s injury and his outlook for Sunday: “Yeah, he’s going to practice today so I think we’ll be OK. We’ll see, we’ll know a lot more after today’s practice.”
On how reflective he is when a head coach is fired in the League: “Yeah, I think there’s always a part of you that – you do. It makes you feel fortunate to be where you’re at, I know I do. I’m fortunate to be where I’m at with the people that I’m with and we’ve had success. At the end of the day, that’s – you have to win. It’s about wins and no matter how you cut it, what it is or isn’t, the W’s matter, so that’s the bottom line. It’s a hard business that way, but we all understand that. Everybody does. So, I’m always going to wish him the best, I think he’s an outstanding coach.”
On if he hears Lions T Dan Skipper getting applause when he reports as eligible in a game: “Well I’m aware of it. No, I don’t, but I’m aware of it because people have told me that. Like, ‘Skipper comes in, everybody yells.’”
On what it means to Lions T Dan Skipper to be a sixth offensive lineman that has become a cult hero: “I’m sure pretty good. Skip is the ultimate team guy, competitor, grinder, doesn’t have bad days and never feels sorry for himself, worries about this or that, doesn’t make excuses. He’s the bubble guy every time. He’s on the bubble and it’s the practice squad, it’s the roster, ‘I play, I help on show team if I need to,’ he does whatever we ask him to do. He goes in he plays tackle, he’s played guard, starts for us at guard and never played a game at guard. Do you guys remember that, Washington, Seattle? And then he’s our jumbo tight end. It’s hard to put into words the value a guy like him brings. When you have guys like him and (Lions RB) Craig Reynolds, (Lions WR) Tom Kennedy, that just grind it out and they don’t feel sorry for themselves about anything. They earn everything they get every day in practice, and they get an opportunity in a game and they make the most of it. And that’s why they’re here, because we trust them. They’ve built that, they’ve earned that. I know it probably feels good. He’s a grunt.”
On what he wants to see going forward from Lions DL Josh Paschal in terms of his growth now that he has a bigger role: “‘Keep doing what you’re doing,’ is what I would tell him, and I have told him because he’s gotten better every week that he’s gotten thrust into playing more. Every game has gotten better and better and better since he came back from early in the season. So, ‘Just keep doing what you’re doing.’ He’s violent on the edge in the run game. Everything starts with power in the pass game and then comes off of that and that’s where he’s continuing to grow, particularly as a rusher and he really has gotten so much better. (Lions Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line) Terrell (Williams)’s done a great job with him but, ‘Just keep putting in the work like you’re doing, keep growing,’ because he’s on a good trajectory right now.”
On if there is something he is still looking for in the linebacker room after signing LB Cam Gill and LB Al-Quadin Muhammad to the practice squad: “Well, I think (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes) and I talked about – first of all I think Brad did a great job, he always does, but just bringing in – hey, we need a little edge help and the more you can bring in, the more guys, that’s more competition, and so let’s let them just continue to work, practice, develop, get them accustomed to what we do, and then let them fight it out. Let them compete against each other and let the best man win and if they can help us, we’re going to take them to the game.”
On what he expects from defensive players on their first day of practice after they do up-downs: “Well, you can’t tell them not much, but not much because it’s – you know what that’s like. That’s hard. They’re ready to make their mark and you just completely blow them out early. They got nothing left in the tank, they have to go to individual, those guys have done a great job. Both of those guys, (Lions LB Al-Quadin Muhammad) Al came in, Muhammad and (Lions LB) Cam Gill and they both had to do them and they go right into individual and I’ll tell you what, they both gave us great looks on that day during practice once they got their wind back. But it’s like we talked about here, that’s the beauty of – look, it’s the buy-in, right? It’s buy-in if you want to play on our defense, you have to pay your dues because everybody has. And I think some of the best is once you’ve done that, like a guy like – I still laugh because (Lions LB) Jack Campbell kind of stands off to the side and he’s just got this grin on his face like, ‘Man, I’ve paid my dues. I get to watch somebody else do this because I know what that’s like.’ And it’s good. You buy in and you’re a part of the crew.”
On if there is an opportunity to sign one of the practice squad defensive linemen to the open active roster spot: “It’s really, it gives us options. I don’t want to say that we’ll necessarily use that or we’re in a hurry to fill that. It really has just kind of given us a bit of flexibility right now. It does give us options, but I wouldn’t say we’re necessarily in a hurry to fill that with maybe one of those guys or somebody else right now.”
On the progress of Lions LB Mitchell Agude and Lions DL Isaac Ukwu: “Yeah, I think both of them very nicely, I think both of those guys because they’ve been here the longest. Talk about these D-ends, edge guys, and both of those guys have done a really good job for us and honestly, I would have no problem playing either one of those guys if we need them.”
On an injury update for Lions DL Brodric Martin: “He’s doing a good job, he’s progressed nicely. I think he’s – I can’t give you a date, like how close, but he’s right in line to where we thought he would be, so he’s doing really good. Really good.”
