Tag: dan campbell

The maturation of Lions WR Jameson Willliams

ALLEN PARK — Jameson Williams has matured before our eyes. The Detroit Lions wide receiver, who got off to a slow NFL start, collected his second game ball this season in the win over the Seahawks on Monday night.

It wasn’t just his two catches for 80 yards — one a 70-yard touchdown play – his blocking caught the eye of coach Dan Campbell.

Williams also earned a game ball in the opener, a win over the Rams, in which he had five catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. He carried that ball into the press room after the game, cradled in his arm and said it was his first game ball at any level. He didn’t want to let it go. 

In the first four games he’s racked up 289 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. He’s matched his touchdown total from last year when he had 354 receiving yards in a dozen games.

He’s a changed young man.

Campbell first gives credit to Jameson himself for his maturation, but points out that he had a lot of help along the way.

The coach didn’t mention it but the staff was also patient waiting for the 2022 first-round pick, to get his NFL legs under him. They never gave up. Campbell always would say he had seen improvement even when it might be tough to see to the naked eye by others.

“Everything starts with him. He’s done an outstanding job of rehabbing, getting over the injury, he had to deal with what came with the gambling, the time off (four-game NFL suspension), then he got hurt in camp before that happened,’’ Campbell said on Tuesday.

Williams didn’t play until Week 5 in 2023 and in that first game had two catches for 2 yards. He had missed much of training camp and all of the preseason games so it took a bit for him to get in gear.

“He’s been so raw to it, just learning and working his way through it, he’s just matured so much. He’s matured, he’s worked, he’s grinded, he wants the coaching, he wants to get better. That’s a credit to him that he’s open and he’s coachable,’’ the coach added.

It wasn’t just his teammates and the coaching staff, it was the team’s developmental staff that helped steer Williams in the right direction.

“We have so many resources here that help guys develop, not only certainly as players but as men and just trying to do things the right way, being a pro and everything that goes along with it,’’ Campbell said. “It’s been good to be able to do that and it doesn’t work that way everywhere, not every place is set up the way ours is set up.’’

It was the perfect landing spot for Williams.

Five things to watch as Lions face undefeated Seahawks; injury update, prediction

Wearing basic black, the Detroit Lions will look to snap their three-game losing streak to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night at Ford Field. Detroit has lost to Seattle for three straight seasons, including a 37-31 overtime loss last September.

The all-black alternate uniforms were last a Lions wardrobe staple from 2005 to 2007 when they were worn twice a season. They have a certain appeal to players and fans too but it will take more than cool-looking black duds to defeat the Seahawks.

The Seahawks (3-0) have outscored opponents 73-43 starting the season with three straight wins. The Lions (2-1) would like to extend their win streak heading into the bye week.

Campbell said there are no higher stakes in this matchup.

“I told the team, ‘Everything’s about one this week. It’s about one and that’s today, one day. It’s about one rep, it’s one week, it’s one game, it’s one win and just focus on that.’ I think we have to get back to honing our craft a little bit. We’re going to do some one-on-ones and pad them up early and then take them off, but just so we get back in the – you start getting in the game plan for weeks and you start focusing so much on the plan. Sometimes you forget about the fundamentals,’’ Campbell said. “You don’t mean to, it just kind of – so this is a way to refocus ourselves, get back to the craft of what we do, the one-one-ones, running routes, covering, one-on-one pass pro in protection up front with the backs, tight ends, all of that. So, that’s the focus.”

Five things to watch as Lions face the Seahawks:

ONE: The Lions’ offense is still catching up to the defense and special teams three games in. While it scored 20 points in the first half in the win over the Cardinals, it was held scoreless in the second half.

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson expects more of his group and said they have yet to play a 60-minute game on offense.  “The first half (in Arizona) certainly felt more like things that have been going our way in the past, but I guess that second half, when you turn on the tape, I think there were plays to be had and we just didn’t capitalize on it,’’ Johnson said. “…. Fortunately, our defense and special teams have been playing really, really well. I know it’s coming, we’re just too talented of a group to not have more production and more points than what we’ve had and so it’s just a matter of time before we break through.”

TWO: It isn’t lost on Jared Goff that Seattle’s pass defense is the best in the NFL.  “They’ve got good players, they’ve got good schemes. (CB Devon), Witherspoon, just flies around, he’s a great player. I think (CB Riq) Woolen’s been a great player for a long time,’’ Goff said. “They’ve got a lot of good players over there, man. They’re really well-coached, you can tell, and they play hard.”

THREE: The Lions defense will be making adjustments due to the season-ending injury to DL Marcus Davenport and the injury to Derrick Barnes. DL Josh Paschal gets the call to fill in for Davenport. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said the similarity between the two is they are both able to rush with power. “Obviously, Davenport’s the longer guy so he has a couple more tools that he can use than Paschal, but Paschal is more squatty, to the ground, so he’s able to use his spin moves and things like that to win,’’ Glenn said. “But they both have advantages between each other that they can go out there and be successful.”

