LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
November 18, 2024
Opening Statement: “Really total team effort there yesterday. When you’re able to have the production that we did on both sides of the ball, 645 yards versus 170, and do what we did in the red zone, scoring five times, hold them to only two field goals, it was just a – good things are going to happen. Got a takeaway, protected the football. Had a number of guys who played really, really well as you can imagine. Obviously our whole – you have that type of production, your whole offense has a hand in that, but I will say this, when our O-line plays that way, it doesn’t matter what we call, what we do. We can do anything. They played at a really high level, and man they finished. They finished. They started it and they finished. So, that was awesome. (Lions T Taylor) Decker and (Lions G) Graham (Glasgow) and (Lions C) Frank (Ragnow) and (Lions G Kevin) Zeitler and then obviously (Lions T Penei) Sewell. So, that was – I was proud of those guys. They really set the tone. Likewise, on the other side of the ball, our D-line really showed up, shut that run game down. (Lions K Jake) Bates on special teams did a good job, had a number of kicks, extra points, the field goal, kickoffs, (Lions WR Kalif Raymond) Leaf, (Lions RB Sione) Vaki, (Lions DL Pat) O’Connor – we’ve been using O’Connor on special teams a little bit as well as defense and on kickoff he’s helping us out, field goal blocks, there’s things he’s doing that’s like, ‘Alright man.’ (Lions LB Ben) Niemann, and then defensively (Lions S) Kerby (Joseph) and (Lions LB) Jack (Campbell) really showed up for us and (Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez) Rodrigo, it’s good to get him back. Then (Lions CB Kindle) Vildor stepped in and did a nice job for us. (Lions CB Carlton Davis III) just didn’t quite feel right and so we got him out of there and Vildor did a great job of stepping in and competing. So, a number of guys, a great team win, and it’s on to the next one.”
On if he thinks the offense or the defense serves them better going forward: “I mean that’s hard to say. I would always lean defense first if you’re asking me that question. You have to be able to – you have to hold people’s offenses in check, you have to hold the run game in check, you have to limit points, and then you play accordingly with your offense. You asking me that question, that’s the answer that I would give you. I think you better have a damn good defense and they better – because there again, you go on the road, who knows where you’re at, defense and a run game travels no matter where you’re at, where you go, home, away, elements, the whole thing, so I would lean there.”
On if he tells the team that if they put in the work this is the result: “I mean I do think that – there again, we’re in a unique situation here because of, we’re going on year four. I just bring it up again – for the most part, the core of this team, we’ve been together for a long time now and then we’ve continued to add pieces, and they just fall right in line with the rest of those guys. And when I say the core of the guys that we drafted, that we brought in as free agents, the guys that were already here like (Lions C) Frank (Ragnow) and (Lions T Taylor Decker) Deck, and so they’ve been there from the ground up. So, then once you build that foundation and you create your identity, then yeah. I think you finally reach a point where it’s like, ‘Do you understand what you’re capable of guys?’ And look, there’s always going to be things that come up in a game. We talked about it last night. You’ll get these, ah it was a batted ball, something kind of flukey happens or we didn’t fit the right gap on a play here, and you’re inevitably going to run into these games where you have a rough one and you find a way to try to win it, and if you don’t, you improve and you go to the next one. Look, we’re not out of the weeds here by any means. We continue to get these things that are hitting us a little bit, but we continue to overcome them. We’re going to get hit with more adversity. We still have a lot of ball left. So, we’re going to get hit with some stuff and we have to be able to overcome it. But we’re in a good place and we have a team that I do feel like they can make the game somewhat however they want it to look.”
On how Lions LB Jack Campbell can take over the leadership of the defense with Lions LB Alex Anzalone injured: “Because he’s – first of all, he’s a guy who understands the game. He is a smart football player, he studies it, he works at it, he was that way when he walked in though. He’s an instinctive player that really understands ball, but so much of it is where Alex has this – he knows exactly what (Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn) AG’s thinking. They’ve been together long enough to where we get in this situation, this is what you want, this how we’re doing it, this is the – and I think that’s where Jack is – I mean he’s been right in his hip pocket and he watches that and he learns and he listens. I mean we were doing these in the spring, Alex wasn’t even here yet. Alex came in a couple of weeks later and we were doing these situational scenarios where we were letting (Lions QB Jared) Goff call it and Jack call it on defense. So, this isn’t the first time that he’s kind of had to take a little bit of a role like that and he’s going to be fine as far as that. He’ll step right into that, and he’ll embrace it, and I think you’ll see him thrive.”
On how Lions S Ifeatu Melifonwu can help the linebacker position with Lions LB Alex Anzalone injured: “Well, look, because this is going to come up anyway, he had something come up and he’s not going to be – he won’t be ready for a while. He’s not going to be ready for a while.”
