LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
December 26, 2023
Opening Statement: “Just – the game the other day, obviously did what we needed to do to win that one. There was a number of guys that played really well, but certainly (Lions WR Amon-Ra) St. Brown and (Lions QB Jared) Goff were two of the guys that really showed up in a positive way. (Lions DB Brian) Branch, (Lions S Ifeatu Melifonwu) Iffy, (Lions S) Kerby (Joseph), those guys had a lot of production. (Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez) Rodrigo on special teams, those were – there were a number of other guys here, but those are the ones that really stood out. But we did a number of things right and we knew there was going to be nothing easy about that one, but we made the plays when we needed to, to win that one on the road, so that’s good. And now it’s onto the next one.”
On if he has gained a new appreciation for winning a division title for the first time in 30 years since they won it on Sunday: “I’ve gotten a number of texts, which is – that’s nice. And I feel like I’m not shocked by anything. I appreciate and I do – man I understand the perspective, even though I haven’t lived here for all those years and so I’m – nothing has caught me off-guard. I know that this is – this means a lot to a lot of people here. Means a lot to a number of people in this organization. Look, just (Lions Senior Director of Player Personnel) Lance Newmark and (Lions Director of Pro Scouting) Rob (Lohman). I mean, they’ve been here for years and they’ve been doing a lot of the grunt work in the personnel department and to be a part of this, that’s special for those guys too. There’s a number of guys we can go through here. And then certainly, look, the Ford Family. I mean, I’m just – I am appreciative of the support they’ve given us and (Lions Principal Owner and Chair) Sheila (Ford Hamp), I mean she’s – like I say, I can’t say enough great things about her and I’m happy that we could deliver this one thing. But we’ve got more work to do.”
On how important it is to finish the season off strong and what winning the division with two games left means: “Well, it’s important. It’s important. We checked the box on one thing and now it’s to the next one and so at this point, now, we’re fighting for the two seed. And look, if you’re able to get to the one, so be it. But right now, what we know we can achieve on our own is the two and that’s no easy task. We have to go to Dallas. They haven’t lost in I don’t know how many games at home, and they play really well there. It’ll be loud, but we’re looking forward to it and I’m looking forward to going out there and playing a really good opponent at their place again. We’ve done pretty well on the road, we handle it well. And then to go out there and play for (former Cowboys Head Coach) Jimmy (Johnson) too, this’ll be great, man. Jimmy Johnson, so make him proud.”
On the challenges they face with having to put the celebrations behind them to refocus on the next game: “I didn’t get to celebrate, I was with you guys. That’s the biggest opponent, right now, for us, is really the satisfaction complacency. That is what we’re going to fight from here on out and they’re going to know that. We’ll have a meeting here in a little bit and we have smart guys, they understand that because all these questions, no different than – and I understand why you’d ask it and why it is a big story, because it’s been 30 years, but if we continue to talk about it and we answer them and we live in that moment, then we’re not getting to the next thing. And it’s really no different than what happens in the playoffs. You win a big game in the playoffs, well you don’t have time to really enjoy it. You’ve got to get ready for the next one and that’s where we’re at, so it’s a great thing. I wish we had more time to enjoy it, but we don’t and we’re off to the next one and we’ve got to want more, we’ve got to stay hungry, or we won’t be able to get the next one.”
On how he directs the team to focus on what their next goal should be: “Yeah, absolutely, yeah. When I talk to them this afternoon, that’s what it’ll be about.”
On if he feels they have accomplished more than he thought they would at this point in time when he became head coach: “No, I mean I – (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes) and I both felt like we should be competing for the division in year three. We felt very comfortable about that. We should have a competitive team, be able to – and we knew – we felt like in year two we could do it, but we had to do everything right, every little thing right and we could – and we got off to a little rough start, we weren’t doing every little thing right and then by the end of the year we were and playing pretty good football. So – but no, I’m not surprised with where we’re at, at this point if that – I just – we’re competitive and we’re playing pretty good football. It’s not perfect, we’ve got things to clean up for sure, but – look, I can’t say enough about ownership. I can’t say enough great things about Brad. And I just go back to this, we – what is it? Why? How? What? It’s people, it’s people and I know this if – it’s one thing when you sit in the locker room and you preach teamwork, but then it doesn’t happen everywhere else, it doesn’t happen in the personnel department, it doesn’t happen to the coaches, it doesn’t happen with ownership, then those guys – it doesn’t mean anything. It really doesn’t. And you can’t sustain and so we are a team, we’re a team. Brad and I are a team. (Lions Principal Owner and Chair) Sheila (Ford Hamp), we’re a team. (Lions Special Assistant to President/CEO and Chairperson) Chris Spielman, a team. (Lions President and CEO) Rod Wood, a team. We’re – the coaches, a team. The players, a team. We’re all in this and I think they know that and feel that, and we function as a team as an organization.”
