Sam LaPorta: Dan Campbell Sees Hunger in Detroit Lions

Sam LaPorta discusses relationship with Jared Goff and playing in Lions' offense.

After a long day of practice at Detroit Lions training camp, rookie tight end Sam LaPorta retreats to his hotel room around 7:45 p.m. every evening to allow himself an hour to decompress. 

Then, it is right back to hitting the playbook and focusing on the next day of work. 

Many describe being a rookie, playing in the NFL, as drinking from a fire hose. 

In his first training camp, LaPorta is learning daily, and is embracing the challenge of joining a team with high expectations. 

Lions head coach Dan Campbell and the staff do not want the team buying into their own hype heading into the 2023 season. 

Through the first four days of camp, Detroit's third-year head coach sees a hunger in his football team, a message he delivered to the team on Day 4 (prior to practice). 

"He sees a really hungry team," said LaPorta after practice. "And, you take a guy like that with his perspective -- he's been around a long time, he's been a player, he's been a head coach, now going into his third year. And, you know, there's a lot of hunger in this team and the position group. We're all pushing each other to be better."

'Perfect-play' offense

The 22-year-old, who has been given a lot on his plate in the first week of camp, described how the offense works to find advantageous positions to make plays. 

So far through the first few days of training camp at the Allen Park facility, the offense has looked crisp. Additionally, many individuals on the roster have benefited from operating in Ben Johnson's offense last season. 

LaPorta explained, "We like to think of it as a perfect-play offense. Hopefully every time we get up there ready to snap the ball, we're in a perfect play or a situation to get us in a perfect play, with Jared or the other quarterbacks checking plays at the line -- just getting us in an advantageous situation."

Quarterback Jared Goff has been integral in LaPorta's transition from college to the pros. Goff's calm demeanor and simplistic delivery of his message have made discussions easy and rewarding for LaPorta. 

"He makes it really simple for me with what he's looking for, how I kind of fit into the system and what my role is," said LaPorta. "He just, he brings a lot of simplicity, and he's very calm all the time. So, it's been great for me to just learn from him and pick his brain."

Johnson, who previously coached tight ends before being promoted, sees the positive direction the talented tight end is headed toward. 

"I think he's in a really good spot for a first-year tight end, particularly with, like I said, the volume we're applying with the installs right now," said Johnson. "So, to see him be able to go out on the field and make plays, pass game and run game, I think we're headed in the right direction."