LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
December 11, 2024
Opening Statement: “Really good opponent, obviously, playing really good football right now. It was a tough loss for them, but this is the type of team that bounces back, they always do. So, we’re expecting their best. Certainly, everything starts with the quarterback, he’s a phenomenal player, really does it all, makes that team go. Defense is – it’s a smart, crafty defense, they play hard, run to the football, they hit, opportunistic, takeaways. Got weapons on offense, lean on the run game. It’ll be a challenge in special teams. So look, this is a top-tier opponent, so we’re looking forward to it and there’s no place you’d rather be than playing this type of football, this type of team, in December. So, we’re looking forward to it.”
On what type of test he hopes the matchup against Buffalo will present to the team: “Yeah, I mean, look, I think for us it’s really – we talked about really sharpening the sword, more or less. There’s things that, even last week, the last couple of weeks, that, we come out of these games and we just – we can do better, we can be better in all areas, and it’s really about the fundamentals, the details of what we do, and I think that’s really the focus, and having the discipline to do those and hang with them and it’s why we’re going to go out in practice today, it’s why we’re in pads, get back to what we do, and then, ultimately, find a way to win the game. That’s always going to be what it’s about is, ‘We’ve got to find a way to win, no matter what.’”
On what he has seen from Bills RB James Cook and what kind of challenge he presents: “He’s a good runner. Good runner, (Bills Offensive Coordinator) Joe Brady’s done a good job with that offense, and I think the guy, he can run multiple schemes, he’s kind of a slash-runner, but yet he can run the gap schemes downhill. I think this offensive line – it’s a good unit, man, they play together, they’re pretty physical, finish on blocks. (Bills Offensive Line Coach Aaron) Kromer’s doing a hell of a job, I think he’s a hell of a coach. And so, that takes a lot of stress off the rest of the team, takes a lot of stress off the quarterback and allows him to really be the best version of himself. So, it goes without saying, we can’t let them start busting runs through there. We’ve got to be good in the run game, and as much as we can, try to make them one-dimensional, if possible.”
On what a win may mean in the MVP race in the matchup between Lions QB Jared Goff and Bills QB Josh Allen: “I don’t know – who votes on that? Yeah, I don’t know, and I guarantee you, that’s not Goff’s focus. Winning the MVP, that’s icing on the cake, but I know for us, man, if you just focus on the win and what it’s going to take to win this game and whatever comes out of that, the individual accolades will follow. You’ll turn around and look back and you’ll realize, ‘Alright, this is what’s transpired because we’ve won.’ So, I’m not worried about it, he’s not worried about it, we’ve just got to find a way to win.”
On what it is about Bills QB Josh Allen that makes him so difficult to take down inside or outside of the pocket: “Yeah, I mean look, he’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s pretty explosive and he’s competitive. I mean, at the end of the day, he’s got all of these attributes, physical attributes, but then, it’s what he’s got inside of him, man, he’s the ultimate competitor. Man, that’s what separates him from a lot of guys. He’s fearless and it’s why those guys – they play the way they do for him because he just won’t give it up. He’s not going to give it up and he’s going to do whatever it takes to get the next first down or get the touchdown, and when they need him in crunch time, he’s going to show up, and he just – he won’t give up, and I think that’s what makes him – really, what makes him who he is, his competitiveness.”
On if he expects that the offense may need to score a lot points to beat Buffalo: “Yeah, I mean, certainly we need offensive output, that goes without saying. I mean, this team, even when you play good, it’s going to be hard to completely shut this team down, shut this offense down. But yet, there again, there’s – the guys that we do have that have only been here for a short period of time, I expect them to be better than even last week, and I made the point, all these guys are football players, it’s not like these guys can’t play football that are in here. So, I expect us to be better in that area. We’ll have a good gameplan and I just – I see us playing better defensively. I think we’re going to show up. We’re going to do some things, offense has got to, certainly, score points, preferably touchdowns, not field goals, and then we need something out of our teams. Our special teams unit needs to show up for us, field position will be huge in this game.”
On if keeping the ball out of Bills QB Josh Allen’s hands at the end of the half will be a point of emphasis: “Yeah, as much as – certainly, as much as you can possess the ball, that’s going to help. I mean – because, like we say, this guy is – he makes everything go and, certainly, if you can keep him off the field, that’s always going to help, and then you don’t need to worry about anything. But look, our defense is looking forward to this and this is one of those matchups you really look forward to playing. I love the fact that I know we can cover, the guys that we’ve got, pretty disciplined group upfront, and we’ll see how these injuries go for us, we may have some guys back, we may not. But the guys we do have will do what we ask them to do, and they’ll go all out, and if we can limit this run game, then that gives us a pretty good chance.”
