LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET

LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
November 14, 2022

Opening Statement: “I think just as it pertains to this game, a few things came out. Just the fourth down, we had the one fourth down there early that we were able to get seven points out of. And then, the fourth down they had at the end of the game for us to get off the field that was big, (Lions LB Julian) Okwara coming up with a sack. Certainly, the turnover was big, they had the one that (Lions CB) Jeff (Okudah) and that was for seven, so that was huge. We didn’t give the ball away, and then penalties were huge, man. We played pretty disciplined and we were trying to get off blocks, shed blocks, trying to do the right things and we stayed pretty clean. Only two penalties, and they had nine, so that was the difference. And then, as far as just the fourth quarter – I mean, to come down, you’re down two scores. Defensively, we had two three-and-outs in the fourth quarter, which not only do you get the stop, but the fact that we were able to get off the field quickly, get it back to the offense was huge because they were chewing up some clock. So, those were big but defense three-and-out, offense gets a touchdown, defense interception for touchdown, it was Okudah. Then, defense gets back on the field and makes a big play, we kind of – we busted there, but he made a heck of a run. Offense we go three-and-out, we’ve got to punt it, defense takes the field again, and we get a three-and-out. So, we get another chance and offense takes it down eight plays, 91 yards, get a touchdown, and then defensively you know we got the stop there on fourth down. And then, just the icing on the cake was the offense goes out there to get the first down and seal it where we can take a knee and finish it out. So, it was a good team win. Fourth quarter, we did what we had to do to win that game. And guys played hard and did what we asked them to do.”
On how the game is slowing down for Lions DL Aidan Hutchinson and his evolution through the season: “Yeah, I would say that would be accurate. He’s a pretty instinctive player and he picks up things pretty fast and it’s interesting is that I can still remember the first two days in spring practice out here when we had him running with the ones. And we threw – shoot, I think we threw three screens at him within the first four days and he’s just sprinting at the quarterback and they’re just – it’s gimmes. Just to see where he’s come from there. He’s figuring it out. He is very instinctive, and so look, he was obviously a huge factor on that play to make (Bears QB Justin) Fields hold on to it. But then, (Lions DL Isaiah) Buggs was in his face, continued to just close the distance, hand up, he didn’t bite on the pump fake or anything. And so, we forced him to make an errant throw there. And then, (Lions CB Jeff) Okudah made a hell of a play.”
On kicking a field goal on fourth-and-4 on their first offensive series instead of going for it: “Yeah, I just – I felt like that was the right move at that moment, just with where the game was going, where I thought it would go. And we had a pretty good drive, we had to overcome a lot to get down there that first possession, we ended up with second-and-long, third-and-longs, we overcame them. And so, I wanted to make sure we came away with points on that drive.”
On if the decision to kick a field goal early in the game reflects how his decision-making has evolved throughout the season: “No. I think I just – I could’ve very easily gone for it. But I just felt like that was the right thing to do for that moment.”
On the development of the young defensive players: “Yeah, I think just growth in the system. I mean, there again we’ve talked about (Lions CB) Jeff (Okudah), now he’s – I think Jeff’s officially out of the – just needs to continue to bank reps. I think he’s banked a lot of reps now and he’s continuing to get better and it’s showing. He’s playing physical. We’ve talked about him on the perimeter, he’s making plays out there, and he’s just so much more comfortable and confident right now. So, man, he’s trending the right way, but you saw a lot of plays out of our young guys. We’ve talked about (Lions DL Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch, not to be lost is the big boys there in the middle, (Lions DL Alim McNeill) Mac and (Lions DL Isaiah) Buggs. But then, (Lions DL Josh) Paschal before he had the injury, he’s doing some things over there, so. (Lions LB Derrick) Barnes has continued to come along, so. Shoot (Lions CB) Jerry Jacobs gets in there, he’s – every week he’s gotten better and more confident. So, they’re just – they’re growing, and I think more importantly they’re growing together and they’re starting to figure each other out. They’re starting to trust each other and trust what they’re being given. So, I think every – every little success you have here when you’re able to overcome some things, I think you grow and you do get confidence. And so, they’re – I feel like they’re beginning to mesh a little bit here and gaining steam. So, hopefully we can continue to trend that way.”
On how valuable it is to get major contributions from under the radar players like Lions TE Brock Wright and Lions WR Tom Kennedy: “Yeah, those are big because those are no different than – that’s in NBA, that’s your guys coming off the bench and those are valuable minutes, and you need some production out of those guys. And so, TK, you never know when your number’s going to be called. One of the reasons he goes to the game is because he can play multiple roles for us, mentally and physically he can do some things. He’s better suited at other things, not everything, but he has to do everything for us in case he’s needed, and he is needed right now. And so, we get in there and it’s a pivotal moment to where it’s – he’s really number one in the read, back to (Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown) Saint is number two and he shows up. And (Lions QB Jared) Goff hits his back foot, lets it go, hell of a throw, the protection was great, he wins on the route early and so when called upon he makes a play. But yeah, it’s crucial because you don’t know, you may only get one opportunity, but you have to be there when you’re called upon.”
