Tag: Dan Campbell

Dan Campbell: ‘The chemistry of the staff has been outstanding’

Campbell talked about his staff on the first episode of Inside the Den

Lions head coach Dan Campbell is really enjoying the coaching staff he helped assemble in Detroit. The rookie head man offered a bluntly enthusiastic assessment of the new-look coaching staff after a couple of months on the job.

The Lions turned the cameras on inside the team headquarters in Allen Park and captured Campbell and his underlings at work in the first episode of “Inside the Den” for 2021.

“It’s a good mix of the personalities,” Campbell said. “They’re all hard workers but man, they’re all team guys. The mesh, the chemistry of the staff has been outstanding.”

Coach Campbell continued,

“It’s been everything I hoped it would be.”

He noted that while there has been a media emphasis on all the former players on the Lions coaching staff, the coaches who didn’t play in the NFL have also been integrally important and blend in well.

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NFL rule change costs the Lions an extra minicamp

The NFL moved back the start of OTAs two weeks, which hurts the Lions and other teams that made a coaching change

One of the ripple effects of the NFL’s move to adopt a 17-game schedule hits the Detroit Lions hard this spring. The league moved back the start of the offseason workout programs, or OTAs, to April 19th for all teams.

Normally a team with a new head coach, like the Lions and Dan Campbell, gets an extra minicamp for returning players as well as a two-week head start on OTAs to help get caught up to the rest of the league. But that has gone away, according to a memo from the NFL disseminated by Good Morning Football on the NFL Network.

Coach Campbell appeared to anticipate the change. During his press conference on Monday, Campbell stated,

“Here’s the beauty of it. Everybody in the league has to fall under the same rules. That’s the bright side to all of this is like, OK, well, we’re all kind of the same in that regard.”

All OTAs will remain virtual and not in-person under league COVID-19 protocols.

Dan Campbell’s press conference keeps Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s fate up in the air

Campbell is intrigued by moving Big V into the right guard spot

The Detroit Lions offensive line is in very good shape from center to left tackle. Frank Ragnow is an emerging star at center, if a pivot can become one. Taylor Decker is one of the best all-around left tackles in the league, while Jonah Jackson showed a high ceiling in an up-and-down rookie season at left guard.

The right side? There is potential but also potential for change. And one of the big questions there is Big V, Halapoulivaati Vaitai.

Signed last offseason to tackle-level money, Vaitai struggled to stay healthy and didn’t play well at right tackle when given the chance. Tyrell Crosby outshined him at tackle and proved perfectly capable of being a solid long-term starter. Vaitai was better, relatively speaking, when he played inside at guard, but the opposite was true during his pre-Lions career with the Eagles.

Head coach Dan Campbell was asked about Vaitai’s future with the team in his free agency press conference on Monday. Campbell hinted that Vaitai’s future, at least in 2021, is as the team’s starting right guard.

“Look, I would say the most obvious answer to that question to start without alluding would be that until we get our eyes on him and see kind of where we feel like he fits the best, it’s kind of hard to just put that in stone,” Campbell said. “But I will say this, and we’ve talked to him about it; we’re a little intrigued about moving him inside to guard. That does intrigue us. And so, we may, as a starting point, kind of work there and see where we’re at.”

Campbell left open the concept of having a training camp battle at right tackle between Vaitai, Crosby and Matt Nelson, too.

“But we’ve got enough guys on this roster to where – between (Vaitai) and Crosby and Nelson, you kind of let them fight it out a little bit and just see what comes out and who fits best where. Again, that’s tentatively right now, before we’ve done anything else (in) free agency or in the draft. I would say the thought of moving him inside would intrigue us a little bit.”

The team does still have last year’s fourth-round pick, Logan Stenberg, in the potential mix for the right guard spot, though he wasn’t impressive enough as a rookie to be active even when the team faced serious attrition along the line. Veterans Joe Dahl and Oday Aboushi are no longer with the team.

Dan Campbell: Lions wanted to sign players ‘with something to prove’

Campbell also noted he and GM Brad Holmes have something to prove too

Lions head coach Dan Campbell held a press conference on Monday that was devoid of any fantastic one-liners or “did he really just say that?” moments. Coach Campbell’s deeper poignancy was more on display on this zoom session.

One answer that stood out from Campbell’s docile presser dealt with the type of players the Lions were attracted to signing in free agency. Campbell talked up the enthusiasm the new players, guys like RB Jamaal Williams and LB Alex Anzalone, brought to the team.