On if he places any restrictions on Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson’s play-calling or if they discuss the play-calling before the game and if there is anything that he has brought to him that he thought was too much: “No – well, we always talk about it, and I can’t, off the top of my head, think of anything that I’ve turned down. So no, I’m pretty open, so wherever he can go with it, let’s go.”
On if the touchdown play to Lions WR Tim Patrick against Green Bay where Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown was in the backfield is one of the better designed goal line plays that he has seen: “Man it was – it’s a good play. Look, there’s a lot of teams that kind of do those types of things, and we’ve done that before. You’re just trying to see if you can create a little confusion and see if you can get somebody to pop, and so the design is great, and the execution was great. And so, from that standpoint, absolutely, but I think – it’s not as easy as you think it is for the quarterback. Unless somebody pops wide open, man, you’ve got to – are you going to Saint or are you going to come back inside to TP? Was he open, was he not, do I trust it? So, man, the processing speed you have to have at quarterback really makes it go. The design is great, but it also says our quarterback can process it fast enough to see it, and so the combination of those makes it a really good play.”
On how much of a factor Lions Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Ford Hamp’s leadership is on the success of the team: “It’s a huge factor. In my opinion, without having the right ownership, it’s hard to get to a point where you can have success and sustain it. I think it’s very hard. So, we have the right ownership, and Sheila’s outstanding, she gives us everything we need, she is very supportive, and she speaks her mind with me, and I appreciate that. It’s huge, and our guys have ownership in this team, they have buy-in, they know it’s their team, and we try to honor that, I mean, we do, and our team speaks volumes. Our core’s got something? I listen, we listen, because that’s the way it should be and, really, for the most part, the core, the herd, it’s you fall in line, or it doesn’t work out. So, we’ve got a good group.”
On if not having a lot more wins than the teams behind them in the standings gives the team an edge: “Yeah, I mean, I love it, I think it’s great. I think it’s great for us, I think – yeah, I think it does, it keeps you sharp. I think – I’ve mentioned this before, I think we do well with pressure and it’s the right kind of friction and stress that we need and it’s motivating. And so, yeah, I love it, I think it’s great. Look, nobody’s going to lose, nobody’s losing, so we’re going.”
On if his collaborative nature comes from his family or people he grew up around: “Yeah, I think all-encompassing. Team sports were always a big part of my family, and then, certainly my dad – I’ve said this before, he’s a marine, and so, just the teamwork was always preached and not complaining, no excuses, do what you’re told to do, give it everything you’ve got, if you’re going to do something then give your all on it, don’t half-ass anything – all these things, and then, like I say, I had an uncle that was a high school coach for a number of years, cousins that played, the whole deal. So, sports, teamwork, all of it, I think, is all-encompassing. Then, I’ve been fortunate to be around some really, really good coaches, really good coaches in my time. (Former Texas A&M Head Coach) R. C. Slocum, Texas A&M, I’ve talked about (former Hall of Fame Head Coach) Bill Parcells, (Broncos Head Coach) Sean Payton, (former Head Coach) Mike Sherman, I mean, (former Offensive Coordinator) Mike Martz, all these guys that you can go through that know how to win and can teach you how to win. And so, I think – but you also, because when you’re around it enough, I’ve been in this League a long time as a player and a coach, and so, I’ve been in different organizations and you play against different ones and you kind of see the dynamic of places, and we’ve got the right recipe, we do. I would love to know who’s got it better than us. And that’s a recipe to win with.”
On injured players that will be practicing today: “Yeah, we’ll see. I mean, (Lions DL) Levi (Onwuzurike)’s going to be practicing today – well actually, Levi will be down, but he is going to practice tomorrow, that’s not a negative. (Lions DL Alim McNeill) Mac will be out there today, (Lions DL Josh) Paschal may run around, see what he’s got, and then (Lions DL DJ) Reader, if anything comes down, it’ll be tomorrow. So, we’ll see.”
LIONS QB JARED GOFF QUOTE SHEET
December 11, 2024
On being nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year and where it stacks up with other awards in his career: “Yeah, very humbling, it’s hard to put into words what it means, but it’s very cool. It’s my second time being nominated. A lot of guys that could have been nominated, a lot of our guys are doing a lot of good in the community and it’s an honor.”
On the impact that he has made on kids in the community and the impact they have had on him: “Yeah, a ton, a ton. I love being able to support where I can. How much they’ve meant to me has been so fun and rewarding and being able to spend time with them when I can, but ultimately just to see them thrive is so cool.”
On facing the Bills: “Yeah, tough group, really tough group. Obviously, they’re one of the top teams in the AFC and a hell of a group, good defense and they’re well-coached, on offense as well, and it’ll be good.”