On if he felt that satisfaction and complacency was the problem in their losses this season and if there are lessons to be learned to prevent that against the Cowboys: “No, look, sometimes you – when you have a young team, there are things that come with that. And it doesn’t mean there’s a lack of want-to or anything. It’s just – look, in today’s age, it’s all right there and it’s immediate. It’s on your phone and I – if you’re not careful, you’ll get caught up in the good and the bad and I just bring this up again, the reality, it’s not black or white, it’s gray. Man, you’ve got to live in the gray and take it for what it is because if you – you win, we win the division, everybody thinks, ‘Well all of a sudden we’re the best team.’ Dude, you don’t know that. What you do know is what’s on tape and when things go bad, it’s not as bad as everybody says it is, it’s just not. So, take it for what it is and trust what your eyes see and what you’re hearing from people you trust and the rest of it doesn’t matter.”
On if there is a factor that makes the Cowboys such a good team at home: “I think just – I think the comfort, the comfort of being there and to be able to function, particularly offensively, without the crowd noise. There’s a number of things that they’re able to do – I feel like that opens up things they’re able to do because they don’t have to be on silent cadence, some of the verbal. I just – I think they take full advantage of being home, they do it well. Certainly, they’ve got plenty of pieces over there, it starts with this quarterback, he’s a heck of a player, he’s a winner. He can make all the throws, he’s mobile. And he’s got weapons, (Cowboys WR) CeeDee Lamb, this back is explosive. They’ve got – (Cowboys WR Brandin) Cooks has got speed. This offensive line’s pretty good, so they’ve got a number of things that go well for them. And then if they’re able to – they get off to a really good start when they’re at home normally. And really, they got off to a good start the other day out on the road and then something bad happens and it just didn’t – they couldn’t quite overcome it. But they get up and then this defense is designed to pin their ears back and they can rush the passer. (Cowboys LB Micah Parsons) 11 is as good as they come doing that. And they’re pretty aggressive. (Cowboys Defensive Coordinator) Dan Quinn’s done a great job with their schemes and putting guys in position to make plays, so. It goes without saying, you could say it every week, we have to get off to a fast start because that’s where this team excels. They get going and all of a sudden it snowballs and then you just can’t make up from the mistakes that you may have had earlier in the game.”
On how much confidence he has in the defense after having the game against the Vikings on the line and them being able to secure the win: “A lot, between that and the turnovers. We talked about getting turnovers in bunches and there we go. And so, this has been the one thing that we’ve been missing and now it showed up. And I feel like it’s not going to go anywhere. I feel like those – between our safeties and our backers and (Lions DB Brian) Branch, kind of that – man, we’re becoming very disruptive and we’re making a lot of plays. Now, there’s some things in there that showed up. And look, (Vikings WR Justin Jefferson) 18 is what he is. He’s a hell of a receiver, but there’s a couple of things we can clean up on the coverage aspect. But as far as, man playing your keys, being where you need to be, making plays on the football, man we’re doing that and I feel like that’s here to stay.”
On how well he knows former Cowboys Head Coach Jimmy Johnson being with him at two teams and if he takes offense to being the opponent for his Ring of Honor induction: “No, no, that’s awesome. I feel like that was for us. I’m a huge Jimmy Johnson fan. Obviously, grew up in Texas when he had the triplets, winning Super Bowls and to do everything that he was able to do and just – he’s somebody that I’ve studied from afar and I’m just – I’ve always been fascinated with him. He’s a – his style, the way he coached, what he was about, the way he built that roster, the way they played and I just – I think he’s special. I think he’s one of these rare, special coaches. And so, I just think it’s – to me, it’s like an honor that we get to go out there and – because that’s what I think of. Obviously, our team and a chance to get a win, but do something that he’d be proud of. He could watch us play and be like, ‘I like that style. I approve of that.’ So, I think it’s pretty cool.”
