| LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET September 7, 2022 On Lions G Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s injury status and how he sustained the injury: “Yeah, it was a – it’s a back, and it was something that I think it bothered him at Pittsburgh, and once we got it checked out, it was something we felt like we needed to sit him. So, it’ll be – we know he’s down for at least four and we’ll take it week-by-week and see how he does.” On how prepared Lions G Tommy Kraemer is to step up in a time of need and his growth from last year: “Well, what I like about Tommy is you know exactly what you’re going to get. Yeah, like we know exactly who the player is, what he is. He’s a consistent player, and he grew through the spring and through training camp. And so, he makes the most of what he has. He’s pretty dependable, and he’s smart. He’s pretty smart, so he can play center, he can play guard, but there again, we’re exploring everything. We’re going to give a couple of different looks to guys today, him being one of them. And we may shuffle some things up, but we’ll come up with the best combination that we feel like is going to give us the best chance to win.” On how the excitement and anticipation for a healthy offensive line changes after Lions G Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s injury: “Listen, I love this O-line, and I still love this O-line. Certainly, losing (Lions G Halapoulivaati Vaitai) Big V, I mean that hurts anytime you get a guy like him who’s, like I just mentioned, he’s been a steady rock for us. And he’s a great team guy, and everybody appreciates him on this team, but I still love where we’re at. And look, just as a player and a coach, here’s what I do know, man, the O-line, as long you get a group of guys that know how to work together and they’re tough and they’re smart, you can make great things happen, and we’ve got plenty of that still up there, so we’ll be fine.” On if Lions G Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s injury is season-ending or if it needs surgery: “No. I mean it could, I don’t know, but right now, we’re taking it day-by-day, week-by-week.” On if he regrets playing starters in Preseason Week 3 against the Steelers after Lions G Halapoulivaati Vaitai could have injured himself during that game: “No. Nope. I hate it for him. I really do. I hate that.” On which other players are getting reps at the right guard spot: “Yeah, (Lions G) Logan (Stenberg) would be one of them. Moving (Lions C) Frank (Ragnow) over would be one. Obviously, that would bump (Lions C) Evan (Brown) up, and probably there is a chance that if it was Logan, then we move (Lions G) Jonah (Jackson) right, and we bring Logan to left. We talked about (Lions T Penei) Sewell bumping down to guard and (Lions T Matt) Nelson going up to tackle, so we’ve got options here. And we bank some – there’s not a ton of live reps with some of these guys, but yet they’ve played them before. We’ve always walk through – (Lions Offensive Line Coach) Hank (Fraley)’s always rolling those guys. They play multiple positions, so we’ll be prepared.” On if there were any notable injuries to Lions TE T.J. Hockenson or Lions CB Amani Oruwariye after they missed practice last Thursday: “Nope, they’re all good. Hock’s good. Amani’s ready to roll. So, we’re good. We’re in a good spot right now.” On if there is any pressure that comes with the excitement of a sell-out and offseason attention from ‘Hard Knocks’: “No, I mean I know that it’s going to packed house, and I mean you couldn’t ask for anything more when you’re opening up the season. Us being at home, man, it’s the first one, and it’s going to be electric. And this is what we talked about. Man, when I came in last year, that’s where we want to get it to a point to where, man the fans are excited, and they’ve got some hope, and now it’s our job to keep them in it, and keep them excited, and to know that we’re in there, and we’re in it. At the end of the game, we find a way to win. So, no, look – the ‘Hard Knocks’ deal, it doesn’t change any of our expectations in this building about who we are, where we’re at, where we need to go. That’s not for us to decide. All we’ve got to do is worry about what we worry about every day, man. One day at a time. One rep at a time. One team at a time, and that’s all we’ve got to focus on. And I can’t control the outside – that’s already been done. And there’s nothing I can do about that, so I’ve got to focus on getting these guys ready to play and find a way to win a game.” On how he is approaching the gameplan against the Eagles in regards to the right guard position: “Yeah, I would say it doesn’t affect what we’re doing. It doesn’t – it won’t affect us as to how we were going to go into this game, how we’re going to call the game, and how we’re going to need to attack this opponent. We’re mindful of it. We know, but there again, it’s just a matter of – no matter what we do in any gameplan across the board, O-line, backs, tight ends, receivers, it’s all about finding the best matchups. And we also know they’re doing the same thing. So, we’re very aware of that.” On if the right guard replacement was already predetermined after the preseason: “I think – that’s a good question. It’s – I think