Tag: dan campbell

Lions Dan Campbell shoulders blame for loss to Ravens; promises team will be ready to face Raiders

It will be back to fundamentals in practice this week

ALLEN PARK — The disappointment of the 38-6 loss at Baltimore will motivate coach Dan Campbell and the Lions to be ready to face the Las Vegas Raiders on the upcoming Monday Night Football. On Monday, Campbell took 100 percent of the blame for not having the team prepared and promised they will be ready for the Raiders.

“I think what’s disappointing is, losing itself really stings, but the fact we were never even in that game that’s what burns. That’s the burn of it, that more than anything. You just want to know you’re in the fight and when you weren’t that’s a real bitter pill,’’ Campbell said at his Monday press conference.

The Lions were down 14-0 in the first quarter to the Ravens and 28-0 at the half. Detroit’s defense couldn’t handle quarterback Lamar Jackson and the offense could never get in a rhythm. 

“You see what it is, when you step back and you look at a number of performances that were very much sub-par across the board it’s not a coincidence. I did not do a good job of getting them ready. I did not,’’ Campbell said. 

“They did everything right over there, we did everything wrong. As good as they played on that side, which they earned that win, we certainly helped them and served it up on a platter for them,’’ the coach added.

Campbell said there’s a need to get back to fundamentals prior to facing the Raiders (3-4) who lost, 30-12, to the Bears on Sunday. He elaborated: “Our one-on-one work, our technique work, good-on-good, one-on-one pass rush, one-on-one man-to-man coverage, one-to-one getting open on routes, our releases, our handwork.

“You hope you got enough fundamentals through camp and you know what, you have to go back to it,’’ he said. “I know that’s where I can help with a little more intensity and urgency which I can deliver myself. I can help these guys, I know I can.’’

Every game is important because it’s the next but Campbell threw in another bit of caution on Monday.

“All I know is we’ve got to bounce back, that’s the most important thing. At the end of the day we’re 5-2, and where we’re going to have a problem is if we back it up with another loss,’’ Campbell said. “To me there’s a ton to learn off this tape for myself, to the coaches and for these players. But we’ve got to own it.’’

NOTES: Safety Kerby Joseph is out of concussion protocol after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit late in Sunday’s loss.. … RB Mohamed Ibrahim dislocated his hip in the game, was taken to Baltimore-area hospital where he was put under anesthesia to put it back in place. He was back at the Lions facility on Monday, but Campbell said he’s in pain and will not be able to play for a while.

Lions Dan Campbell credits Ravens, says 38-6 loss was self-induced

Five reasons the Lions were embarrassed; with injury updates

Until Sunday at Baltimore, the Lions prided themselves on playing complementary football. The 5-1 record was a result of solid play by all three units. If needed one would step up when the other faltered. Under Dan Campbell they were poised no matter the situation.

It was all different on Sunday when the Ravens pounded the Lions, 38-6, in a smackdown that no one saw coming. The Ravens were a slight favorite but most expected a close, hard-fought game. Not a total embarrassment.

“It’s self-induced. Those guys played well, they kicked our ass. It’s a credit to them. Lamar (Jackson) beat us, he hammered us with his arm. He threw the ball extremely well, he ran when he needed to and we did not handle it well,’’ Campbell said. “Our energy was good which was crazy but our detail and discipline which has been so good over the last 4-5 weeks was not good enough. 

“Self-induced that was a combination of a lot of different things. Just like we win as a team, we lose as a team and that was one of those,’’ the coach added.

The offense’s first two series were three-and-outs while the Ravens scored touchdowns on their two possessions. It’s a hard recipe to overcome. Baltimore led 28-0 at the half.

“Offensively we never got in a rhythm early. They were playing with house money, you get up by a certain portion in that game then they’re kind of doing whatever they want to do,’’ Campbell said. “They’re out of their tendencies because why not.’’

So now the Lions are 5-2, still in first place in the NFC North, and they’ve got an extra day to prepare for the Las Vegas Raiders who they will play on Monday Night Football on Oct. 30 at Ford Field.

Campbell said last week this team would go through a rough patch and the true test would be how they handle it. He echoed the same thought after the loss.

“You don’t want these (losses) to happen, when it does it re-centers you, it refocuses you. And that’s all I know. I don’t want it to happen, nobody wants it to happen,’’ Campbell said. “Nobody likes to look over there and watch them having a great time because they kicked our ass. Nobody thinks that’s fun. I know that motivates me for next week and that motivates our team. … The shame would be if we don’t use this to get better for next week and it bleeds over into the Raiders. That would be the ultimate shame.’’

Five of the many reasons the Lions lost:

1. Lamar Jackson had a career day. He was scary good, but it was, at least in part, because the Lions’ defense appeared clueless. Campbell said it was execution rather than gameplan. “The combination of not getting much pressure and having to cover a long time, we didn’t handle it well,’’ Campbell said. Ravens’ pass catchers were typically wide open. They allowed 10 explosive plays of 20 yards or more (eight of them in the first half). Jackson finished 21 of 27 for 357 yards and 3 touchdowns plus nine carries for 36 yards and a rushing touchdown. The Lions were down 28-0 at the half, so if you’re searching for a silver lining, the defense gave up just 10 points in the second half.

2. Jared Goff didn’t get much time to operate since the defense couldn’t get the Ravens off the field. When he did, he didn’t look like the Goff we saw in the first six games. The Lions’ only score came on a 21-yard touchdown run by Jahmyr Gibbs in the fourth quarter. After just 97 net yards in the first half, they improved in the second half finishing with 337 yards. Goff was 33 of 53 with 284 yards and one interception.