On how much juice he thinks he can get out of ruining the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor game and playing ‘America’s Team’ against their crowd: “Yeah, I don’t think we’ll have to make a big deal of that. I think it’s – look, the environment we were just in was – that was, that was pretty loud, that was – you’re talking about Christmas Eve and they’re in the fight there and so I think that’s about as harsh as it gets there too. Now, it’ll be loud and they’ll be going at it, but I feel like we’ve handled all that stuff pretty well, so I’m not going to make a huge deal of it. I might bring up the (former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach) Jimmy Johnson deal because I respect the hell out of the man, but as far as everything else, it’s business as usual. We worry about what we can worry about, and we just play our ball. We don’t get frazzled, pressure goes up and our heart rate levels out, we talk about it all the time.”
On how important it was for him to publicly express his confidence in his team and what he sees in the team that outsiders may not see: “Well, look, you’re around these guys. I’m around them. (Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager) Brad (Holmes) and myself both, I mean you’re around them more than I am my own family this time of year. And I hate to say that, but it is what it is and it’s hard, but it’s also you learn a lot about each other and you learn a lot about these guys and it’s – I just bring it up it’s – you talk about a team, first of all, Brad and I have had a plan from day one and we’ve stuck to that and we didn’t listen to what anybody else said. We believed in what we believed in and we’re staying course with it. But on top of that, you want what’s best for your team. It doesn’t mean that you’re getting the most talented players because you can go out and get the most talented player per that position and what you need and if he doesn’t mesh with everybody else, it’ll blow the whole thing up, it just will. And there’ll be a time – doesn’t mean you’re getting a bunch of choir boys, that’s not what we’re talking about. But I just know there’s a way to do it and it’s got to – the production and the type of person we bring in, they’ve got to be equals or – because I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it, I’ve seen it as a player and a coach and so we’re just very mindful of that.”
On how much of an asset it is to have Lions RBs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs with their different running styles: “Well, that’s one of the visions for our offense. It’s one of the reasons – it’s why we got both of those guys. It’s why we signed Montgomery and it’s why we went and got Gibbs because they both bring a little something different to the table and you just feel like it’s another place to give you versatility. There’s versatility in the run game, but also in the pass game and I just – I feel like it’s another avenue to open your offense up. It’s big.”
On if there is a chance to get Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson back this week and if there is a possibility of starting Lions LB James Houston’s clock soon: “Yeah, look, there’s a chance, there’s a chance we start it. I made a comment this morning about it, I don’t know. We may, we may wait a week. We’ll see where he’s at. He’s close to starting the clock. Now C.J., he – we’re just – we’re going to take it as it comes here. We’ll have a walkthrough today, so there’s not so much we can do and then tomorrow will be more of the physical and we’ll just kind of take it as it comes. Certainly, if we’re able to – he’s ready, it adds another weapon on defense is what it does, another playmaker.”
On if needing to find a place for Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson is a good problem to have with the safeties playing well right now: “Yeah, I think if – because look, (Lions S Ifeatu Melifonwu) Iffy and (Lions S) Kerby (Joseph) are both playing at a high level. (Lions DB Brian) Branch is coming along, playing some pretty good football. And so, then you begin to, ‘Alright, how do we build a couple of packages here?’ Once you get him in there. And so yeah, I mean look, we’re going to play the best players and the guys that give us the best chance to win and put the best on that field that we can that make sense per what they’re doing and their personnel groups.”
LIONS QB JARED GOFF QUOTE SHEET
December 26, 2023
On Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell saying the team needs to stay focused and not prolong celebrating the NFC North division title: “Yeah, I think he’s exactly right. We’ve got to move forward now. It was a fun 24 hours enjoying that, having a good Christmas, being able to enjoy the fanfare of all that was winning the division, but that’s over. That’s behind us now and now we’ve got another game to win in Dallas.”
On if he thinks complacency caused them to lose any of their earlier games this season and what lessons were learned from it: “I don’t think complacency caused us to lose any games. I think that’s what you get fearful of when you do win a division. And certainly, in our situation, won one for the first time in a long time and think the job’s done, and by no means is it. We’ve got a ton more goals ahead of us and everything is in our control, and we can go out there and do whatever we want to this year, just have to go execute.”
On Cowboys CB DaRon Bland’s ability to intercept and return passes: “Yeah, he’s very opportunistic. He makes those plays when they come his way and has seemed to take them all back to the house. It’s a good thing to do as a defensive back. But yeah, he’s played well, he’s made plays on the ball, he’s got great ball skills. And I think he’s got the NFL record, right, for most taken back? It’s incredible. It’s a good testament to what type of player he is and yeah, has great ball skills.”