that if I’m being honest, it’s up in the air right now. I don’t think I’m swayed one way or another. I think we’re going to give it a go with a few different guys, and what feels right is where we’ll go.” On if he has already started installing a gameplan against the Eagles in practice: “Yeah, we started last week. We did a couple of periods just to get introduced to these guys. Not much, but enough to where our guys kind of had an idea going into the break what this team looks like, but today is really still the heavy install. We did something Monday, but it was more walkthrough, and today is still treated like – I’m trying to get them on a routine. And this is how it’s going to – we’re going to go for most of the year, so Wednesday is always the big day. It’s big base install. We’ll have some third down in there, so yeah, this is still the big one. But they have been introduced because of the long week.” On one or two Eagles players that have stood out to him on both side of the ball: “Well, a player or two? Man, they’ve got more than a player or two. I mean, they – look, (Eagles DT Javon) Hargrave, now I know he’s been injured, but I’d anticipate he’s ready to go, and he’s a force in there. He’s got a quick first step and is explosive. (Eagles DT Fletcher) Cox can still do and he’s fresh. He’s done it for a long time. These corners, both of them. I’ve got a lot of respect for (Eagles CB James) Bradberry and (Eagles CB Darius) Slay. I know what they’re both capable of. I know (Eagles S C.J.) Chauncey Gardner (Johnson), they just traded for, I know him very well. I was with him at New Orleans, so I know what he’s capable of. Offensively, (Eagles C Jason) Kelce been doing it a long time, he’s going to be fresh, ready to go. (Eagles OL) Lane Johnson, that big right tackle. I mean, they’ve got a solid O-line. I don’t know about (Eagles RB) Miles (Sanders), but I know if he’s ready to go, he’s a threat. And this quarterback (Eagles QB Jalen Hurts) certainly is a threat if you allow him to get comfortable into what they does offensively then it’s an issue. And then you add on top of that the perimeter with these two receivers, I mean it’s – and (Eagles TE Dallas) Goedert in the middle. I mean, they pose a threat. I mean they do. They’ve got plenty of weapons. They’ve got plenty of talent. So, we’ve got to be on it, man. We’ve got to be on all the little details as it pertains to this gameplan to beat this team.” On what he is most excited to show people about this team this weekend: “Man, it’s hard to put it into one thing. I would – I’m just most excited now that it’s – that now we’re in the arena. There’s no more standing outside waiting for the gates to open, man. We’re going in, and so now there’s nowhere to run. There’s nowhere to hide. It’s just us. And the heat’s on, and if you don’t love that, you don’t belong up here. So, I’m most excited about that, and I’m most excited about just I think – I do believe we have a gritty group, and I think we’re tough, and I think we’re physical, and we’ve got to play with our hair on fire. And I think we will, so I’m excited about that.” On if part of him wants to tell people to temper their expectations after ‘Hard Knocks’ helped build anticipation: “Well, it’s like – I told (Lions Principal Owner and Chair) Shelia (Ford Hamp) this. I told her the other day just like I have. I said, ‘You know what, here’s where we’re at. We’re better. We’re better than we were this time last year, and that’s where it is.’ Now, what does that mean? It means we’re better than we were this time last year. I don’t know what that equates into, I just know we’re better. So, look, ‘Hard Knocks’ can make anyone look good, so I mean, that’s what TV does. They can make anything look good. They’re going to pull the best of the best, and so that’s not reality. Reality is what we’re getting ready to do, and what we’ve been doing every day in practice and all the reps we’ve banked, and these guys playing together, communicating, and that’s reality. That’s all we can worry about is how we see it in this building and go to work.” On the payoff of developing the backup offensive linemen who started after the room saw multiple injuries last season: “Yeah, it is big. Because we have, we’ve banked those reps with those players that we needed to step up and start for us last year, and so those two players have banked a lot of time, and there’s been a lot of investment in them. And they were steady for us last year.” LIONS QB JARED GOFF QUOTE SHEET September 7, 2022 On his confidence coming into this season and how excited he is for the first game: “You’re very excited. I think it’s been – feel like I haven’t played in forever, missing the playoffs last year. Excited to get going again and to be back on the field, and get a chance to compete against somebody else. I know we all are excited.” On what stands out about the Eagles defense: “Yeah, it always starts with them upfront, it always has, ever since I’ve been in the League. It’s always been about their front. (Eagles DT) Fletcher (Cox)’s obviously kind of been the anchor for that for the last handful of years. And the people they’ve added with (Eagles DT Javon) Hargrave and now the rookie (Eagles DT Jordan) Davis and (Eagles DE Derek) Barnett’s a hell of a