3. This loss just can’t be pinned on one guy or one unit. It was not due to too many turnovers or an abundance of penalties. “That was a combination of a lot of different things. Just like we win as a team, we lose as a tema and that was one of those,’’ Campbell said. Yes, they missed RB David Montgomery and CB Jerry Jacobs but those absences are no excuse. Let’s call it “uncomplementary football.” Just bad. Really bad. Still, it’s not the end of the season.

4. Wide receiver Jameson Williams was not the reason for the loss, but he showed no signs of progress. He was targeted six times and didn’t make a catch. He dropped at least two. One deep pass late in the game hit him in the facemask. 

5. With David Montgomery out, rookie Jahmyr Gibbs was the top guy. He scored his first NFL touchdown on a 21-yard scamper and finished with 11 carries for 68 yards and nine catches for 58 yards. “I thought he took a step forward today,’’ Campbell said, adding that the more he plays the better he will get. 

NOTES: Mo Ibrahim, who injured his hip in the third quarter returning a kick, had surgery at a Baltimore-area hospital and will spend the night there. It was his first NFL snap. … Kerby Joseph led the defense with 10 tackles. He took a helmet-to-helmet hit late in the game by Odell Beckham Jr. and went into concussion protocol. No penalty was called. … WR Kalif Raymond left the game late but it was just cramps. Campbell said he’ll be fine. … The Lions defense never sacked Jackson while Goff was sacked five times. … LB Malcolm Rodriguez started at fullback. Campbell said they’ve been intrigued by him and wanted to find another way to use him. He hasn’t played much on defense, but is a key on special teams.

NEXT UP: Raiders (3-4) at Lions (5-2), 8:15 p.m., at Ford Field on Oct. 30. Las Vegas lost to the Bears, 30-12, on Sunday.

Five things to watch as Lions face Ravens at Baltimore; plus, prediction

ALLEN PARK — While there’s extra pressure playing on the road, the Detroit Lions (5-1) have excelled in hostile environments so far with a 3-0 record away from Ford Field.

The next big test is Sunday at the Baltimore Ravens (4-2).

Coach Dan Campbell said they’ve been talking about maintaining poise for three years. Now it’s starting to pay off.

“We talk about it, we’ve preached it, we’ve lived it and we constantly try to put ourselves in those types of situations. We talk about it. That’s when your heart rate should start to level out when everybody – the perceived pressure goes up and it’s high stress, your stress levels should go down and focus on the moment,’’ Campbell said.
The coach said the guys believe in that. “It’s built to handle adversity and anything that comes. And look, this season isn’t over. I mean we know that. We’re going to hit a tough patch at some point here. I don’t know when it’s going to be, but we’re going to hit one and we’re going to have to get back through and get back on our feet and that’s fine,’’ Campbell said. “We’ll be ready for that.”

Five things to watch against the Ravens:

1. The Lions defense has faced its share of mobile quarterbacks this season. That continues with the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson who may not carry the ball as often, but the quarterback is still a force and leads the Ravens in rushing averaging 5.5 yards per carry with four rushing touchdowns and 327 rushing yards. He’s been sacked 16 times. “He is dangerous. And like I say, they don’t ask him to do as much as he did before with his legs, but there’s plenty of it still in there and he’s throwing it pretty good,’’ Campbell said. “They’ve made a concerted effort to do a little more drop back with him and he is, he’s throwing the ball well.’’

2. Somehow, despite injuries, the Lions have found a way to keep the run game going enough to run the clock down late in games and get the win. David Montgomery (ribs) will be out. Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) will return and he’ll be busy. “Certainly I think he’s going to need to take the load of (the work). We’re just going to have to see where he’s at. I’d like to say we’re going to be careful with him, but the reality is we need him,’’ Campbell said. Craig Reynolds carried the load in the win at Tampa Bay and likely will get his share of carries. Devine Ozigbo could see action and if a wide receiver gets the nod to help in the run game, it could be Kalif Raymond. “If it comes to that situation to where he needs to be back there, if that’s what happens, then we’ve got things ready for him and he’ll be ready to go,’’ Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand said.

3. The Ravens have the second-ranked total defense allowing 260.8 yards per game. But it’s nothing the Lions haven’t seen. Jared Goff, the NFC’s offensive player of the week, should have a full complement of targets with wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams along with tight end Sam LaPorta. “It’s kind of similar to last week and how good they are defensively and two elite linebackers again. Really good backend and obviously good pass rush leading the League in sacks, or however many they have, they’ve got a bunch,’’ Goff said. “So yeah, it’s a challenge on every level. I wish I could tell you what a weakness was, but I don’t know if there is one. We’ve got to come ready to play. It’ll be a challenge.”

4. Jameson Williams is trending up. It may seem slow but it’s the plan for the wide receiver who will be playing in just his ninth NFL game. His 45-yard touchdown reception at Tampa Bay could just be the start of something much bigger. “JMo’s speed is there, you see it and we were able to take advantage of it last week. It does add another element to the pass game that maybe –  somebody would say (we were) lacking – it allows us to help with the vertical game and of course  it’s going to open up some things underneath,’’ Engstrand said. “As he keeps coming along we’re going to press him to be detailed and do everything the way it needs to be done, we’re going to continue to see him rise and get his game to the level he wants it to be and we feel it can be.’’

5. Can the Lions keep their perfect road win (3-0)  streak alive? And, going back to last season they are 8-1 in their last nine road games. Baltimore is a tough place to win, but Campbell has built a team that has stepped up on most every occasion.

PREDICTION: Lions 21, Ravens 20. Ravens are 3-point favorites. Expect a close game. Lions healthier than they have been so giving them the edge.