LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET
January 22, 2024
Opening Statement: “I thought the game – field position won us that game, it was one of the reasons. I thought (Lions P) Jack Fox was outstanding, flipping the field. Our coverage units, I thought (Lions CB Khalil Dorsey) Dorse and (Lions CB Chase Lucas) Lukey really got down the field to help on a lot of that. I thought (Lions CB) Will Harris played at a high level on teams. The takeaway, I thought our defense set the tone for the game when they went out there, got the takeaway. Set the tone early in the third quarter, got off the field twice, two stops and then finishes the game with an interception which was huge. I thought we were disruptive, all day we hit the quarterback and played an aggressive style of football, which we have to do over there. That’s got to be the way we do it and really came up big. And ultimately, I thought we complemented each other very well, all the units, all three of them. Offensively, we knew we were going to have to be patient, but really, the pass game was going to be an extension of the run game and that was what we felt like we needed to do to loosen that defense a little. And then when we needed the run game, it came through in a big way in the second half. So, I thought (Lions QB Jared) Goff and (Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs) Gibby really played at a high level. That offensive line, for as many times as we threw it, I thought the protection was outstanding. (Lions WR) Josh Reynolds comes up big for us again. (Lions TE) Sam LaPorta comes up big for us again. And defensively, (Lions LB Derrick Barnes) D. Barnes, that pick at the end, but he really played at a high level throughout the whole game, and he really has all year. And then (Lions LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin) Germ, and (Lions S Ifeatu Melifonwu) Iffy and (Lions DL Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch really helped us out there too. So, a really good win. It certainly was a team win. Took everything we had. We knew that wasn’t going to be easy, but it’s an excellent win.”
On what Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn was able to do as a play-caller yesterday and how effective he is as a leader: “Well, I mean where do I begin? I mean, let me start with what he did and what he does. I mean the amount of hours that he grinds on tape to prepare his players, his coaches, but himself for what he thinks is going to come and for where he feels like the game is going to go and what he feels like he needs to call in that time relative to what he believes that coordinator’s going to call is – there’s nobody that works harder. There’s nobody. And he’s got great vision for putting a plan together. He understands football very well and when you start talking about his leadership, he’s one of these guys – he’s special. He’s special. He’s got it. His ability to communicate, to relate, to push, to grind, to love, demand, he’s got it all. He’s an outstanding communicator, he’s an outstanding teacher and I mean he just – he is. That’s what I say, I’m fortunate that he’s on staff with me. He’s better looking than me, other than that, I mean.”
On if he was aware that Tampa Bay had a timeout left at the end of the game and could have gone down the field: “Yeah, look, well first of all, we didn’t handle that whole thing well on our end. We should’ve bled it more than we did. Look, I’ll be the first to admit that. And that’s on me. But yeah, we knew they had a timeout left and I could tell he wasn’t going to call it. And so, that’s just – that’s how it ended.”
On Lions C Frank Ragnow enjoying the challenge of identifying the defense’s disguises alongside Lions QB Jared Goff: “So, look, every week – every day of the week to prepare when we have special teams meetings, we have our team meeting then we go special teams and during that time, the O-line and Goff and the backs come upstairs and we go over all the blitz looks. And we’ve kind of got our whole big screen there and we go over all of it. And so, you’re already working through those and you’re working through your base rules. ‘This is what we need to do with this if we happen to get this look.’ So, they go through that and it’s imperative that Frank and he are on the same page and that they understand there could be these very few looks that haven’t shown up since Week 2, we may need to be ready. ‘If it is, it’s a rule breaker and we’ve got to do this with it.’ And that’s not easy, but to your point, Frank loves that stuff. There are some guys that get a lot of anxiety over that, and Frank is not that way. Like Frank loves that. He loves to be tested in that regard. And so, man, to have those guys on the same page, I mean it means everything to our – especially when you throw it like we’re throwing it. I mean it’s everything to your pass game and it’s another one of those reasons why we’re able to keep him upright yesterday. So, Frank prides himself on the mental side of the game. Not only that, protection, but the run game. Like he wants to – ‘Give me the gameplan. Give it to me early.’ He’s – there’s been times we haven’t gotten it spit out yet and it’s whatever, 4:30 in the morning and he’s on one of our young coaches, ‘Hey, I need this thing now.’ So, he prides himself in it and it’s one of the reasons why he’s arguably the best center in the League. He is the best center in the League in my opinion. So, yeah, he does a great job.”
