ALLEN PARK — From Day One, Lions coach Dan Campbell drew up a plan for a tough and physical team. Throw in a pinch of creativity and start stacking the wins.
Not only have the Lions opened a few eyes around the NFL with a 4-1 record, they’re also a team that’s getting a reputation as being fun to watch.
In Sunday’s 42-24 win over the Panthers, center Frank Ragnow direct-snapped the ball to running back David Montgomery through the legs of quarterback Jared Goff and it was good for 10 yards and a first down. Goff on a reverse flea flicker found a wide-open Sam LaPorta for a touchdown.
Going for it on fourth down is nothing unusual. Fake punt? Dial it up. Campbell and his coordinators thrive on creativity.
“I just think for our players they’re so used to, that’s who we are. They understand that’s part of our identity. We’ll always be known, in my opinion, as a tough team. We should be a tough, physical team – offense, defense, special teams,’’ coach Dan Campbell said on Monday.
“If you’re just tough and you’re just physical and you have no creativity you’re not going to do anything with it, you’ll bang away,” he added.
Campbell said he watched the 49ers’ 42-10 win over Dallas on Sunday night and credited Mike Shanahan with doing an “unbelievable job.”
“Those guys are physical, tough and very creative in the run and pass game. That’s what makes them so difficult and they play outstanding defense,’’ Campbell said.
He said his guys have gotten used to the sprinkling of unusual plays.
“If we’re going to go for it on fourth, nobody is batting an eye, there’s not pressure. This is a part of what we do, this is just another play for us to convert,’’ Campbell said.
“When we dial up some of the plays that we dial up, a little bit of the smoke and mirror plays, our guys know we’ve repped them enough that they’ve figured out, give them multiple looks, keep repping and they’ve done it enough to where they’ll make it right,’’ Campbell said.
After the win, Goff said they worked on the direct snap all week. The ball never hit his legs on the way back to Montgomery, the issue was the timing. Obviously they got that down.
The plays are effective and the players enjoy them.
“You’ve got to make it work, or they won’t call them again. Just being able to be creative and do some of the cool things that Ben (Johnson) has. I’ve never really seen some of the things he calls and how he calls it,’’ Montgomery said. “It’s fun, really fun. I’m excited to get some more of those in too.”
Campbell knows the guys enjoy running the plays.
“They have a good time when they’re able to do something a little bit out of the norm. They enjoy it. I know it’s a lot of eye candy out there,’’ Campbell said. “(Physicality) is always going to be the heart of because that’s what sets up all the other stuff.’’
INJURY UPDATE: CB Emmanuel Moseley, who was in Sunday’s game for two snaps, tore his ACL and is out for the season. He had been rehabbing from ACL surgery on his other knee which delayed his season debut until Sunday.
UP NEXT: Lions (4-1) at Tampa Bay Bucs (3-1), 4:25 p.m. on Sunday. Game was flexed from orignal time of 1 p.m.
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