On an injury update on Lions DL Brodric Martin: “Yeah, he’s been doing a good job. He’s done a solid job out there on practice squad, giving us a good look, and trying to work his craft, so I think we would like to get him on the roster here and at least have him, and then just see where it goes.”
On if Lions S Ifeatu Melifonwu will not be available for the rest of the season if he is not activated from Reserve/Injured this week: “Yeah, but this is a different injury, so now it falls under a whole other deal. It’s like a reset.”
On if Lions S Ifeatu Melifonwu can return this season: “Potentially, yeah.”
On how much of a comfort having Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez is with Lions LB Alex Anzalone being injured: “A lot. It’s good to get Rodrigo back because he does, he gives us a lot of flexibility. He can play the WILL, he can play the SAM out in space, he’s been playing kind of that big nickel, and so having him back it does, it relieves a lot of pressure there. And I thought, there again, I thought he played really well yesterday. He’s got a nose for the football, he’s aggressive and he just, he has production back there so it’s big getting him back.”
On if they have to expand the defensive packages due to the linebacker shortage or if they will up the snap count for the remaining linebackers: “Yeah, it’s tough to say right now. We’re still trying to, what are we – so much of it is about who we’re playing, right, and more so than exactly what are you going to use, well tell me who we’re playing and what they – Indy, (Colts QB Anthony) Richardson’s a running quarterback and they’re using him a lot more in that regard. And so do you want to go nickel, do you want to go base, do we need three linebackers, we have to answer all of these things. I know this, (Lions LB) Jack (Campbell) and (Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez) Rodrigo are going to play a lot for us, and then it’s a matter of is it by committee if you’re using three linebackers? Are we using a DB? It’s just hard to say right now.”
On how hard it is to find things to coach on after a performance like the game against the Jaguars: “Yeah, there’s stuff to clean up and if I told you we had one where if his split is a yard wider, it should be that it’s a touchdown. Or if I block the right guy, it’s a touchdown as opposed to, whatever, six-yard gain. Those came up and defensively, we were out of position on some things, but it didn’t bite us. We were fortunate and you don’t have that luxury if you’re playing (Bills QB) Josh Allen or (Chiefs QB Patrick) Mahomes, they’re going to find it. So, those are things that we have to clean up. So yeah, there’s things to clean up even as good as everything was and how productive we were, there’s things to clean up. By the way, it’s another reason why (Lions LB) Ben Niemann’s here too. Like thank God for that guy because he can play every one of the spots and smart guy, he’s played a lot of football, and we have no problem plugging and playing him anywhere either.”
On if he adjusts his coaching style when the team is favored to win in games compared to when they are not: “Yeah I think you go in – what’s different is that you always want the belief and in those early years, they need to understand that we have the potential to beat anybody that we – we have that ability to beat anybody but you have to play a certain way and it has to be extremely clean. That’s where we were and once, they began to believe in that and they understand that, ‘OK, I got it,’ then it begins to shift and here we are a little bit. But I think what’s really important is that they never lose sight of, ‘Think about the work that you put in last week getting ready for that game.’ Thursday out here at practice, we were smoking. I mean smoking at practice. It was intense, it was violent without having pads on. Guys, we played the way we practiced and that’s important and you can never lose sight of that, and that’s fine. We’re not the underdogs, but we have certain standards of the way we approach things, the way that we prepare for games, and as long as we do that, you will continue to be a tough team to beat and that’s important. And we should still be on the hunt, and I feel like we’re on the hunt. None of that other stuff matters. So, we have to go to Indianapolis, a team that’s very much in the playoff race there, the division race and they’re going to be ready to go and so are we.”
On Lions DL Za’Darius Smith’s performance against the Jaguars: “I thought he did some things for us, I thought he did some good things for us. It was good to have him out there. I thought, really like we talked about last week, just be a piece of this puzzle and he’s a guy that’s played, he is instinctive, he doesn’t stay blocked long, he’s really good with his hands. Like I said, he can set an edge in the run game and he’s really good at working gains with (Lions DL Alim McNeill) Mac and (Lions DL DJ) Reader and those guys. He’s got a knack for those things. So, I think, first outing with him, I thought it was good. I think he fits right in with us.”
On how Lions S Kerby Joseph has grown since being drafted: “Yeah, I would say to your point, he was always really quiet when he first got here, he wouldn’t say a word (laughs). And now he’s really – Kerb, man. Here’s where Kerb’s grown, Kerb has grown at the safety position. He was raw. He had not really played much defensive football, he was a receiver, and that’s what you liked was the raw ability of him, but he was an instinctive player. He had these instincts for the football, he kind of figured some things out without being coached very much, playing it. And what you’re seeing now is the growth of this player now going on three years. He’s growing into the position, he’s understanding the safety position, he understands how he can manipulate the quarterback by the disguises with himself but also (Lions DB Brian) Branch. And that’s what you see. You see a damn good athlete who wants it, who’s worked at it, is growing into a damn good safety. That’s a credit to him.”