“All these guys that we’ve signed, salary aside, they’re fired up to be here. It’s a genuine excitement. Look, you can call it… There’s a little bit of a leap of faith on their part. Shoot, man, we appreciate that. But it kind of tells us that we feel like we’re going in the right direction.”

Later in the call, Campbell started rolling off the attributes of all the new players. He summarized the signings by saying,

“…probably the best thing about all of these guys we’ve signed is I think they’ve all got something to prove. They’ve got a little bit of a chip on their shoulder, whether it’s ‘I’m coming off an injury’ or ‘they were trying to reduce my salary’ or ‘I’m a guy that they didn’t want anymore’ or ‘I’m a guy they think is washed up.’ All these guys have something to prove and man, so do we.”

Campbell continued,

“I mean, Brad’s (GM Holmes) got something to prove, I’ve got something to prove. My staff has something to prove. I mean, everything we’ve kind of done – Sheila’s (Hamp) got something to prove – has been a little bit unorthodox, I guess you could call it. But that’s a good thing, man. We want hungry people here that want to be there, they all wanted to be here and wanted to win.”

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Dan Campbell: ‘We don’t want turds here’ with the Lions

Campbell also talked about the vision he and GM Brad Holmes share

Dan Campbell continues to be one of the most colorful personalities in the NFL. The no-nonsense Lions rookie head coach speaks his mind and isn’t afraid to dispatch with social graces when talking to the media.

The latest example comes from coach Campbell talking with 96.7 The Ticket in Dallas. In a recent spot, Campbell talked about what kind of players the Lions were looking for in free agency.

Character was paramount, something Campbell reinforces every time a microphone is in front of him. After noting how well he and GM Brad Holmes shared the same values and vision for the team, Campbell offered up this nugget,

“Look, we’re no different than anybody else. Even if you’re a great player, we don’t want turds here, man. We don’t want lazy guys, we don’t want guys that are up and down and we don’t want flash players. If you’re a flash guy where it’s like, ‘My god, did you see that play?’ and the next play he’s in the tank, we don’t know where he’s at, we don’t know what he’s going to do, I got nothing for those guys. It’s the ones that are consistent and you see it all the time.”

Campbell used to have a weekly radio show with one of the hosts during his playing days with the Cowboys, so the trust in the questions and answers is easy to see.

The new Lions coach, a Texas native, also discussed the lack of a scoutign combine and why he and Holmes aren’t all wrapped up in athletic metrics and testing.

“I’m actually comfortable with it, I know Brad’s comfortable with it, ” Campbell said. “It’s pretty fun, man, just grade the football player. And then the numbers, how much do they skew you? And they shouldn’t, really. Now here’s the difference. You see a cornerback you love and then he runs a 4.9, well, that’s a problem. And yet, man, there’s something to be said for scouting the football player before you even get to the numbers, so I’m enjoying it. I think it’s a good way to go.”

Lions to sign Saints free agent LB Alex Anzalone

The Detroit Lions will sign New Orleans Saints free agent LB Alex Anzalone, reuniting him with former coaches Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn.

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Another former Saints player is joining Dan Campbell in Detroit: NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the Lions will sign free agent linebacker Alex Anzalone to a one-year prove-it deal valued at $1.75 million, Anzalone will work with a familiar face in Aaron Glenn, who is Campbell’s defensive coordinator, as well as his new position coach Mark DeLeone.

A third-round pick out of Florida from the Saints’ historically great 2017 NFL draft, Anzalone’s history of shoulder injuries followed him into the pros and limited his availability throughout his tenure in New Orleans. Unfortunately, he didn’t play well in 2020 and forced the team to trade for Kwon Alexander an attempt at upgrading that roster spot.

Still, he produced 123 combined tackles (85 solo) in 38 regular season games with the Saints, along with 4 sacks and 8 quarterback hits, 3 forced fumbles, an interception, and 3 pass deflections. He’s capable of making some splash plays here and there.

Don’t expect the Saints to receive a compensatory draft pick in 2022 following Anzalone’s departure. His low salary won’t qualify for the NFL’s formula when allocating those comp picks, though it would cancel out a low-cost addition the Saints may choose to sign themselves, protecting their projected compensation for losing Sheldon Rankins and Trey Hendrickson.

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Watch: Lions coaches check out Ford Field for the first time

Watch: Lions coaches check out Ford Field for the first time

In their ongoing movement towards being a more transparent and fan-friendly organization, the Detroit Lions broke out the cameras and captured the reactions of the new coaching staff entering the home of the Lions, Ford Field, for the first time.