On what the next level of progression is for a young team that is starting to figure out how to win: “No, we’re not changing anything we do, we’ve got to continue to – everything we’ve preached since really day one, we’re still preaching the same things. We tweaked a couple of things schematically, but ultimately, I mean nothing has changed. So, it’s just about continuing to grow, gain your confidence and when you have an opportunity to make a play, we’ve got to make more plays than they did. And really, we just talked about some of the reasons, but we were more disciplined. We played disciplined football, and it wasn’t always pretty, but man, we did what we needed to do. So, we stayed the course here. The trick here will be we’re going into really two games in 14 days or whatever, that’s more of a trick than anything else, but I know this, the most important game is this one coming, and it’s the Giants. And so, we’ve got to do whatever we need to do to prepare for this one and worry about Thanksgiving after that.”
On checking boxes for the younger players who got their first road win and first consecutive games won yesterday: “I think just that. It’s just the understanding that man, if you really want to become a competitive, a truly competitive good team, that you have to stack some wins together. All the good ones do, and so just to eventually get on that path, get on that road, you’ve got to put two back-to-back. And to be able to do it on the road, there again, divisional opponent, I think those are big things for us, especially with a young team because that’s how you grow up in a hurry. That’s how you mature in a hurry, and so those things will serve you well as you continue to go down the road. So, it’s big, but I know this, it’s we’re back to the next one now, and we’ve got to go on the road again. It’ll be a hostile environment. This is a good football team that knows how to win. They don’t make mistakes. They have a good ground game. They have a good defense, and so this will be another challenge, but I feel like we’re a little better suited now than we were when we started this season. I mean we’re kind of at the point now where we’re progressing a little bit, but it’s another one, and we have another big challenge.”
On Lions LB Jarrad Davis stepping up and playing well in meaningful situations yesterday: “Yeah listen, to be able to get him up, we thought it may be hard for (Lions LB Malcolm) Rodriguez to play last week, and so it was – we knew if we got him to the game, he was going to play. It was just his type of game. It was a run-heavy game. Fit in the run, coming down, hitting blocks, all those things, and so look, we have a lot of faith in him. It was one of the reasons why we wanted him back here. We needed him here in some capacity, form or fashion. We were fortunate for him to say, ‘You know what? Yeah, I want to be there. I want to be with you guys and be a part of this.’ And so, to have him ready to go for us and when called upon and watch him step in and do exactly what he did, that’s why you want guys like that around because they’re dependable, and you know you’re get a good day’s work out of him, and he’s a team guy. He’s all about ball, he loves ball, but he loves his teammates too, so we can’t have enough of those guys around here.”
On the secondary staying disciplined during long scramble plays by the Bears wide receivers: “Played well. I mean, that’s not easy to do, and I’m just bringing this up, that’s four weeks in a row now that that offense over there has put up that kind of production. And the hard thing is to stay as disciplined as you have to on your rush, and your rush plans, your rush patterns. You’ve got to get them off the spot, but yet, you’ve got to get them corralled back in. So, your legs are burning, you want to just throw your body in there to see if you can take a shot at one, which is not going to work. And in the meantime, all that’s going on, your secondary’s having to cover from sideline to sideline, deep, they put their foot in the ground, they come back, and so you do that, and we really only – there’s probably a couple of passes there he was able to complete once he broke the pocket and – but all in all, I thought they did a heck of a job because that’s not easy either. I mean you’re just running for your life, but it’s something we talked about all week. And you come away with one penalty, that’s pretty good stuff. So, those guys are growing. I thought they competed, and there again, really from the front end to the back end, they knew what we had to do to try to slow this offense down, and they did it. And you’ve got to go the hard way to do it because it’s not easy. And it does, it tests your endurance. It tests your discipline and everything. Those guys, they handled it.”
On injury updates for Lions C Frank Ragnow, Lions WRs Josh Reynolds and DJ Chark and how the tight turnaround between two games affects their availability: “Yeah, I don’t know. We’ll see where they’re at. And Frank, I don’t know about Frank. I didn’t even know he had a boot on last night. You guys saw that? Was it the right foot or the left? Left one? So, we’ll see – but yeah, look, day-to-day. I know that Chark’s a little bit better, I know Reynolds is a little bit better, but that’s just that. It’s just a little bit better, so we’ll know a lot more tomorrow and then getting ready for these guys.”
On if the team had a ‘Victory Monday’ today: “It’s a half-Victory Monday. You guys are all still here though.”
On if the players were given a Victory Monday as a reward for the win against the Bears or if it was to give them extra rest in preparation for a quick turnaround between the next two games: “A little bit of everything. These guys are continuing to put in the work. We haven’t changed what we do in that regard, and they continue to go, but it’s also I know what we’re getting ready to face, and then in this two-week window, this 14-day, 12-day window, whatever you want to call it, and so it’s a semi-Victory Monday. Those guys are responsible for, ‘Handle your groups, and you guys come in and lift together as a group and watch the film together and then get out of here. Treat the body and get out. Get ready to go for Wednesday.’ So, I’m trusting them.”