player. And I know (Eagles LB) Haason Reddick, I’ve played him a bunch, he’s a hell of a player. So, they’ve got dudes over there who can rush and can do some good things. (Eagles DE) Josh Sweat, I mean I could keep going, they probably got five or six of them. So, it starts up front with them and we like our matchup with those guys. We have a good O-line and feel good about it, but at the same time know that they’re going to be coming.” On how much he needs to be familiar with the rotation on the offensive line after injuries at right guard: “No, it doesn’t really matter. Not at that spot. Right guard, whoever it ends up being, that guy will be fine. I trust (Lions Offensive Line Coach) Hank (Fraley), and I trust coaches and everything they’re going to do. That guy will be ready to go.” On if working with Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson has been as smooth as he hoped: “Yeah, it’s been better than I could ever imagine. The trust he has in me, and the amount of questions he asks me, and vice versa, the amount of questions I can ask him. And his responsiveness, and how great he is at listening, all that stuff is so helpful for a quarterback and I don’t take it for granted. He’s a great coach and someone I’m excited to work with.” On if partial ownership of the offense is something he looked for: “Yeah, absolutely. You always want that. Again, I think he’s given me as much as I can handle and hopefully that’s a lot to him and I think it is. But he’s given me a lot – a lot of responsibility and a lot of say in the direction of things and at the same time it’s his fingerprints on everything. But he has me in mind when he is making those decisions and that’s all you can ask for.” On how he goes about suggesting plays and how he presents that: “There’s always a time and a place. You don’t ever want to do it the wrong time and place because that’s usually going to get you a no. So, you should know when is the right time, have some awareness, and know when the right time is, and then understand that most of them are going to be no’s anyways. So, but if you get one in, or you get a handful in, you feel good about it. And again, with (Lions Offensive Coordinator) Ben (Johnson) it’s often yes as well. So, he’s got a great feel for things and I think me and him see things the same way and are able to communicate in that way.” On how he is feeling heading into Week 1 about running the offense with more tempo: “Yeah, definitely. I think we’ve got some wrinkles to do some things if we need to in no-huddle. And if we pull it out or not we’ll see. I’m sure at some point we will if there’s a two-minute drive or what not. But yeah, we’ve got some ability to do some things at the line of scrimmage.” On what makes Eagles CB Darius Slay good on the outside: “He’s so instinctual. He’s often visual, and instinctual, and obviously quick and has great hands. But he’s kind of never out of position is what I’ve seen and from him over the years. He’s always kind of in the right spot, always in phase, and always kind of near the ball. He’s a hell of a player and a guy that I’ve played against a couple of times and have a lot of respect for.” On Sunday’s game being sold-out and if ‘Hard Knocks’ helped amplify fan excitement: “Yeah, I saw that. It’s exciting. Yeah, it’s very exciting. I think – I don’t know if ‘Hard Knocks’ did it or whatnot, but we are excited for it and it will be a full stadium for sure and we’ll be loud and rocking. We need our fans to come ready and give them something to cheer about.” On if this is the most comfortable and confident he has felt in a while and what has led to that: “Yeah, I’d say so. I think I’ve got full control of what we’re doing on offense and full ownership. They’ve given me the reigns and I’ve ran with it as best I can. I know that – I think I know that they’ve been happy with the way things have gone up to this point with me in that position. But it’s – yeah, I feel confident. I feel confident in the guys around me too. It’s been really fun.” On the weapons he has on offense: “Yeah, excited about it. Again, excited to go against somebody other than ourselves for the first time in what seems like forever. We had the joint practices with the Colts, got a little taste of that. But it’s really fun to be able to compete, that’s why we play the game is to get out there on Sundays and the first one for us in a while. So, we’ll be excited.” On if last year’s performance against the Eagles is something that is in the back of their minds: “I mean sure. But it’s still Week 1 in the NFL season, if you’re not excited for this one, I don’t know what’s wrong with you. So, yeah sure we feel we owe them one for sure. But I’m sure they’re going to come in here thinking they’re going to try do the same thing again. So, we’ve got to be ready to go and it’ll be fun.” On how the team prepares for a player like Eagles S C.J. Gardner-Johnson who was added late in the offseason: “That’s a good question. We don’t know. We may find out on snap one where he’s going to line up. They may not know yet. Who knows, so we’ll find out here as we go. But we’ll get familiar at some point.” On if he got a selfie with Eminem at practice last week: “I did. Yeah, that was fun. He was great. He was really cool to meet.” |
