LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
December 7, 2022
Opening Statement: “So really nothing to speak of here. Pretty good injury-wise, we’ll see what it looks like today.”
On if the reason behind the Vikings’ 9-0 record in one-score games is coaching, lucky bounces or execution: “Well, I think it’s all encompassing. I think it’s good coaching, I think it’s players making plays, I think they’re opportunistic. Here’s what you can see over and over again for example, if there’s a throw that ricochets, a ricocheted throw off of a receiver or it goes through his hands, man, they’re getting those. They’re coming away with those. They’re where they’re supposed to be, and I think it’s all encompassing. It doesn’t happen by accident. They’re finding ways to win. They’ve done it multiple ways. They’ve had to comeback a number of games from large deficits, so they’re certainly capable, but they’re doing it. They’re doing it, it’s a winning team.”
On what the Vikings have done schematically to get Vikings WR Justin Jefferson open since the Lions defended him well in the last matchup in September: “Well, I think any and everybody that would play him would tell you, you have to have an answer for him. I’ve got a lot of respect for that player. The talent speaks for itself, but it’s all the intangibles that you see. The detail to his route, the finish, the – man, he’ll go there in double coverage. He doesn’t even bat an eye. Comes down with it, gets right back up, gets ready for the next play. I mean he’s competitive, he’s tough, he can run every route in the three, the tree’s long. He’s got it. So yeah, that guy we’ve got to have answers for him. You’ve got to know where he is at all times because he’ll hurt you. And I think to that point, honestly, when you do that, then other guys have got to win one-on-ones. That’s the big thing. We’re going to have to expend a number of resources on a couple of guys there throughout the whole game-plan, first, second and third down. I mean we’ve just got to be ready for it all, and then they’ve got this running attack, (Vikings RB Dalvin) Cook, he’s a hell of a player, so it’s a challenge now.”
On the differences he has seen in the team since they last faced the Vikings: “Yeah, look, I know we’re better. We’re better than we were when we played them the first time. Certainly, our defense is better. It’s a lot better. We’ve come a long way, and there again, it’s a credit to (Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn) AG and his staff and the players. Just continuing to work through it, and we’re doing some things right here, and I just go back – there’s a lot of confidence right now. Guys understand the plan.”
On what he tells the players in the wake of an important matchup and a big environment at Ford Field: “Yeah, stay the course. Stay the course. This is a big one because it’s the next one, and for us, of course, there’ll be things about it because it’s fun. It’s exciting, a division opponent coming to our place. We know we’ll have a packed house, so the energy will be there, but it’s the next one, and we’ve done things a certain way now for a while and have gained confidence from it, and it’s all about just stay the course. No shortcuts, no detours, just stay the course for what we’ve been doing.”
On the growth of Lions QB Jared Goff and Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson’s relationship since Johnson took over as coordinator last season: “Well, I think more than anything, it’s when you’re around each other, and you’re able to figure each other out on how each other thinks, how they work, what their strengths are, maybe things they’re not comfortable with on both sides. Then, you can really, I think produce at a higher level as a coach and as a player. And I think that’s where we’re at right now. I think like anything else, there’s been growing pains throughout the whole thing, but I think we’re to the point where now those two know exactly who each other are and what they’re looking for, and that’s a nice place to be at.”
On if the relationship between Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson and Lions QB Jared Goff has strengthened since Johnson started calling plays: “No, I think it’s been the same, and that’s a positive. I mean it was strong at the beginning. There’s not like this, ‘This one will be OK. I like Ben, he’s fine, but –’ I mean it was strong at the beginning. Look, when I started calling plays last year, and I bumped him over to help me, that relationship started there, and so, it was already built by the time we started this season from last year.”
On if he ever reminded himself to be patient and stay the course when the team had a 1-6 record: “Well, I think – yeah, I don’t know the best way to answer that. I never thought about changing who I am because I knew that was right. And look, if it’s not right, I’m going down that way because I believe in the way I’m going to be, and what it’s about, and what I believe in. I’ve just been around it too long to know what it’s supposed to look like. And there again, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t tweak a couple of things here and there, but the essence and the core of who I am and the way I think it should look, no, I haven’t changed any of that or thought about changing it.”
On if he has looked back at the last matchup against the Vikings and regretted the coaching decisions he made in the late moments of the game: “Yeah of course, I mean yeah, look, it burns me. Of course, it burns me. I mean that’ll be there until the day I die. That’s not going to go away. It does, but I also know, I can’t wallow in that, and let that pull me down. I mean it is what it is, and it happened for a reason, and honestly, I think us losing five in a row is why we’re where we’re at right now, so that’s kind of how I look at it. Maybe we needed this to happen to get to where we’re at right now at this point.”
On how they game-plan against Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson: “Yeah, well certainly, we’ve got a good feel of who he is as a player, but he brings an element to the middle of the field for them. They do a lot of things, they’ll chip the edges, nudge. They’ll get him on checkdowns, and they’re running kind of choice routes like we do with (Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown) Saint, some of those things. Yeah, it’s stuff I would expect that they would do with him and use him for, and he’s gone over there and done a nice job.”
