Lions Had 'Technical Malfunction' against Cowboys

Dan Campbell elaborated on the headset mishap that occurred against Cowboys.

Jamaal Williams’ goal-line fumble has been the topic of much debate in the days following the Detroit Lions week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

The play occurred following a catch-and-run by backup tight end Brock Wright put the team on the 1-yard-line. Rather than challenge the spot, the Lions elected to go quickly and wound up losing the football. Had the team converted, it would’ve taken the lead.

Speaking with reporters Wednesday, head coach Dan Campbell said a headset malfunction limited communication and played a factor in the team not challenging the spot.

“Headset didn’t work,” Campbell said. “Could hear but couldn’t talk.”

Jon Dykema, the Lions’ Director of Football Compliance and Lead Football Counsel, was on the other end of the communication hiccup. Campbell expressed that he still is confident in Dykema and that the two discussed the issue early in the week.

“We talked about it,” Campbell said. “We sat down and had a nice cup of coffee together and so we’re good, everything’s good. It was a malfunction, is what it was. But now, we’ve got to answer that, how we clean that up to where we won’t let that happen again.”

Goff’s struggles: ‘We’ve got to refocus him’

After a strong start to the season, quarterback Jared Goff has slumped through Detroit’s last two games. He’s failed to throw a touchdown pass in each loss, while the offense has totaled six points in its last two outings.

The seventh-year quarterback has been bit by the turnover bug, as he’s committed six turnovers combined in his last two games.

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As Campbell and the rest of the coaching staff evaluate how to best help the struggling passer, changes in focus and playing style may be warranted.

“I just think there’s a number of things,” Campbell said. “I think we need to refocus him on awareness in the pocket a little bit, just continue to hammer it home. Sometimes it’s just, and it’s not just him, there’s quarterbacks that’ll begin to drift a little bit where they feel certain things. You start moving and you don’t realize that you may be moving deeper than you need to or you’re moving into something else. And I really do, we just have to continue to stress it, coach it, show it because he understands. He responds to it, he sees it, he knows it and then there again, we just have to get him in a rhythm.

“It doesn’t matter what quarterback you are, when you’re facing a team that’s got very good rushers like what we just saw, you don’t want it to be where you’re one-dimensional and their rear is this high in the air and they’re in a track stance. That’s tough, that’s tough on any quarterback but certainly it makes it difficult. We’re just, keep emphasizing it. Play with rhythm, stay in the pocket and make the throws. He sees it, he's aware of it.”

The turnovers have plagued him for a majority of the year. On the season, he’s thrown for 11 touchdowns, six interceptions and three fumbles lost.

“There (were) a couple of those snafus that showed up certainly early, the Philly, Seattle,” Campbell remarked. “Those were, it hurts because those were big ones, it hits and goes back for a touchdown. Those were one of a couple, maybe, where it was ah, you know. The other was really good and he got in a rhythm and he was playing hot and he was sitting in the pocket so he can do this, I mean he’s done it. We’ve got to get him back to it.”

Notes

1.) Campbell gave an update on the return of rookie wide receiver Jameson Williams. 

Detroit's No. 12 overall pick has continued to make progress, but is likely still a month away. 

While many believed Williams would debut on Thanksgiving against the Buffalo Bills, but it may be even longer before the offense benefits from his explosive potential. 

“It’s hard to say when that’s going to be. I would say, probably at least another month. But I do feel like we’re going to get him before this is said and done,” Campbell explained at his pre-practice media session Wednesday.

2.) Campbell mentioned that wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back D’Andre Swift are both expected to practice Wednesday.