LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL QUOTE SHEET

October 9, 2023

Opening Statement: “I think really, just looking at the game probably the things that I thought stood out most were – we talked about the three takeaways for 21 points. The offense was able to turn it into 21 points. We’d talked about trying to get these things in bunches. We were close and so our defense was able to do that and that was all in the first half, so we were able to get out to an early start. And then really second half, it didn’t – we wanted to come out with a fast start, and we weren’t able to score. However, offensively, we took up six and a half minutes. We go all the way down there and we end up – we get sacked, but then, man we punt and (Lions P Jack) Fox pins them there on the 10-yard line. Defense makes a stop, they punt back, we move and we start playing the field position battle and Fox is able to kick another one 55 yards. We get the ball back at the 50, we score and that was at the very beginning of the fourth quarter. So, where that game was at, man we took – though we want points, we want to be better, we were able to control that third quarter and not really let them get going on the other side of the ball. So, I thought those really stood out. (Lions DL Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch had a hell of a game. He really showed up. He’s a force in there. (Lions QB Jared) Goff played really well. (Lions RB David) Montgomery played really well, and Fox played really well on special teams. And then just some other guys we noted, (Lions LB) Alex (Anzalone) was really good for us, certainly (Lions CB) Jerry Jacobs. (Lions WR) Josh Reynolds showed up and he’s been showing up in critical situations. He’s one of those guys and with where we’re at depth-wise, we’re needing guys to step up and he’s kind of the one who’s, man every time we need somebody, he’s making plays for us, so. Thought that was one of the best games (Lions C) Frank (Ragnow)’s played in a long time, and he’s been playing really good. (Lions T Penei) Sewell played well. (Lions RB) Craig Reynolds got his first tug, dependable player. And then special teams was (Lions LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin) Germ, (Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez) Rodrigo and (Lions LB Anthony Pittman) Pitt. So, lot of good efforts out there. Good win. We’ve got a lot to clean up.”

On if he can confirm Lions CB Emmanuel Moseley’s injury is a torn ACL: “It is, it is. It’s unfortunate but we just got confirmation on that a little bit ago and so that’s – hate it for him. And it’s frustrating to put all that work in and then this happens on the other one. But, just knowing him and knowing the way he works, this’ll sting for a little bit and then he’ll go back to work and then he’ll come back and be ready to go when the time is right.”

On the status of Lions G Jonah Jackson’s injury: “Yeah, I mean obviously he’s a little tender today. And those are always hard. You’re taped up and he was able to finish the game and then when you take the tape off, you get some swelling in there. So, it’s just a matter of how much we can get all of that down, the swelling, the pain and what he can deal with. So, it’s hard to say right now.”

On if Lions G Halapoulivaati Vaitai could have played yesterday if needed and if he will be used in the future if Lions G Jonah Jackson is unable to play due to his injury: “Yeah, well we’re fortunate. We’ve got a few, we’ve got a few. And yeah, Vaitai if needed, we felt like he could’ve gone in there and helped us a little bit. But between he, (Lions OL) Graham (Glasgow), (Lions G Kayode Awosika) Yode’s playing pretty good, been doing pretty good on scout team. So, we’ve got some options there. (Lions OL Colby) Sorsdal as well. So, I feel like the interior O-line is where we feel pretty good about our options right now.”

On the depth they still have in the secondary despite injuries: “Yeah, I would say those guys, it’s a pretty smart group back there and they’ve learned how to work with each other and there again, having (Lions CB) Cam Sutton has helped tremendously just with – he’s a guy that we’ve got a lot of faith, a lot of trust in. We can play multiple schemes with him and so he’s been kind of our steady guy over there. And then (Lions CB) Jerry (Jacobs)’s been playing really good now for three weeks. And then getting (Lions S) Kerby (Joseph) back who’ll get even better as he goes through coming back from this hip and (Lions S) Tracy (Walker)’s always been a smart guy for us, so we’ve got a really smart, productive group back there and they’re a bunch of reliable guys and they’re tough. They’re all tough, so yeah. And (Lions S Ifeatu Melifonwu) Iffy stepped up and did some good things for us when Kerby was down, so we do feel like we still have some depth there and when those guys have been called to help us out, they’ve done a good job. I thought (Lions CB) Will (Harris) did some really good things at nickel yesterday and Will’s another guy, for our scheme and for what we like to do with the nickel, he fits really well and he’s a physical guy. He’s reliable, he’s smart, it’s why he’s here. There’s just a lot of jobs he can do for us.”

On if Lions DB Brian Branch is still another week away from being able to return: “Yeah, it’s tough to say. I don’t know. I really don’t know. Basically, today, it was like, look it looked a little bit better, but a couple of things here or there when he moves a certain way going this direction, it’s still – so it’s just tough. It’s how quick can he heal.”