On if being only one game ahead in the division and the conference keeps them on edge: “No, it certainly pushes us. We have to keep winning, we’d love to say, ‘Yeah, 12-and-1, our division’s wrapped up.’ But it’s not even close. We have two teams on our heels that are pushing us pretty hard, and we have to keep winning and I’m sure that they’re just waiting for us to lose.”
On if he sees anything different in how the Bills’ defense plays since the last time he faced them: “Sure, yeah, a little bit different. Still, they are who they are, and we know that, and I think they’re extremely sound, extremely well-coached, you can tell that a lot of these guys have been in that scheme for quite some time, and they know what they’re doing.”
On the collaborative culture of the team: “That’s one of the biggest things here and what makes it so fun to play here and to be a part of this winning culture that we have is that they listen to us and they are collaborative and we’ve talked at length about the stuff that (Lions Offensive Coordinator) Ben (Johnson) and I do and the work we do, but I know on defense there’s guys over there that are constantly talking to (Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn) AG and (Lions Linebackers Coach Kelvin Sheppard) Shep and those guys, seeing what they can add or help with or ideas they had. I personally, I come up with a lot of ideas. They don’t always get used, but sometimes they do, and those ones are fun and it’s a lot of fun to be a part of, I guess the building process.”
On what it means to him to be in the MVP conversation: “To be honest, not much. Sure, I’ve been playing well, but a lot of guys have been playing well though. If you’re a quarterback on a good team, you’re probably going to be in that conversation and it’s a credit to all the guys on the squad. We’ve had a really good year up to this point, we’ve got to finish it off. Sure, it’s cool to be recognized in some ways but it doesn’t really mean anything. I want to be holding that trophy at the end of the year, and I know that’s what matters.”
On Bills QB Josh Allen: “Yeah, he’s a stud, he’s a stud. He really is. He’s their engine, tough to stop, but our defense can do what they can.”
On how much pressure a great offense puts on another great offense: “Yeah, it can, sure, yeah. If they score a ton of points, we’ve got to score a ton of points and vice versa. If we score a ton of points, then they’ve got to score a ton points. I think we see that – that game last week that they played in. The Rams scored, whatever, 40-something, and they had to kind of play catch up at the end and sure enough they were able to and almost made it close. But, yeah, absolutely.”
On the traits it takes to be a successful lookalike of Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell: “Facial hair, right? You have to have the goatee and the mustache. Big dip in, always. Big chew in. The smile, you know the way he smiles, his big wide smile. Shoot, yelling at guys if they’re not doing what they’re supposed to, I don’t know. That’s funny, I’d love to see that.”
On how cool it is for Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell to have a cult following: “Yeah, it’s cool. He’s a hell of a leader for us and a hell of coach and I know he’s got a ton of fans.”
On if he has thought about coaching in the future: “I’m in year nine of my NFL career and I’ve not thought about coaching at any point. You can hit me up in like 15 years and we’ll see where I’m at, but no. Right now, I’m very happy playing and haven’t thought about coaching at all.”
On how much Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson has expanded his appreciation of the offense: “Sure, yeah. I’ve been lucky to be around a lot of great offensive minds and he’s absolutely one of them. He’s certainly changed the way I see the game and we very much see the game very similarly, but a lot of concepts that we do offensively that I haven’t done before and then coming here and him teaching me why they work versus this, that, or the other has certainly changed the way I see certain things and changed my approach in a lot of ways and the way he’s pushed me, I can’t ask for much more.”
On if the nuance of the offense can give him an itch to be successful: “Yeah, sure. I’ve got – we’re going back now a handful of years, but I’ve got my history with the Rams and he’s got his history with the places that he’s been and we’ve been able to mend some of it together, meld some of it together and create what we’re in now and yeah, it’s constantly evolving and constantly changing, but yeah. We have a lot of different viewpoints and it’s not just him, there’s a ton of coaches that have been around the League that have a lot of different views on the way that they’ve done things and when you have a lot of great minds come together, it’s a good thing.”
On if he thinks there is a clutch gene and what creates it: “Yeah, I don’t know if a gene – I know that’s the phrasing, clutch gene, is it in my DNA? I don’t know. Or is it in anyone’s DNA? I don’t know. I think it’s the ability to know when those moments are and to not change who you are or what you’re doing. I think (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) talks about it all the time, a lot of people when pressure happens, their heart rate spikes, and they do something out of the ordinary or they try to do too much. I think what I try to do is try to remain the same and I think I do a pretty good job of that but it’s constantly a work in progress and yeah, it’s hard, but I think the guy’s that got it and don’t, and I hope to think that I have it.”
