'Enough Is Enough': Campbell Shares How Lions Rebounded
Dan Campbell has done a masterful job turning around the Detroit Lions in the span of several weeks.
Staring down a 1-6 start to the season, Campbell’s team has reeled off seven wins in nine weeks to even their record. Now, the team is playing Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers, with a chance to make the playoffs.
In order to secure a spot in the postseason, the Lions will need the Los Angeles Rams to beat the Seattle Seahawks at 4:25 p.m. Sunday. If the Seahawks win, Detroit will be eliminated, but can still prevent Green Bay from making the postseason with a win.
While Campbell, a second-year head coach, can’t pinpoint an exact moment where the tide turned for the Lions, he believes a change in mindset played a key role in the turnaround.
“Yeah, I don’t know, like a true turning point,” Campbell said. “I think, there again, it was certainly, we got in the win column after losing five in a row, against (the Packers) whatever, 10 weeks ago. I think it was just a combination of things. But, at some point, we knew we were one play away, and it’s hard to say that when you lose five weeks in a row. Yeah, you’re one play away, you’re just not making a play. But, yet, it wasn’t like we were playing disastrous football, we’re not even competing. So, I just think they really did know, we are close and we just, we do a couple things a little bit different.
“And, everybody, let’s get the sensitivity out of it. Let’s all thicken our skins here, and let’s lay it all out on the table and not worry about whether I did something wrong or how I’m going to be viewed. And, I think that goes a long way, and it really comes from the team. That comes from the guys in our locker room. It’s a little bit like (defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn) said, 'Enough is enough'. So, that started it. You get one, and then you’re able to get another one, which is the first one on the road, Chicago. Then, you get another one, and pretty soon, you begin to learn how to win.”
With all the stakes involved in Sunday’s matchup, Campbell said it will be a game that his players remember for the rest of their lives.
“I’m excited, our guys are excited,” Campbell said. “These opportunities don’t always come around. I think you go through these things in life, and you don’t always know what they’re gonna be. But, one day, you’re gonna look back, and say, man, you had these special moments that you were able to be a part of. I try to tell those guys you just don’t know when those are gonna come up or what it’s going to mean. But, I know this: When you’re done playing, you miss the hell out of it. This will be one of those moments, I believe, they’ll always remember.”
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Preparing for Lambeau Field
The Lions are aware that Lambeau Field, Green Bay’s historic home turf, can be slippery. Campbell said he opened a film session with a series of clips showing players slipping on the grass.
The team is well-prepared for the conditions. Campbell outlined his expectation that his players will wear the correct cleats, though they may be uncomfortable.
“That's been a big deal, I started the week with that,” Campbell explained. “Put up a bunch of clips of players slipping at Lambeau. That's one of our keys to victory, is wearing the proper shoes and our guys know it, they're on it. Shoot, they’ve worn them the last two days, what they're going to wear out there, they've worn it on our field. You know, so it's been good.
"And, we've gotten pretty good work out there. The field's been a little moist here, you know, it'll be moist again today, from some of the drizzle we've gotten. So, it's really, we're getting perfect conditions. You know, the only thing is it's not quite as cold as it will be there. But, it's not like it's not cold here. So, yeah, shoes are big. Slipping is not an excuse this week.”
Swift’s impact
Running back D’Andre Swift has been an impact player since returning to full health. Injuries have hampered him for most of the season, but he showed a flash of what his impact can be with two touchdowns last week against the Chicago Bears.
If the Lions want to knock off Green Bay, they’ll need the third-year back to be at his best.
“With him being healthy and when he's that way, it's not always about scheming up the perfect play for Swift, it's about just getting him started,” Campbell said. “As long as we can get him clean to the line of scrimmage, and you know, he can have one-on-one in space, you'll take him all day. And so, that's where, whereas it's not always that way a lot of times. You feel like you got to scheme everything perfectly, you know. But, when you know when a guy like him is feeling the way he's feeling, it's just get him started. And, he'll do the rest for you.”
Notes
Campbell provided positive injury updates on DeShon Elliott and Frank Ragnow. He indicated Elliott would need “a major setback” to not play in Sunday’s game.