On if the chemistry a team has on a personal level is a byproduct of winning or if acquiring those types of players is by design: “Yeah, look, I think one of the biggest things here, and I’ve said it from day one, it’s – you’re looking for guys that, certainly, you feel like can produce in this League, can help you on the football aspect, the production aspect. But man, we’re looking for guys that endear themselves with their teammates. That’s part of my core belief, ours. I don’t want – I want guys in here that people want to fight for, and you’d do anything for because that guy lays it on the line every freaking practice, every game, every – and I feel like that’s the kind of guys we have here. The guys that were here when we got here that we’ve retained. There’s a number of those, you just mentioned (Lions T Taylor) Decker. And then the free agents we brought in, the guys we’ve drafted and I just think that’s a big part of it.”

On if Lions DL Josh Paschal and Lions CB Khalil Dorsey are close to returning: “Yeah, I would say they’re both close and if I was going to pick one, it’d probably be Dorse before Paschal, but they’re both really, really close. And Paschal’s close too.”

On which area he wants to see Lions LB Jack Campbell grow in as the season progresses: “Yeah, look, I think Jack’s about to get a little bit more. So, I think with that, more opportunities are going to be more growth for him. He has quiet production and I mean that in a good way. I’m telling you, every week he just gets a little bit better and now we’re playing him in base. We weren’t able to play a lot of base the other day, but he’s playing the SAM for us now, a role that wasn’t entirely what we envisioned with him when we got him, but I mean it’s hard to keep him off the field when you feel like he can set an edge, he can rush a little bit, he’s smart, he can cover, but yet he’s still a stack-backer for us. And so, I think his reps are going to go up a little bit here. So, his growth will come with more opportunities, but he’s right where he needs to be right now and we’re really pleased with him.”

On the value in the different types of reps that Lions LB Jack Campbell is getting each game: “Yeah, they’re invaluable. And that’s tough. Look, when you get down there and absolutely. Look, it’s something it’s still – he’s still got to be on it and he’ll learn from it, but it’s – before you even get there, what you’d say is, ‘Well don’t let him down there.’ Because it’s tough. When you’re able to get down on the one and you have the run play-pass at your disposal, it’s tough in there defensively. But yeah, he’ll learn from that. That was his first on the edge, two-action pass down that tight. But listen, we’re pleased with where he’s at and his growth and he’s just going to continue to get better and better.”

On what it means to win with a creative offense: “Well, I just think for our players, they’re so used to that’s who we are. They understand that’s part of our identity and we’ll always be known, in my opinion, as a tough team. We should be a tough, physical team, offense, defense, special teams, but if you’re just tough and you’re just physical and you have no creativity, you’re not going to do anything with it. You’ll bang away, but I think that gives you just a little bit of an edge. And look, it’s a little bit – I watched San Fran last night, man it’s one of the reasons San Fran, I think, is so – (49ers Head Coach Kyle) Shanahan’s done an unbelievable job, but those guys are physical, tough and man, very creative in the run and pass game and that’s what makes them so difficult, I think. And they play outstanding defense, so – but I think our guys have come used to that and that’s what I want is that look, if we’re going to go for it on fourth, nobody’s batting an eye. There’s not pressure, there’s not – this is part of what we do, and this is just another play for us to convert and when we dial up some of the plays that we dial up, a little bit of the smoke and mirror plays, our guys know we’ve repped them enough to where they figure it out. You give them multiple looks. You keep repping it and they’ve done it enough to where they’ll make it right. No different than our punts. We do enough of this stuff on our punt team where we fake, where (Lions LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin) Germ knows the looks. Our guys just, they understand and you feel very confident about it.”

On the element of fun the team has and how that adds to the appeal of the team for the fans: “Yeah, I don’t know. I mean yeah, you know it’s fun. I know our guys enjoy it. They have a good time when they’re able to do something a little bit out of the norm. I think that they enjoy it and then I know it’s a lot of eye candy out there.”

On the team’s physicality being the heart of their success: “It always will be the heart of it because that’s what, I think, sets up all that other stuff. That’s the old ‘Hey, look here then (boom).’”

On if it was hard to watch the 49ers game as a coach and wonder how they would match up: “Yeah, I know – I think it, for me, it puts everything in perspective. Look, we’ve got a long way to go. It’s a long season. We have Tampa coming up, but when you watch that, you see what it is, you see what it is and so I think it gives you great perspective. It gave me great perspective watching them.”

On what he thought about the 49ers’ similar flea flicker against the Cowboys last night: “It’s good, it’s good. Look, that’s been around, that’s been around, so it’s good.”

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