LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
October 26, 2023
Opening Statement: “So, new week, this will be a dangerous opponent. I think very much – like we feel this is – what they just went through last week is not indicative of who this team is. This is a dangerous team. They’ve got weapons. This (Raiders WR Davante Adams) 17, (Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers) 16, that tight end, obviously (Raiders RB Josh) Jacobs, (Raiders DE Maxx) Crosby as a game-wrecker. So, we’ve got our hands full. We’ve got to bounce back, but we will. We’ll be ready to go. And so, it starts today. So, we’re excited. We’ve got everything behind us and we’re ready to move forward.”
On how they approach the gameplan for when the Raiders’ starting quarterback is unknown: “I think we hang our hat on really what their identity has been. There’s things that they really want to do no matter who’s in there and they’re not going to deviate too much from that. They’ll have a few wrinkles, but ultimately, it’s about the scheme and those players that they have. And the quarterback, whoever they have in there, is going to facilitate the ball, is going to run the offense, they play good defense. And so, we’ll take it as it comes.”
On what he saw from Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell during the scouting process: “Yeah, look, smart, crafty player. I think smart, composed. I think what you’re looking for (is) a guy who you feel like can learn, develop, grow. That’s exactly what he was. So, we’re prepared either way. We’re assuming we’re going to see (Raiders QB Jimmy) Garoppolo. I don’t know why we wouldn’t, and if it doesn’t work out that way then so be it, but we’ll be ready.”
On his reaction to former Lions WR Marvin Jones Jr.’s announcement to step away from the team due to personal reasons and what the plan is to move forward: “Yeah, certainly appreciate Marvin and what he brought to the table. You guys know him or have a history with him before I got here, and to be able to get him back. He was a pro handling his business. And so, look, man, appreciate the honesty and wish him the best of luck and he’s always welcome here and we move on. So, we’re doing pretty good in the receiver room. We’ve got the five that were up last week. We’ve got some young guys there on the vet squad that have been practicing and working so we feel pretty good.”
On what Raiders DE Maxx Crosby does well: “Yeah, I mean what does he not do well? I would start there, I don’t know. I don’t know what that would be. He’s very active, alright. He’s slithery, he can bend, he’s explosive, quick first step, he’s very crafty, man. He’s a master of his craft, man. His hands, his bend and then his motor. I mean he just doesn’t quit. And so, he’s disruptive in the run game and the pass game is not only what you see off the edge or his ability to pressure the quarterback, but it’s getting the football out too. It’s one thing to get a sack on a guy, but he’s getting the ball out if he gets around the horn. So, this will be a big challenge really for our O-line in general because this guy moves around now. He’s not going to just be left, he’s not going to be right, third down they’re going to move him around. All of them have got to be ready for him. But more times than not, he’ll be on (Lions T Penei) Sewell and (Lions T Taylor) Decker and so, those guys are up for the challenge. And that makes you feel a ton better knowing the guys that we’ve got, but this is going to be a war now. This guy is – he really is. This is the most disruptive defensive player we’ve played all year to this point, so we’ve got to be ready.”
On Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs’s performance with an increased workload last week and if he has an injury update on Lions RB David Montgomery: “Yeah, best I can tell you on David is he just continues to improve. And Gibbs, like we said last week, man, I saw an improving player, took a step up, and that’s all you can ask for is growth. So, we anticipate he takes another step up and we’ll keep doing things that we feel like he does well and where he can continue to grow, but we’re pleased with where he’s at.”
On if Lions RB David Montgomery will be practicing today: “No, he won’t practice today.”
On if there is a common factor in players like Raiders DE Maxx Crosby drafted in later rounds that allows them to exceed their initial scouting report: “Man, that’s hard. That’s a hard one because I think there’s these traits they have athletically, right, or you wouldn’t be drafting them period. So, certainly they’ve got some ability, but I think it’s some of the what you can’t always see. It’s the same thing that makes Drew Brees a Hall of Fame quarterback when he’s only 6-foot, all the – there’s this intangible side, this will that they have, this unstoppable force inside of them, this work ethic, this – there’s just something that you can’t always see. You just don’t always know. And that is and it will always be the hardest thing to figure out and chart. How fast can a player develop? How much can they really grow and continue to get better? That’s a hard one. If you did, you had an answer, they would be first-rounders coming out immediately. But here’s the beauty of it is, ‘Hey, you got found and the rest is history. You get an opportunity and it’ll show itself.’”
On what the offensive line needs to do better to get back to having success this week: “Listen, we just – all we’ve got to do is get back to what we do. Everything’s got to be so much about us and you feel like you’ve been hearing that forever when you play any type of organized sports but it’s the truth. We’ve just got to get back to what we do, get back to our fundamentals, our basics, then we get to the gameplan. So, I think that’s a lot of it. I think the other is, look, let’s call it what it is, we’ll get back into the flow of a normal game here. I – that was not who we were. I don’t believe that. Now, it was out there, and it happened but we’re going to be able to convert, we’re going to find a way to convert our defense, going to play good football and we’ll be able to complement each other and that’ll get us going again here. But I don’t – there again, it’s not a panic. Man, we just work on the little things, man, the first step, the pad level, the bend, the snapoff, the finish and you emphasize those – we got – our guys, man, they know. They’re prideful guys and they’re going to be ready to put the work in.”
