ALLEN PARK — Lions opened training camp on Sunday, with a few new players, two new coordinators, defensive injuries and the same huge expectations as in recent years.
Coach Dan Campbell said he’s still as enthusiastic as ever.
“The message to the team is what it’s been all along. It’s about who we are, what we believe in and staying hungry, staying hungry. Put the work in, we cannot be content,’’ Campbell said on Sunday. “I believe we’ll be just fine. We have the right guys and we’ve been building and improving for a long time. Our dudes will be ready to go.’’
While expectations from the outside may be lower because of the new coordinators — John Morton on offense replaces Ben Johnson who is head coach of the Bears and Kelvin Sheppard moves up to defensive coordinator replacing Aaron Glenn who is now head coach of the Jets.
Campbell gets it but doesn’t believe it.
“First of all, it doesn’t matter what I say, it’s already been written. So that’s coming. That’s already in there. I’m not going to change that, none of us will. A loss, it’s coming, we don’t do well on offense, it’s coming. Something happens defensively, it’s coming,’’ Campbell said. “That narrative is coming, it’s written, it’s done. I have no control over that.’’
However, that is not what he thinks personally.
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s what it’s played out to be. I’ve said this before it hurts to lose two guys who have been here from the beginning, got a lot of trust and faith in,’’ Campbell said.
“There’s a lot of communication that goes on that’s not even said because once you get to that you understand each other, a look, a nod, body demeanor says it all,’’ he added. “That’s just a little bit of what we’ve got to gain together between myself, Johnnie Morton and Shep. That takes a minute, takes time, we’ll get it, it will come.’’
And it starts to take more shape in training camp.
Running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are not concerned about the change.
“Obviously they’re different people. Ben was an awesome OC and he’s going to be an even better head coach, but I think we’ve got a damn good OC in coach Johnnie Mo too. They coach a little different,’’ Montgomery said. “Johnny Mo is a little more verbal and vocal, but I love him.”
Gibbs said not a lot has changed – tweaks here and there – but nothing major.
INJURY NEWS
Defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike is out for the season following ACL surgery. “Levi’s surgery, it was significant, but it needed to be done,’’ Campbell said.
Left tackle Taylor Decker had surgery to clean up his shoulder. Campbell expects him to return after the Hall of Fame preseason game on July 31.
Defensive end Josh Paschal also had surgery. The plan is to start working him in around Labor Day.
Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw left practice early and is being evaluated for a chest injury.
(Up next: Day Two of training camp on Monday. First preseason game is July 31 against the Los Angeles Chargers at the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.)
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