On if he appreciates that the team is playing for something in December: “Well, yeah everybody feels good about that. It makes it – it brings a little extra spark to everything, certainly. when you know that you’ve got a chance. But I think more importantly, it’s the fact that we feel like we’re playing pretty good football because we’re doing things a certain way and the guys have gained confidence from that. And I think that’s what exciting is knowing that where we’re at and we’re going into the next one here against a very good opponent.”
On losing to the Vikings in September and why that game will stay with him forever: “Yeah, I’m not going – I just said I’m not going to wallow in it. No, look there’s the little things that’ll always – that’s just – that’s the way I am. And they’re not going to pull me down, but there’s things that I’ll never forget because that to me – I let my players down. And it’s hard enough to have success and to win in this League without your coach doing something that pulls you back and I felt like that was one of those.”
On how encouraging it is to have the rookie class out on the field on Sunday against the Vikings: “Yeah, no it’s good. It’s a sign of – it’s a sign of growth. It’s a sign of growth. It’s a sign of – you don’t know how it’s always going to work, but you draft these guys for a reason. That’s a credit to (Lions General Manager/Executive Vice President) Brad (Holmes) and our scouts, scouting department, everybody. But you’re hopeful and you see something in them. You don’t know how long it’s going to take, but we’ve been fortunate, all those guys have played a hand and contributed for us and had some big roles and production for us.”
On having home field advantage and if he feels the impact after winning more home games this season: “Well, I mean – look, I know this Ford Field can – it should be a place that we can have a home field advantage. Just the nature of our fans and how loud it can get in there and just the environment in general. I mean, I still – I just know it can be one of those rare places. I think there’s a few of these special stadiums you go to throughout the League, there’s not a lot of them, but there are some and they’re special. And I think this place can be that, but there again it’s on us to continue that. We’ve won a couple here at home, and so this is another chance to just deliver for them.”
On what he has seen from Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson and how the Lions offense has spread the load since trading Hockenson: “Yeah, look he’s a done a good job over there, and there again they’ve used him very similar to the way we’ve used him probably a little bit more on intermediate routes than even us because of course they’ve got (Vikings WR Justin) Jefferson over there which helps them in multiple areas. But he’s done a good job and he’s the guy – he always shows up when they need him in the red zone, third down, about the time they need something to happen he’ll show up. He’s been a steady player for them. And for us it’s a – look, I said it from the day we knew we were going to lose some production. I mean, he was a good player, but I do feel like our guys have stepped up. I go back to what I said when all this transpired, you had to feel OK about – to do this, you had to feel OK about spreading the load throughout the rest of the group and I do. That’s (Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown) Saint and we’ve got (Lions WR DJ) Chark back and (Lions WR Kalif Raymond) Leaf, and (Lions WR Josh) Reynolds and now we’ve got (Lions WR Jameson Williams) Jamo. So, and then just the crop of three tight ends that are out there. (Lions RB D’Andre) Swift, (Lions RB) Jamaal (Williams) more carries. So, and that’s what we’ve done. We’ve just spread the load throughout to gain the production that we lost from him.”
On how he is a better coach after the loss to the Vikings in September: “I think I’m the same guy. I think I’m the same guy. I don’t feel like I’ve grown, I think I’m doing everything the same. I made a decision in that game and here we are. I really don’t.”
On if he said anything in the team meeting room after the Vikings loss that led to them winning more games: “I mean, look we’re built off adversity. That’s what we were all last year and the way we started. We’ve got an opponent in front of us.”
LIONS QB JARED GOFF QUOTE SHEET
December 7, 2022
On the growing confidence he feels currently: “Feel good. I feel like we’re in a good place. I feel good personally, and whenever the quarterback can play well, the offense usually plays well. And the team will usually play well, so I’m focused on doing my job and being the best I can be.”
On if the Vikings are the same team they faced in Week 3: “Yeah, same and different in some ways. There’s much more film on them now, but yeah, we’ll look at that game a little bit and see what they did to us there, but I don’t know how much it’ll factor into this week.”
On the team’s improvement in closing out games: “Sure, that was the difference, right? We thought we played well for most of that game, probably up until middle of the fourth quarter, and we weren’t able to finish it, and in these last five weeks, you saw we have been finishing games, we have been finishing fourth quarters, we have been making those plays. So, we’ll see if that can be the difference this week. It’s a good team we’re playing, and we’ll be ready to go.”
On if he envisioned the team fighting for a playoff spot after starting the season with a 1-6 record: “Yeah, it’s about runs. It’s about getting on runs and getting run on the good side sometimes and the bad side sometimes. And unfortunately, we were on the bad side of one for a little while there, kind of coming back to the middle now with a good run. We’ve always had the talent, we’ve always had the coaching, we’ve always had the people, and I think now it’s starting to come together a little bit. Sure, we still have a lot of work to do to put ourselves in a spot to make the playoffs, but we’re on our way.”
