ALLEN PARK — With expectations high for the season and Ford Field season tickets sold out for the Lions’ season, coach Dan Campbell does not feel more pressure.
“I don’t feel weight, I feel the wind under my freaking wings,’’ he said on Saturday as he spread his arms like he was going to fly.
“I love this man, this is outstanding. I love our fans, they feel it like we feel it. This is not a burden, this is not pressure, this is not weight, this gives me inspiration is what it does for me and our guys,’’ he added.
Campbell was preparing for the team’s last big practice on Saturday prior to the joint practices with the N.Y. Giants on Tuesday and Wednesday at the team’s practice facility.
He learned a few things from last year’s joint practices at the Indianapolis Colts.
“I love what we did. There were a couple of things, maybe a couple more team periods here and there, maybe we come together more. That was one of the things I loved,’’ Campbell said. “At the very end we were all on the same field, our offense was watching our defense. Then we switch it. We’ll do some of that at the very end of both days, which I like. I think it’s important that your teammates see what’s going on on the other side of the ball.’’
The combined practices allow Campbell some flexibility in who will get the reps in the preseason contests.
“There’s going to be a few players where this is their game reps. That was part of the allure for me too,’’ Campbell said. “We can really load our guys up with great looks, a lot of volume and intensity, then they might sit in games.’’
The Lions and Giants will open their preseason with a game on Friday, Aug. 11 at Ford Field.
The next week the Jacksonville Jaguars will come to Detroit for joint practices on Wednesday, Aug. 16 and Thursday, Aug. 17, with a preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 19 at Ford Field.
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