If anyone has watched The Pat McAfee Show before, you know they have a strong affiliation with “Motor City Dan Campbell” due to his high energy and no kidding attitude. T.J. Hockenson recently made an appearance on the show to talk about several topics, including how he views Dan Campbell as a coach and person.
“That’s my guy. He’s got a lot of energy.” Hockenson speaking about Campbell. “He’s always on the field. He’s got his knee sleeve on right now I think that his swag that he’s been rolling with. You know you got to give him a little (explicit) with that but he’s a good dude. He knows his stuff. He’s got us going in the right direction and pushing us every day. Honestly, it’s been fun.”
The praises coming out of training camp and the preseason have mirrored what Hockenson has said. The players are having fun, and easy to see that through various videos and interviews. The energy has been nothing but positive coming out of Allen Park, and it has been a breath of fresh air with players who might’ve experienced the strict dictator-like structure they might have had with the previous regime.
The coaching staff Campbell assembled in Detroit is comprised of a lot of former players who know exactly what it’s like to compete day in and day out in the NFL. It may have seemed unorthodox to see such a coaching staff build like this, but many of them saw the culture Campbell was trying to implement and wanted to have a hand in.
[lawrence-related id=65099]
With all the coaches on the same page on the culture change, the players immediately noticed the paradigm shift in the organization, including Hockenson.
“There’s been a complete 180 in that sense you know a lot of the coaches are players that have played in the league had success in the league and won in this league.” Hockenson on the coaching staff. “It’s really cool actually to look at your position coach or your head guy and be like he knows what it’s like to be in a three-point stance he knows what it’s like to be in the backfield. He knows what it’s like to break a tackle. They know the grind they know how to work and operate and the kind of energy they bring in the building every day. It’s kind of like a player. Honestly has been a lot of fun to be able to learn from those guys because they’ve been in that position and I think that’s been the biggest 180 from years past.”
When Matthew Stafford is wasn’t just a blow to the organization, it was tough for the fan base who watched Stafford mature and become a leader not only for the Lions but the city of Detroit. It will be tough shoes to fill for Jared Goff, but Hockenson has developed instant chemistry with Goff and will fight alongside him no what.
“You know Staff was my guy and I love having him as a quarterback. A smart player. Probably one of the best football minds I’ve been around,” Hockenson stated. “Knew how to mess defenses knew where the ball was to go pre-snap. When he left the building in January obviously that was tough just because he was my guy. When I got with JG (Jared Goff), I was excited. JG has been such a good dude in this locker room. He’s played in a super bowl. He’s played in those situations and that’s what he wants to get this city to and he pushes me every day. He’s talking to me about “hey this situation this is this” and the way he talks to me. That friendship we have like off the field and knowing that’s my dog and I’ll go to war with him”
Hockenson continued admiring the high energy Campbell brings and knows when he has had his eight cups of coffee while jamming to Metallica, which you hear out of his office. Also, Hockenson alluded to the fact he kicked a little bit in high school, so if the Lions need an emergency kicker, he should be right there just in case.
Last year was a tough year for everyone involved, but a new spark of high energy from the likes of Campbell, Goff, and Hockenson makes the Lions an easy team to root for. More than likely, the team knows they are not in a competing year hence their focus on young talent, but one thing is for sure the energy will be brought every game making it some good old family fun.