On how he feels with the receiver room being the healthiest it has been: “Yeah, we’ve got some guys healthy. I was joking about it the other day, I think we had nine or 10 receivers out there healthy, and there were times this year when we had three or four, so getting those guys back healthy has been awesome to see, and obviously, awesome for me, but awesome for our whole offense and our team and for those guys personally.”
On if he feels that he is playing some of the best football of his career: “I do, I do. I feel like I am playing the best football of my career right now, and I’m starting to settle in a little bit, and (Lions Offensive Coordinator) Ben (Johnson) and I have a good thing going, and still a lot of work to do, and you can always improve and look at ways to get better, but I am comfortable and hope to continue that through the season.”
On how he is improving his ball security: “Yeah, again, it comes and goes, and I think there’s been times in my career where you get unlucky on some things, and there’s been times where you get lucky, and I think I’ve done a good job taking care of the ball, and I think guys have gotten themselves open, and we’re protecting well. I’ve been conscious of it. I think that was an issue for us early on, that was part of why we were losing some of those games, and I was very conscious of it, and I think it’s been part of why we’ve won a lot of these games as well.”
On the offense clicking under Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson: “Yeah, it’s great. He’s a hell of a coach, and a guy I’m lucky to play with. Yeah, he’s great.”
On if Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson is unique in what he provides as a coach: “Yeah, he’s very unique in his own way. I don’t know, I mean – I’ve got to be careful how much I keep pumping him up, but no, I’m joking. He’s great. He’s unique in his own way. I think the best thing about him is his communication and the way he listens, and the way he takes our input and is constantly communicating and keeping us all in the same page. That’s the best thing about him. That’s the best thing about most coaches I’ve been around that are any good, and he does a great job with that as well as just leading us. He does a great job leading and putting guys in the right spot.”
On why he is able to click so well with Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson: “Yeah, I don’t know. Again, he’s a good communicator, he understands offense. I feel like I understand offense, we can have those conversations. We give him depth on some things, defense scheme-wise. I think he respects my career up to this point and respects what I’ve done and as well as I do for him. And knowing how smart he is, and we have a good working relationship. And again, a guy that I’m happy to play with.”
On how conversations go with Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson in terms of sharing his ideas: “No, I think – yeah, I’ve got my ideas and he’s got his ideas and nine times out of 10 his ideas win. So, I’m just playing quarterback, but at the same time he does take what I say with real – legit takes a look at it and see if we like it, see if it fits and if it does, we’ll use it. If it doesn’t no problem, but at the end of the day he’s calling the plays and I’m just making them work. We’ve got a good relationship though, but yes to answer your question, he will take my stuff, and at times he won’t and that’s OK.”
On being on the same page with Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson nine out of 10 times: “10 out of 10 we’re on the same page. We’ll get on the same page eventually no matter what play we’re running, but throughout the week that’s always the one thing that you do is making sure you’re on the same page by Sunday. And I think specifically in these games that we’ve been winning the last five weeks we’ve been really on the same page.”
On if the team takes a glance at playoff percentages: “No. We win, we got a chance. We don’t, we probably don’t.”
On if he knows what the playoff odds are: “I don’t. You don’t need to tell me it’s OK. I mean, again if we win, we’ll be fine, if we don’t, we’re probably out.”
On how pleased he is with the football maturity from the young players on the team: “Yeah, it’s been great especially defensively you see some of those guys step up and make those plays – (Lions DL) Aidan (Hutchinson) and (Lions S) Kerby (Joseph) obviously are the ones that you see. But a guy like (Lions CB) Jerry (Jacobs) who – an undrafted guy coming in now playing really good ball. (Lions LB) Malcolm (Rodriguez) obviously, and (Lions DL) Alim (McNeill) in his second year. You see what (Lions LB James) Houston’s been doing. A lot of those young guys have been stepping up and making plays, it means the world when you have that and having those big splash plays.”
On how fun it has been to play in front of the fans at Ford Field the past two games: “Yeah, man it gets fun. It’s fun. It’s really fun. I think seeing what they were able to do, obviously on Thanksgiving like you said and then last week as well. It’s a lot of fun. It’s a fan base that deserves it. It’s a fanbase that we need to get winning for and deserves good football on the field. And deserves to enjoy their Sundays, as do we when we win.”
On how big of an honor it is to him to receive the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nomination: “I think when I came to Detroit, I made it a point to be in the community and not because I wanted to be in it for the award, but I felt like it’s important. I feel like it’s a part of the quarterback’s job and responsibility is to be a leader not only on the team, but in the community and be able to give back when you can. And for me personally, it’s the youth I love affecting and love being a part of and that’s what we’re able to do this year. And be a part of their lives and hopefully provide some change for them in some positive ways and be there for them.” | |