On if there will more be good-on-good or one-on-one exercises in practice this week: “We’re going to do some stuff today. We’re going to do a little bit of good-on-good work. We always do a little bit every week, but this’ll be a little bit more one-on-one that we’ll sprinkle in there just to get back. And it’s about quality. It’s about quality work, working your craft. That’s the emphasis. It’s not a rapid-fire quantity, it’s, ‘Let’s hone in on what you’re asked to do and let’s get better at it.’”
On Raiders RB Josh Jacobs’s performance this year and if there is an organizational lesson to learn from his contract holdout: “No, I think – here’s what I see. I don’t see a guy that’s, man – from my perspective, I’m like, ‘Man, they’re this close.’ I mean I can’t tell you the number of plays where he is – it’s a shoestring or it’s one tackle or it’s one – I mean they are close, man. You get just a little bit cleaner here of a block or – and so, I still see a dangerous football player. Not only in the run game, the pass game. So, I don’t feel like there’s – that’s where you feel like there’s a bit of a ticking time bomb over there from my perspective and that’s what, man, we’ve got to guard against, be ready for, because he can go the distance at any point here. He’s still got plenty of juice now.”
On how a night time game start affects the team: “The thing about those night games is just the day drags on. It just takes forever for it to get there. I think, more than anything, it’s probably more about staying calm throughout the day. Make sure you get a nap because if you’re up and you’re wired too early then you drain your own energy. And so, I think it’s more about that. Stay calm, keep the engine idle until you get about two – one hour, two hours before the game and then it’s time to go. But that’ll always kind of be the challenge with it. Our guys are excited to be able to play primetime football, we all are, but I know for me, I wish we get primetime games at one o’clock I just keep saying that. I don’t know why we can’t do that. There’s got to be a way.”
On if has thought about the Monday Night Football atmosphere ahead of Halloween: “Listen, I just – no, but I already know what – I can visualize. I know what it’s already been and it’s been pretty electric anyway. So, I was already anticipating it being – and actually I forgot it was Halloween until you just said that, or the night before Halloween. So, I already know the atmosphere’s going to be unbelievable and I know it’ll be a hard place for them to come in and play. And look, our guys are fired up about that. We’re excited.”
On if he knows what he is going to be for Halloween: “Yeah, I think I’m going to skip out on Halloween this year.”
On if the bye next week affects any injury decisions ahead of the Las Vegas game: “No, I would say it doesn’t. If we really felt like, man, we get to this point where we think they can go, they’re going. And if they can’t, then they can’t. And really the bye just have much to do with that.”
On if he has a favorite Monday Night Football experience as a player: “That’s hard to say. Not that I can think of off the top of my head. Not favorite experience, I remember when I was at the Giants we played the Eagles and I had an M.A. on a critical down there in the fourth. I was supposed to release, instead I blocked down and cost us the game. And I just remember I came to the sideline and Sean (Payton) looked at me and said, ‘What’d you do?’ And I go, ‘Man, I (explicit) up.’ What are you going to do? Anyway, it was awful. I was a young player. So, that’s not my favorite, but that’s the first one I thought of when you said that.”
LIONS QB JARED GOFF QUOTE SHEET
October 26, 2023
On Lions T Penei Sewell’s development and how happy he is to have him on his right side: “Yeah, he’s been an anchor for us and certainly having him on the right there, anchoring that side opposite of (Lions T Taylor Decker) Deck has been awesome. He’s done a great job, keeps getting better. He’s one of the most athletic big guys I’ve ever seen. And yeah, he’s a hell of a player.”
On Lions T Penei Sewell embracing a leadership role: “Yeah, that’s who he is and it’s awesome. He’s embraced that. Him having the ‘C’ on his chest now this year is well deserved, and he leads us really well.”
On if Lions T Penei Sewell’s pre-game huddle talks resonate with him and get him fired up: “Oh, yeah, he does a great job, yeah.”
On his approach ahead of the Monday night game: “Yeah, to be honest, it doesn’t change much for me. Really, you get a little extra time to prepare and you’re able to spend a little bit more time as opposed to the Thursday games you kind of have to speed things up. So, yeah, this Monday game you get an extra day, and even throughout that day, getting a little extra prep in and spending a little more time.”
On if the Monday night game presents a disruption for his sleep schedule: “No, I’ll be OK. Now I don’t like getting home at like – some of these road trips you get home at three, four in the morning. That’s not fun. But yeah, I can do 11:30 or 12.”
