LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
November 8, 2023
Opening Statement: “Alright, had our first big day yesterday, like an in-season Wednesday, so got our base work, first, second-down. Get the guys out there moving, get ready for the Chargers, so it was good. As always, things to clean up when it’s the first practice of the week for the opponent, but they were moving. They came back, we looked fresh, which is good, and then we’ve just got to be better tomorrow.”
On how Lions RB David Montgomery practiced yesterday and if he is on track to play on Sunday: “I’ll know more this afternoon. He’s in there getting treatment now, but I don’t feel any setbacks. Tomorrow will be a big one. I mean, really, it’s just these next two days, let’s see how he does. But I thought he did some really good things yesterday.”
On if Chargers OLBs Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack make up one of the better pass rush units they have faced this season: “Yeah, I mean, those two, they’ve done a nice job, really, collectively as a group. They’re able to – (Chargers OLB Tuli Tuipulotu) 45’s in that group as well, young buck up there. So, between Bosa and Mack and him, they’re able to generate some pressure. We’ve seen some good pressure players too, up to this point. We just faced one before the bye in (Raiders DE Maxx) Crosby, I mean he’s pretty good too, so we’ve seen our fair share. I certainly like our tackles. I like our O-line, but we’re going to have to have a plan for those guys.”
On how good it was to see Lions C Frank Ragnow and Lions G Jonah Jackson practicing yesterday following their injuries: “Yeah, yeah those – obviously, both of them were at practice yesterday, full day of work and they both looked pretty good too. So, barring no setbacks, I think it’s looking pretty good.”
On the challenges the Chargers’ pass rush will present to the offense: “Well, I mean, I just think it’s – there again, you only have so many resources to go around to where you can help, so the more you that you’re helping because of two edge guys, then the less you’re getting out into the routes, which is fine. That just means somebody’s going to have to win in the pass game and they’ve got to win fast, so. So yeah, it’s certainly, to have another guy on the other side, that helps them, helps your rush game, but we’ve got some pretty good tackles here and we’ll help on some things.”
On if a heavy pass rush can open up opportunities in the run game: “Yeah, I mean look, I think there’s things that we believe in anyway, that we’re going to work. I mean, I feel like they have done a good job against the run. I know that was an emphasis for them going into this year, so they do some good things, but we’ll have some things to try to attack them, certainly in the run game and then build off of that. But look, they’re playing pretty good football, particularly these last two games. Defensively, they’re playing pretty good. So, we know it’s going to be a challenge and we’re going to have to be efficient, stay ahead of the sticks and it’s really a dangerous team, in that regard, on offense and defense. So, we can’t play their game.”
On if Lions OL Graham Glasgow has earned a starting position at right guard with his performances these past few weeks filling in for injuries: “Yeah, I think so. I think that’s fair. We’re always assessing (Lions G Halapoulivaati Vaitai) Big V and V’s still working at it, but Graham’s – certainly, Graham has been productive for us and he has, he’s been productive in three different spots. I mean, left guard, center and then certainly, right guard before that, so he’s been a big asset for us. I mean he – that was a good signing for us to get and fortunate to have him. So, he’s a steady, reliable piece for us.”
On the changes Chargers Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore has brought to the Chargers offense this season: “Look, here’s – I expected more runs. They’re throwing the ball. They are throwing the heck out of the ball. They’ve got that quarterback. Look, everything starts with him, it always will. I said this the other day, he’s a very good athlete, he’s an accurate passer, big-time arm, smart and he’s tough, God he’s tough. He’ll just sit in there hit after hit and he’ll just continue to throw the ball. And so, they’ve done a good job of – look, they’re going to put (Chargers WR Keenan Allen) 13 in positions to win by what they think that – the odds say you’re playing this coverage by this situation, they’re going to find a way to get 13 matched up and he’s done a pretty good job of winning those one-on-ones when you give him the right matchup, so I would say that’s what they’ve done a real good job of. Certainly, (Chargers RB Austin) Ekeler, finding those matchups with him and using him out of the backfield’s been pretty big, so I think it’s really been more pass related than anything else. They’ll do a lot of flavor-of-the-week type stuff. Some of these things that are – some of the fast motion in, some of the fast motion out, run game out of that, the turbos, they mix it up nicely. They’ve got gap, they’ve got zone, they’ve got inside zone, certainly all gun runs at this point with where the Q’s at, but. So, I think they’ve – they’re pretty efficient. And, there again, this quarterback makes it go.”
On if he and Chargers Head Coach Brandon Staley have discussed the similarities between their aggressive coaching style and the challenges these similarities will present on Sunday: “No, we’ve never – we haven’t discussed any of that. I would think both of us will just become very conservative this game. That’s what we’re going to do, so I haven’t talked to him about it yet, but we’ll see if he’ll just call off the dogs.”
On if they will play this game differently because of the aggressive decision making the Chargers are capable of on fourth down: “Not necessarily. I think you’ve got to play the way you feel. Certainly, there’s things he believes in. There’s things that I believe in and I don’t think that gets altered by either one of us. I think we’re going to do what we’re going to do, may be different in regard to when you’re – if you’re very conservative, playing somebody aggressive, you’ve got a decision to make. Do you stay true to what you are? Do you feel like you need to play catch up, or you need to do things you don’t normally do? I feel like, in this case, you’re going to play your game, I feel that way anyway.”
On how critical maintaining the turnover margin is to having success on the road: “It’ll be huge, it’ll be huge for us. And I mean, we – for the most part, when we’ve had these turnovers, we’ve been able to overcome them. I mean, we’re sitting here at zero margin right now, which isn’t good enough. We’ve got to be better than that. But, it will be everything because this team has proven that when they get these takeaways, they’re very dangerous because they have a potent offense and they have a defense that’s able to – they’re creating them, right. So, it’s going to be very important, particularly on the road. So, we’ve got to take care of the football, but not at the expense of being uptight and – we still have to play our game, so – but, there again, it’s particularly ball security. There’s things that you’re not always going to be able to control, the nature of the game and those happen, but man, the ones that we know we can, the way you carry the football, right, just (Lions QB Jared) Goff talking about the throws, when to throw it, when to not and how you – just those little things are important, but we don’t ever want to take away our aggressiveness and the way that we attack either.”
On if Chargers QB Justin Herbert throwing out of the shotgun often changes their defensive gameplan: “I don’t think so, not with what they do and as dangerous as he is in the gun, anyway. I mean, he’s such a good athlete that I don’t feel like that necessarily gives you an advantage or anything of that nature for them.” | |
