Tag: dan campbell

Lions Aidan Hutchinson ready to ‘unleash the beast’ in Sunday’s opener

Aidan Hutchinson said he’s ready to “unleash the beast” when he starts his first NFL game as the Lions open the season against Philadelphia on Sunday.

“I think we’ve got a really good opponent, we watched the tape from last year and it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I think we’re all excited,’’ Hutchinson after practice on Thursday. The Eagles embarrassed the Lions 44-6 last season. 

The defensive end, the second overall pick in the NFL draft, has been impressive every step of the way since work started in the spring.

Hutchinson played in big games at Michigan, so while the NFL spotlight is different, he seems unfazed although excited.

“Typically I think it’s always my philosophy, as big as this game is, it’s really just simple at the end of the day. I really never get too wrapped up in the emotions of it,’’ Hutchinson said. “Obviously I’m passionate and have fun but it’s never out of control. It’s never an issue with me.’’

Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said his advice to Hutchinson is fairly simple.

“Play football. There’s one thing about that player, you don’t have to give him advice about his intensity level, he’s already at the intensity level. You guys have seen him practice, you’ve seen him play, so there’s nothing to be said about that,’’ Glenn said. “You don’t have to over-coach that player on that. That’s just natural for him, so we’re going to let Aidan be Aidan and you’ll see exactly what you’re going to get from him.”

The defensive line will have its hands full with the Eagles’ offense which is led by mobile quarterback Jalen Hurts who had 71 rushing yards against the Lions in last season’s debacle.

 Whether on purpose or not, Hutchinson got in a little dig at his teammate, quarterback Jared Goff.

“Obviously we don’t get a whole lot of that (mobility in practice) with Jared,’’ Hutchinson said while laughing. “With Jalen for sure, he’s such a dangerous threat we’re really putting an emphasis on him and stopping the run and have him run as least as we can.’’

Hutchinson said he’s not focused on statistics and never has been.

“If I can turn on the tape after and I know I’m dominating and doing my job. It’s never been about the numbers for me. I think the numbers come,’’ Hutchinson said. “If I can turn on the tape and be happy with myself I think that’s a win in my book.’’

Dan Campbell expects Eagles to test whether Lions’ woes have been fixed

Last season the Eagles mauled the Lions, 44-6 on Oct. 31. No one has forgotten.

On Sunday, the Lions face the Eagles again in the season opener at Ford Field. Both teams are different. The question is to what degree.

“It was an embarrassing loss, they let us have it, they rubbed our nose in it. They came in and did everything that they wanted to do to us, times 10. I think we’ve acknowledged that,’’ coach Dan Campbell said.

That loss put the LIons at 0-8 on the season. It was followed by a bye week and a time of reflection. After that humiliation, Campbell started calling the plays on offense and made changes including getting wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown more involved. 

The Lions finished the second half with a 3-5-1 mark.

“We understand that’s what they’re coming back for. If I’m them I’m doing the same thing. We’re going to come back and attack you the same way to see if you’ve fixed your problems,’’ Campbell said. “They’ll have a couple tweaks here and there but I would fully expect them to come in and see if we’ve fixed our problems. We understand the opponent that’s coming in.’’

While there are a few new players, the core of the Lions’ group that played in that game is still on the roster. They haven’t forgotten either.

“Watching that film is hard to watch, with that you’ve got to learn from your mistakes,’’ defensive lineman Charles Harris said. “Understand we have a different scheme, different techniques, we’re a lot better team this year. With that we have confidence we can get the job done this year.’’

In that 44-6 loss, the Eagles ran for 236 yards with four rushing touchdowns. The Lions were down 17-0 at the half but gave up 21 third-quarter points. Jared Goff was 25 of 34 for 222 yards and zero interceptions. 

“Going into this week we know what happened last year and we’re not going to let it happen again … I think going into this year, starting off fresh. We’re excited. It’s a new team,’’ St. Brown said. “We feel completely different about this year than we did last year. We’re excited to play them again in Week One.’’

Lions Dan Campbell: The strength is the team; no decision on play-calling

Dan Campbell appeared more fired up than usual on Monday, the start of the  first week of the regular season. 

After months of work and coming off a devastating 3-13-1 year, the season is here. The Lions open the season against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Ford Field.

“We have our players, we have our crew. We have the brotherhood, if you will. The 53 with a 16-man vet squad or practice squad. There’ll be a couple things that always come up through the year but for the most part this is our crew,’’ Campbell said at his Monday press conference.

He likes that they were able to sign veterans – he named Jarrad Davis in particular – to the practice squad. So when injuries happen he’ll have plug-and-play guys available. 

“I feel like we have the right guys, it’s the right 53 and I feel like our strength is exactly that, the 53 plus that 16-man practice squad. So I think that is our strength, I don’t think you can point at one player and say this is who we are,” Campbell said. “I think it’s kind of unique that way, I appreciate that and I think our guys do.’’

It’s uncertain whether Campbell or offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will call the plays on Sunday. Johnson called them during the preseason. Campbell said Johnson is ready but he is too.

“It’s been good, it’ll be fun. He’s done a great job. This is going to be interesting to find out, I’m excited to know too,’’ Campbell said. “I’ll be honest I’m just not quite there yet, I still have this eagerness to want to call it myself.’’