Glenn said someone has to step up to fill in for Barnes and the linebacker room has plenty of talent.

“Things change, players change, defense changes at times depending on who you have as players, and we have to do everything we can to figure out what guy’s going to play that role and what defense can we play to go out there and be successful,’’ Glenn said.

FOUR: In leading the Seahawks to three wins, Geno Smith has completed 74.8 percent of his passes (compared to 66 percent for Goff. “Geno  plays really good football. This scheme is good for him. It allows him to get up there, they do some no huddle and he can see what the defense is doing, get the best play available, calm, cool, collected, and as the game goes on, the longer you keep him in it, let them play with their rhythm,’’ Campbell said. “Geno’s going to find it and there’s been some confusion, different areas, first three games where they’ve hurt teams, gotten big plays to (DK) Metcalf. So, we have our hands full but we’re looking forward to it. Our place, Monday night, our guys are ready to go, they’ll be ready to go.”

FIVE: The Lions defense is ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing defense but expects more of a challenge from running backs Zach Charbonnet and  Kenneth Walker. “(Walker) is very explosive, he’s dynamic with these jump cuts, he has a really good stiff arm, so you have to be able to run through tackles and understand that’s how he operates as a runner. We have to gang tackle, and that’s both of those guys,’’ Glenn said. “And I know you guys know about us, everything’s still make sure we stop the run and try to make a team one dimensional. So, it’s going to be a challenge. It’s going to be a challenge to stop both of those guys.”

LIONS INJURY UPDATE: C Frank Ragnow (pectoral) is out; DB Brian Branch (illness) is doubtful; CB Ennis Rakestraw (hamstring) is questionable; S Ifeatu Melifonwu moved to IR; others including TE Sam LaPorta will play.

SEAHAWKS INJURY UPDATE: DE Leonard Williams, LB Boye Mafe, DT Byron Murphy II, LB Uchenna Nwosu are out; LB Jerome Baker is questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 28, Seahawks 24

Calvin Johnson to be inducted into Detroit Lions ring of honor on Monday

Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson will be inducted into the Pride of the Lions ring of honor at halftime during Monday night’s Detroit Lions game against the Seahawks at Ford Field.
Coach Dan Campbell, who was Johnson’s teammate for two seasons, has a behind-the-scenes perspective.

“I’ve said this I don’t know how many times, but I’ll continue to say, I think what’s unique about Calvin —  I was fortunate to play with him, it wasn’t very long and he was a pup — when you have the ability that guy has, the things God gave him, and then he gives everything he’s got, he worked at his craft, he was an unselfish player, he was a great teammate,’’ Campbell said on Saturday.

 “It’s no wonder he’s a Hall of Famer. Those guys, they’re kind of rare, very rare. I just think he was the total package as a player, as a teammate, as a person and it speaks volumes for the team, the organization to have him back in the fold, to be able to honor him because he deserves that, he’s earned that,’’ Campbell added. “He’s a helluva dude.”

Johnson, who played for nine seasons, holds numerous Lions pass receiving records including: career receptions – 731, receiving yards – 11,619, receiving touchdowns – 83, most receiving yards in a single game in regulation – 329. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and voted to the first team All-Pro three times. 

He set the NFL record for most receiving yards in a season (1,964) on Dec. 22, 2012, while playing with broken fingers. In that loss to the Falcons, Johnson finished with 225 yards on 11 catches.

In the book, “Game of My Life Lions” (written by me), Johnson said that was definitely his most memorable game. He needed 182 yards to break Jerry Rice’s record, but there wasn’t a ton of pressure because one game remained.

His first catch that day was a 49-yard bomb from Matthew Stafford. 

“Coming off the first reception, right off the bat early in the game, I went to the sideline, don’t know who I was talking to, my coach, he might have said we don’t (have to) worry today,’’ Johnson said in the book. 

After the record-breaking catch, he found his father on the sidelines and presented him with the football.

Nicknamed ‘Megatron’ he also holds a number of NFL receiving records including most receiving yards in a single season – 1,964 yards (2012), fastest to 11,000 receiving yards (127 games), most consecutive games with at least 10 receptions (4), most 100-yard receiving games in a single season (11, tied with Michael Irvin), most seasons with 1,600 yards receiving – 2 (tied with 3 others). 

Johnson retired in 2016 and has been frequently seen at Ford Field games for the past few seasons.. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

It’s fitting that Johson’s honor comes on Lions homecoming weekend. He’s expected to have 92 former Lions join him on the field for his induction at half-time. They include old-timers like Greg Landry and Eddie Murray; long-timers like Jason Hanson and Robert Porcher; and some of Johnson’s teammates like Golden Tate, Stephen Tulloch and Glover Quin.