On if Las Vegas is the type of team that is better than what their record shows with talent like Raiders DE Maxx Crosby: “Yeah, they’re extremely talented. Obviously, he’s the first guy that jumps off for you and has been a great player in this League for a long time but have got a lot of respect for (Raiders CB) Marcus Peters too. I played with him and he’s a hell of a player as well as (Raiders S) Marcus Epps was with Philly last year, we played him. They’ve got a bunch of guys over there that can play, and it’ll be a challenge.”
On how to bounce back after a loss like the Baltimore game and if it is as dramatic as all the fans feel it is: “Never is. Never is either way. It’s a rollercoaster outside of our building at times, for every team in the League, it’s no different for us, but in here, it’s pretty ‘steady eddy’ and ready to respond this week.”
On if he learned anything about the team from the loss against Baltimore: “Yeah, we will this week. I think that’s the main thing. Yeah, we will this week. We know what we’re made of but have got to respond the right way and play some good ball this week.”
On how happy he is to get back to Ford Field after two weeks on the road: “Yeah, it’s nice to get in front of the fans. You’ve had this one circled for a while, the Monday nighter in front of the home crowd and should be rocking. It’ll be my first home night game. It’ll be fun.”
On the importance of identifying Raiders DE Maxx Crosby and if it is the first thing he does before a play: “It depends on the play, but yeah, he’s able to wreak havoc in both the run game and the pass game. So, yeah, you’re still aware of him and making sure you’re doing your best to handle him, and he doesn’t come off the field much and is able to wreck a game on his own if you let him. So, we have to do our best not to let him.”
On what Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs brings to the offense as a rusher and receiver: “Yeah, he can add exactly that. He can catch the ball in the backfield, we can hand it to him, he can do all sorts of things. He’ll get another big workload this week I would imagine with (Lions RB) David (Montgomery) still out. And yeah, it’ll be good.”
On Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs’s dexterity: “Yeah, totally. He’s very smart, he’s learned things very quickly and we’re excited to see him continue to grow.”
On what he sees in the Raiders’ defense that makes them effective in not allowing the chunk plays: “Yeah, I think they do a good job of rushing, obviously. We’ve talked about (Raiders DE) Maxx (Crosby) a few times. Obviously, him rushing the passer, as well as a few of their other guys that can rush the passer. And they’re good on the backend too, so they’re good at limiting that stuff. It’s going to be our job to try to find them in different ways and see if we can get more than other teams have.”
On Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell remembering the mistakes he made as a player and what it is about competitors that makes their failures stand out to them more than their successes: “Yeah, typically that’s the perfectionist mindset is that you just remember the bad stuff and you remember the things that you didn’t do well and typically, competitors, football players, anyone who’s pretty good at what they do remembers the bad stuff that they’ve done. I’m sure you guys all have your bad articles and your bad interview questions maybe, who knows? No, I’m kidding. But yeah, it is a competitor’s mindset. I think that’s a good way to put it, and yeah, he used to play and understands the game.”
On if there is a mistake he made throughout his career that stands out to him: “Oh man, yeah, I mean I can go for a while now. Yeah, there’s a million. I’ve played a lot of ball and yeah, I’ve made a lot of great plays and typically the ones that sting the most and that you’re thinking about the most keep you up at night the most are not the good ones so, yeah.”
On how he helps Lions WR Jameson Williams work through the mistakes he makes: “Yeah, just keep working. Yeah, he is, again, it’s so early in his career and his development. I just keep working, keep working with him, building that trust with him and getting on the same page. He’s working his tail off at practice and has done a great job trying to get better every week and I expect to see his development continue.”
On if he has to trust himself to let the ball go earlier when throwing to Lions WR Jameson Williams to match his speed: “Yeah, that was, I think, early on trying – figuring that out. I think I’m past that now where I know his speed and we’ve got a good rapport in that way. But yeah, it’s just getting on the same page with everything and again, it’s just so early in his career and his development that it’s just reps, it’s just reps, it’s just time and it’s a matter of time before everything starts to click for him in our offense.”
On how important it is for the offense to reestablish the run game this week: “Yeah, that’d be important. That’d be nice this week to be able to get that going. Typically, it depends on what type of game it is. It could be that type of game, it could not be. So, I’ll leave that up to (Lions Offensive Coordinator) Ben (Johnson) but yeah, it would be nice to get that going.”
On if he was a fan of the Raiders while growing up in California: “I was a Niner fan, so we didn’t like the Raiders growing up. It was Niners, Raiders, I grew up a Niner fan but shoot, I remember the (former Raiders Head Coach) Jon Gruden years, (former Raiders QB) Rich Gannon, (former Raiders S) Charles Woodson, all those guys.”
On if his childhood friends were Raiders fans: “Yeah, so I’m from North Bay. East Bay is Oakland and that would be all the Raiders fans. That’s where (Raiders CB) Marcus Peters is back now as a Raider. He’s an East Bay kid and so he’s a Raider guy, but I’m a North Bay guy and typically like Niners, Giants. East Bay would be A’s, yeah. We all like the Warriors though, I guess.” | |
