Campbell Says Lions Positioned Better to 'Swing with the Big Boys'

Dan Campbell discusses 2023 season and Jalen Carter at annual league meetings.

The Detroit Lions have become a darling in national circles throughout the 2023 offseason. Head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes will enter the season with much higher expectations than in previous years. 

Pundits and fans alike are high on the team’s recent success, both on and off the field. Holmes and company followed a strong finish to the 2022 season by adding multiple marquee free agents.

Many believe the Lions will be contenders for the NFC North crown in 2023. This is the belief within the walls of team headquarters, as well. Campbell made it plenty clear during his appearance at the annual owners meetings that he expects the team to battle with the best.

“It’s about raising the expectations, you know?” Campbell told reporters. “We need to be thinking that way. Everything about what we do has to have that type of purpose. Our standard has always been about winning, man. You’re trying to win every game. But, ultimately, I think, to take the next step, you’re shooting for the division.”

Detroit's third-year head coach believes the Lions can do damage in the postseason, provided they earn the right to participate. He’s praised the home-field advantage Ford Field provides in the past, and thinks it could be key for Detroit, should it secure a home playoff game.

He’s set the goals high for Detroit in 2023. The moves in the offseason, paired with the culture already installed, have set the team up nicely to compete heading into next season.

“You do that, you win the division, you get a home game and the rest takes care of itself,” Campbell explained. “Every team should want to go to the Super Bowl, every year, I said that two years ago, of course. I think we are positioned much better to swing with the big boys this year. Now, I can’t tell you what that means in terms of win totals, but that is the goal. We’ve gotta go get the division.”

Campbell has chatted with teammate of Jalen Carter

Campbell touched on the importance of "football character," a term he coined to describe what he looks for in prospects entering the draft. Among the players expected to be in play for the Lions is Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who has been in headlines throughout the offseason.

“Honesty helps,” Campbell said. “I think ultimately, you want to know, it’s one thing for example, does a player give all that he has on the tape? He’s not a lazy player. There are plenty of times you turn the tape on and a guy’s not going snap to whistle, but it does not deal with laziness. They haven’t been coached to do it, they haven’t had a coach that’s been on them or they just don’t know. They’re just unaware, and you get away with some things that ordinarily you wouldn’t and they just don’t know. I think that’s what you’re trying to figure out.

“You go through the character when you start talking about the position coach, you start talking to the head coach, start talking to the resources at the school and then you begin to develop, 'Hey man, this is what this guy’s really about.' You talk about (Jalen) Carter, we talked to a teammate of his the other day, and he told us some things we didn’t know, that nobody probably would’ve known. It was like, oh, that’s interesting.”

Raising the floor

Detroit’s activity in free agency has brought plenty of new talent. The likes of Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson have elevated the secondary, while running back David Montgomery and offensive lineman Graham Glasgow have bolstered the offense.

These additions bring both established talent and added depth. The Lions have incumbent players who will compete for playing time with the new faces.

More specifically, the trio of secondary additions puts pressure on the likes of Jeff Okudah and Jerry Jacobs. Each will have to continue proving themselves in order to stay in the lineup.

“It adds depth, and it adds competition. That’s what it does,” Campbell said of the secondary moves. “That’s what we desperately need. I see those guys coming in and competing, (Okudah) and Jerry, man. It’s gonna be, and that’s the other thing, just because you acquired these guys, doesn’t mean it’s a lock that they start. It’s probably a pretty good chance, that’s why you acquired them. But, my gosh, the best guy’s gonna play, and they all know that. All you do is you raise your level of competition, you raise the floor and that’s a good thing for everybody.”

Campbell mentioned the same concept of "raising the floor" when discussing the impact of the addition of Glasgow. The veteran lineman is returning to his roots as a former member of the Lions and an ex-Michigan Wolverine, and will be leaned upon to provide depth up front.

The depth up front is even more important, as right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai continues to rehab a back injury that sidelined him for the entire 2022 season.

“A guy like Graham raises the floor again,” the head coach explained. “He’s been a starter in this league, he’s been a pretty good center. He’s got guard flex, obviously. So, he’s a guy who can go in there and compete to start… And really, that’s what Graham gives you, man. He can step in, and he can hold the fort down. And, if you need him at any of the positions, left guard, right guard and center, you’ve got a guy.”

Notes

1.) DJ Chark’s departure in free agency leaves a hole at the wide receiver position. Campbell acknowledged that the team will be searching for his replacement in some capacity.

2.) Campbell has checked in with both Vaitai and Levi Onwuzurike as they continue to rehab. He did not provide a timetable for their respective returns.