'We Will Be Ready': Dan Campbell Owns Subpar Performance
Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions were dealt a shocking loss Sunday by the Baltimore Ravens. After looking like one of the league's best teams through the first six weeks of the season, Detroit looked helpless at times, as the Ravens won both sides of the ball.
The third-year coach owned the mistakes in the 38-6 loss. While a review of the film offered plenty to critique, it also created an opportunity for the team to grow and learn from its mistakes.
"Thinking about it, you see what it is. Ultimately, when you step back and you look at a number of performances that were very much subpar across the board, it's not coincidence," Campbell said. "That's where, man, I did not do a good job of getting them ready. I did not. It'd be one thing if there was just a couple of guys here and there, but ultimately, I didn't have them ready. I've got to do a much better job of getting them prepared, which I will this week. We'll be ready for the Raiders. They did everything right over there. We did everything wrong."
With an important Monday Night Football showdown looming against the Las Vegas Raiders, time is of the essence for Detroit to lick its wounds and return to its high level of play.
Campbell was steadfast in his message Monday that the team will be adequately prepared to rebound next week.
"We have to. To me, I go back to that, losing's bad enough but you better not waste it. It's here and there's a ton to learn from," Campbell explained Monday. "I just know the frustration, the anger I have, that motivates me. I'm pretty sure it does with our players, so we will be ready for this game. We will be ready. We will, physically, emotionally. We will be ready for this game."
The coach was part of crushing defeats early in his tenure with Detroit. His teams have become notorious for bouncing back and battling to the highest degree.
Next week will be another opportunity for him to prove his prowess, as the Lions look to once again reach their high standard of performance.
"I just know me and I know these coaches and I know these players," Campbell stated. "We've got a lot of prideful players. We will be ready, I know it, 100 percent."
Injury updates
Campbell provided updates on both Kerby Joseph and Mohamed Ibrahim, who were injured in the second half of Sunday's loss.
Joseph was evaluated for a concussion after sustaining a hit to the helmet in the fourth quarter. He was cleared to return.
Ibrahim, meanwhile, returned to Detroit Monday, after remaining in Baltimore to undergo surgery repairing a dislocated hip. He suffered the injury returning a kick.
The Minnesota product was a practice squad call-up, due to previous injuries to other Lions running backs. Campbell indicated that "it'll be a while" before he's able to return to action.
The presence of wide receiver Marvin Jones, who missed Sunday's game while dealing with a personal matter, remains uncertain.
"Hard to say on that right now," Campbell explained. "All I can tell you is that it's a personal issue. Nothing serious like that. It's just, that's where it is right now."