It’s not a new experience for coach Campbell, of course. Campbell played for the Lions from 2006-2008 and also visited the stadium as a member of the Dallas Cowboys before that. But it’s his first time as the man responsible with leading the players onto the field.

It’s a good look at the new coaches and how they interact. Owner Sheila Ford Hamp is with them, as is team president Rod Wood. The cameras also follow the staff to the Henry Ford Museum.

Thanks to the Lions for peeling back the curtain a little more on the folks who run the team and a chance to get a better feel for them as people, not just names.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfACykpK-9A

Dan Campbell on Jared Goff: “You don’t have to be a savior here’

Lions head coach Dan Campbell on QB Jared Goff: “You don’t have to be a savior here’

For the first time since the Matthew Stafford/Jared Goff trade was announced in January, the Detroit Lions were finally free to talk about Goff as a member of the team. In Friday’s press conference, head coach Dan Campbell introduced the team’s new starting quarterback with a smart statement on Goff.

Campbell offered up a statement about what he told Goff upon finally joining the Lions and his thoughts on the former Rams QB.

“He’s tough, he’s durable and, most importantly, he’s a winner,” Campbell stated. “All we need from him is to come in and play quarterback. You don’t have to be a savior here.”

It’s a smart nod to the Stafford era, where No. 9 frequently strapped the Lions to his back and had to play fantastically for the team to win. That’s not the plan for the new-look Lions under Campbell and GM Brad Holmes. It’s nice to hear him acknowledge the difference, and it reinforces the notion that Goff will get a chance to prove himself in Detroit.

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Lions announce free agent contract with former Saints TE Josh Hill

The Detroit Lions announced a free agent contract with former New Orleans Saints tight end Josh Hill, who is familiar to Dan Campbell.

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Well this is tough. The New Orleans Saints were forced to terminate their contract with tight end Josh Hill last week during the NFL’s salary cap crunch, and he quickly landed on his feet with the Detroit Lions — and his former position coach Dan Campbell, now the Lions head coach. Terms of the contract were not immediately available.

While Hill was never a featured receiver in the New Orleans offense, his skills as a blocker in a variety of assignments made him one of Sean Payton’s favorite players. Campbell saw how important he was firsthand; at one point when Hill was injured and knocked out of a game, Payton described the loss as trying to build a house without its front door.

Hill is expected to replace Jesse James in Detroit, who was recently released, as the No. 2 tight end behind pass-catching standout T.J. Hockenson. He brings 117 regular season games’ worth of experience with him and should be a big help to the rebuilding Lions offense. Because the Saints cut Hill before he signed with Detroit, New Orleans will not qualify for a compensatory draft pick.

In the meantime, the Saints will be looking to surround second-year pro Adam Trautman. The only other tight ends on their roster are Garrett Griffin and Ethan Wolf, both returning from last year’s practice squad. Expect more moves for New Orleans very soon, and for more of their cap casualties to catch on with other teams.

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Brad Holmes on the Dan Campbell introductory press conference: ‘I’m glad I went first’

Holmes had some fun being front row for Campbell’s legendary presser

Brad Holmes is happy he was the leadoff man and not the follow-up act to Dan Campell when the new Lions duo were introduced to the public and the press.

In an appearance on the Huddle and Flow podcast with Steve Wyche and Jim Trotter, the new Lions GM offered quite a few interesting tidbits and peeks behind the veil of his thought process entering the draft and free agency period.

Trotter asked Holmes about the now-legendary Campbell “biting kneecaps” introductory press conference. Homes let out a hearty laugh before answering.

“I was happy that I went first,” Holmes deadpanned. “I didn’t have to follow up after that.”

He appreciated Campbell’s passion and energy.

“It was cool to be sitting front row live at that,” Holmes continued. “I really felt like I was front row at a concert … it was Dan being Dan. That energy and passion and that determination and grit, that is 100 percent authentic, genuine. That is Dan. Now it’s not kneecaps bitten off on a regular, everyday basis, but that kind of energy and passion and juice that he brings, that is legit and he’s like that every day.”

Holmes also talked about the impact Campbell has on the Ford family, the owners of the Lions, when they have their frequent meetings with them.

“They’re all ready to strap on (pads) and play,” Holmes said enthusiastically, adding he is too. That’s the Campbell impact.

The conversation opens up with the three men discussing the transition from being an HBCU player into the world of NFL scouting and climbing the ladder. It’s an interesting perspective that is worth paying attention to as well.

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