On how far he has gotten into San Francisco tape so far: “I haven’t. Yeah, I haven’t. Other than just crossover tape that I’ve seen throughout the year, I haven’t been able to get to them yet. I’ve been trying to put this game and then other things to bed.”
On if Lions G Jonah Jackson would be able to return from injury and play in the Super Bowl if they advance that far: “It’s hard to say. I mean I think the timeline could be there. It’s just a matter of how fast this thing heals and what it feels like and – but I think there’s a possibility, but we’ll see.”
On the value of having depth on the offensive line: “Yeah, it’s been big for us. We have, we’ve had a number of those guys that have played for us and have banked a lot of reps. I mean there again, (Lions G Kayode Awosika) Yode gets to go in and he did some good things for us. And he’s played though, he’s played quite a bit for us. He played for us last year. And now, goes in this game, he’s going to be able to – ‘You’re the starter, you’re getting all the reps, you’re preparing with the rest of those guys in there.’ And so, that’ll be good for him. But it is big. I mean that’s why you have depth, that’s why you develop those guys and give them a chance to play, practice because you’re going to need them.”
On what it is about Lions QB Jared Goff that allows him to remain calm in high-pressure moments: “Yeah, it’s just the way he’s made. It’s just – I mean I think that’s one of those traits that I believe he learned over time. Probably some of it – look, I don’t know, maybe his father. Maybe it started there. Just his experience, his time playing the game at a high level in big games, understanding what’s coming next. But he does do a great job with it, and he does stay calm, he does stay cool, and he knows even if it feels a little shaky, a little rocky, it’ll smooth out. It’ll smooth out. We just – you just keep playing ball. But it’s one of the reasons why he’s able to play at a high level. It’s one of the reasons he had a fourth quarter like he did yesterday because of what you just said. He can just hang in there and he’ll get in a rhythm, he’ll start finding some throws and get hot for us.”
On if he takes any credit for Lions QB Jared Goff’s ability to remain calm under pressure after Goff called him the best leader he has ever been around: “I don’t take credit for that. That is – it’s flattering, man. It’s – I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for Goff, so when he says something like that, that means something to me. But I’m fortunate to be around a number of great men and women in this building, so – and to be able to coach those guys is an honor.”
On the bar they have set for the environment in Ford Field: “Look, this is where we wanted to get it, right? This is where we wanted to go. This is for all the Lions fans. This was the whole idea, right? And I know it’s – everybody has been dying for it for so long, but this is the point because of what we just saw in those last two playoff games. The environment in there is better than any you’re going to find in the NFL. I mean, back-to-back weeks, your eardrums are just banging. The only thing I thought I would get a blown-out eardrum, it didn’t happen this one. We’ll work on that next year. But it was electric, and it was, I mean – I brought this up last night, but if you’re an opponent, that’s tough to play in, but you also walk away going, ‘Man.’ You’ll never forget that environment. It’s special to play under that kind of duress and stress and a home crowd that’s not your own, it’s – so, we’ve got something special that we’ve built, all of us together, and I’m talking about the fans with us. So, this is just the beginning.”
On how Lions DL Charles Harris and Lions S Tracy Walker have continued to contribute despite being inactive the past two weeks: “Yeah, both of those guys are the consummate pros. I mean, they go about their business, and they give us everything they’ve got every week. I mean, I can still – I can think of two rushes we got last week from Charles against (Lions T Taylor) Decker that were outstanding. You talk about preparing the guy across from you for what you’re getting ready to face and doing what I can, ‘Alright, well this is where I’ve got to help the team.’ And not only that, but just to mention what they do for the young guys around them and to try to help them, prepare them. They don’t sulk, they don’t – doesn’t mean they like it, but they handle it like pros. And they’re very much a part of all this. They help us win.”
On how much more he has on his plate this week and how he balances it within his normal game-planning schedule: “Yeah, I don’t know if I entirely know what all is yet to come. I know there’ll be some extra obligations and I’ve got to start looking out a little bit, scheduling, things of that nature, but I think it should be good. And if anything, I’ll just turn my back on those other things and get ready for this game. So, it’ll be good. So, I’m not worried about that.”
On if they will have another walkthrough instead of practice one day this week: “I’m thinking about it. I’m thinking about it. We may keep things very similar to last week.” |