On the value of having two running backs like Lions RBs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs that both add high levels of production: “Yeah, they’re both starting backs in this League for really any team and to have them both on the same team and have them both be able to complement each other so well, it makes us dangerous. And we try to use it to our advantage as well as possible. I think one of the biggest things I’ve noticed is how we’re able to keep them both pretty fresh throughout the game. It doesn’t feel like either of them get too tired because they’re able to rotate in and out, and when you can do that, it’s hard on a defense. And those two guys are special and we’re lucky to have them.”
On the challenges Cowboys LB Micah Parsons’s varying alignments presents: “Yeah, moves around quite a bit. I think that’s kind of their advantage with him is they can move him around. They can put him off the ball, they can put him on the ball, stand him over the middle. So, yeah, they do a bunch of stuff with him. He’s a dangerous player, he’s a great player, he can do a hell of a lot and we’ve got to be aware of where he’s at.”
On if playing well the past two weeks against two good defenses carries confidence over into this week: “Yeah, sure. I think it seems like every week for the last handful of weeks we’re just looking at every team’s defense’s turnover stats and how good they are on the ball and then we come in and we’ve had two games in a row now with taking care of the ball pretty well. And so, yeah, it’ll carry into this one certainly, but yeah, it’s something we’re always conscious of is taking care of the ball and giving our team the best chance to win. But this defense is good, and we’ve got our work cut out.”
On if Lions WR Jameson Williams is considered to be ‘one of the guys now’: “Yeah, no doubt. He’s worked himself into that role and trust him on really everything he’s doing now. And he’s done a hell of a job, man, getting himself there. And again, it’s just reps, just time and he’s still a young player and still learning and growing, but just keeps doing this every week. And it’s exciting for me, it’s exciting for our offense.”
On what caused the number of delay of game penalties in the game against Minnesota: “It’s a handful of things. It’s mostly us to just getting up out of the huddle and getting set and snapping the ball. Typically, that’s the issue with those and it was this week. I think I spoke it after the game, but that end of game sequence wasn’t our best and defense bailed us out. It was nice to have that, but we’d like to finish with the ball on the field in one of those last two drives and weren’t able to. But yeah, it was just poor communication.”
On if there is anything particularly challenging as a quarterback about playing at AT&T Stadium compared to other stadiums: “It’ll get loud. It’ll get loud like other places, but I just think they’re very comfortable there, right? That’s what it seems, and we’ve got to find a way to go in there and be comfortable as well and find a way to win. And they’re a great team. They’re really good at home like you mentioned and we’ll have our work cut out.”
On if they feel equally as comfortable playing on the road as they do at home: “Yeah, I think so. Yeah, we’ve won games on the road, and we’ve won games at home. And we’re a good road team and we feel good about in about pretty much anywhere. We went to Arrowhead earlier this year and won there and are much harder atmospheres to play in than that. So, yeah, we feel good about going in anywhere and find a way to win.”
On what the last 36 hours have been like since winning the NFC North division: “Yeah, it’s been fun. It’s been cool. You try to soak it in, you try to enjoy it. The old 24-hour rule, win or lose and try to treat it that way, and yeah, it’s been exciting. I think the city’s excited. We’re excited. I know the fans are thrilled we get a home playoff game at the very least, but with that being said, like I said earlier, we’ve got so much more in front of us that we want to accomplish and we’re very, very happy with winning the division, but by no means satisfied or content. Have got a lot to do still and it’ll be fun.”
On how valuable it is to play a playoff-caliber team like Dallas late in the season: “Yeah, it’s always good late in the year. You get teams – I mean you have Minnesota, Denver, those teams are playoff bound potentially, and Dallas obviously as well. You get teams like that you can kind of stack up with and see where you’re at. And yeah, these are the fun ones, man. Late in the year, another good team, at their place, can’t draw it up much better. It’ll be fun. It’ll be a good atmosphere. They’ll be ready to go, we’ll be ready to go. It’ll be a good game.”
On if the goal now is to get a better seed for playoffs: “Well, yeah, we’d like to win this game first, and if we win this game and then we win the next one, we would have the two seed I believe. But yeah, what we can control is winning this week and again, obviously a big one. They’re a great team. They’re fighting for their division as well, so it’ll be a tough one. But yeah, we’d like to win this one and continue our chance at a higher seed.”
On if they as players believe in the Cowboys’ mystic of being ‘America’s Team’: “Well, that’s certainly their nickname, right? I don’t know if that means anything. They’re a good team. Yeah, I don’t know. I didn’t play them in the ‘90s when they got that nickname, but they’re a great team and have been a great team for a long time and have a lot of really good players and are really well coached. Yeah, they’ll be a tough challenge for us.” |
