Tag: Jahmyr Gibbs

Lions coach Dan Campbell: ‘We’re back to reality, back in the mud’

Coach hates losing but likes where his team is

ALLEN PARK — Despite a host of injuries and a disappointing overtime loss in the home opener, Lions coach Dan Campbell is not hanging his head. That’s not who he is.

The Lions (1-1) have got work to do with the Atlanta Falcons (2-0) coming to town on Sunday.

“I hate losing, but I love this. I just feel that this is what we’re all about. We’re back to reality, we’re back in the mud. It’s doom and gloom outside of this building and this world so let’s hunker down and go back to work,’’ Campbell said on Wednesday.

“Let’s get it back to what we do well. It’s going to take all of us to win – all three phases. I know our guys, I know our coaches, this is challenge accepted. I feel really good, I do,” the coach said. “If we don’t get back to our identity this team will take your soul so that’s the motivation.’’

Safely C.J. Gardner-Johnson (torn pec) and linebacker James Houston (fibula) are out but Campbell said there’s a chance — he was not guaranteeing anything — the two could be back by the end of the season. Both are on injured reserve.

Veteran Tracy Walker will step up at safety. 

“We’re fortunate to have depth in a number of areas and that’s one of them at that position,’’ Campbell said. “Having a guy like Tracy who’s got time on task, somebody we have a lot of faith in, trust in. That alleviates a lot of pressure and stress for us.’’

Running back workhorse David Montgomery (thigh) is day to day.

“We’re going to do what we do. Our focus is on how we’ attack this opponent more than the backs we have,’’ Campbell said.

Can rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs fill his shoes?
“We’ll see,’’ Campbell said.

The coach said his focus is on Sunday but when it comes down to making decisions on some players’ availability the Lions have a short week next week, playing at Green Bay on Thursday night, Sept. 28.

“There are a couple guys if it’s close enough, do you try to play them this week knowing that maybe if you do then they’re probably out for Green Bay anyway?’’ Campbell said without identifying those players.

Those who did not practice on Wednesday: St. Brown (toe), Montgomery (thigh), LT Taylor Decker (ankle), S Kerby Joseph (hip), CB Emmanuel Moseley (knee/hamstring) and G Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee). Also, WR Joshy Reynolds (groin) was limited in practice.

“A lot of them are day to day. It’s going to feel that way for a little bit here. It’s business as usual,  back to work here,’’ Campbell said.

Five reasons the Detroit Lions lost 37-31 in OT to the Seahawks

DETROIT — Dan Campbell will be serving up slices of humble pie this week after a 37-31 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Ford Field was electric, the fans were jumping out of their seats expecting the very best after the big win at the Chiefs 10 days prior.

What they did not see was the Lions at their best. Two critical turnovers on offense put more pressure on the defense. Not a good equation.

“I know it stings and those guys are disappointed, I’m disappointed, the staff is, but my gosh this is good. We’ll get a little humble pie here,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. 

Expectations are high for these 1-1 Lions and the season is not over. 

“Sometimes you don’t know exactly where you’re at until you’re in it. We come off a big win and you can always preach certain things but this is the NFL, these guys ame in, took that win and they earned it,’’ Campbell said.

It was the first win for the Seahawks who were coming off a home loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Five things that were costly:

1. The defense had trouble getting pressure on quarterback Geno Smith. The only sack — and it was big — came late in the fourth quarter when linebacker Alex Anzalone went the extra mile to sack Smith for a 17-yard loss on a third-and-10 play with 2:11 left. “I think we’ve got to stay true to the rush plan itself. One more time, close the pocket in on him and don’t give him anywhere to go and somebody’s going to get one here,’’ Campbell said. “But we can’t rush high and let him run through unevaded.’’ Smith finished with 328 passing yards and 20 rushing. Anzalone said Smith may be old (he’s 32) but he still has wheels. Anzalone also said the biggest thing the defense needs to work on is tackling.

2. The Lions turned the ball over three times. The one fumble as the clock ran out in the first half just didn’t matter. The other two were huge. On the first play of the third quarter, running back David Montgomery fumbled and Seattle recovered on Detroit’s 23-yard line. Two plays later Seattle scored a touchdown. Jared Goff’s streak of 383 passes without an interception was snapped when a pass intended for Jahmyr Gibbs was intercepted by Tre Brown and returned for a touchdown. Goff took the blame saying he was about to get hit so had to throw the ball before Gibbs broke for it. “If there was some magic world where we could take away the turnovers today I thought we played pretty well. But outside of that, the turnovers are what kill you,’’ Goff said. “We have to take care of the ball, we didn’t and it cost us.’’

3. Campbell said he thought Goff played “really well.’’ It was the interception that was huge. Otherwise he was 28 of 35 for 323 yards and three touchdowns. But the loss stings, Goff  said they all do. “You would like to get the first one for the fans. That’s why it stings a little more. That was a real, real, real home-field advantage for us today,’’ Goff said.  Having them do that for the rest of the year will be a real, real home field advantage but you have to give them something to root for, though, and continue to find ways to win games.’’

4. The Lions had a chance to win it when they got the ball with 1:44 left at midfield, down by 3 points. They managed to get down to the 20-yard line with 3 seconds left and kicked a field goal to tie it and send it to overtime. Goff didn’t attempt a deep pass for a touchdown on the drive. “I never felt like we were crunched against the clock to score a touchdown,’’ Campbell said. At that point they were without right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Montgomery, Taylor Decker (who was inactive) and while Amon-Ra St. Brown was back in the game after cramping and they didn’t know if he was limited.

5. Wide receiver Josh Reynolds had another big game with 5 catches for 66 yards and a pair of touchdowns. “Reynolds is really playing big for us now. He’s been a reliable guy since he’s been here, he just had some injuries last year that slowed him down at times when eh’s healthy and he’s going he’s somebody we have a lot of faith in,’’ Campbell said. Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta came up big for the second straight week. His five catches for 63 yards do not tell the whole story. He also had a key block on David Montgomery’s touchdown scamper. “I think his run after catch is pretty special and his hands, his catch point is really competitive. He’s starting to find himself and how he wants to play the game and how he fits in our offense,’’ Goff said. “I’m excited to see his development.’’

INJURIES: Montgomery left the game with a thigh bruise, according to Campbell. The coach said James Houston could be out a while, but was not more specific. He had no news on Vaitai who left the game and did not return. 

UP NEXT: Falcons at Lions, Sunday, Sept. 24, 1 p.m. The Falcons (2-0) edged the Packers, 25-24, on Sunday.

Five things to watch as Lions open at home against Seahawks

ALLEN PARK — Coming off the big win at the Kansas City Chiefs, the Detroit Lions expect a loud, raucous crowd on Sunday at Ford Field in the home opener against the Seattle Seahawks.

“I’m expecting it to be loud. I’m expecting – I know what Arrowhead is and it was loud. I expect it to be louder than that, I really do. I just know our fans and it’s going to be – it’ll be to the point where you can’t hear yourself think, so, for them anyway,’’ coach Dan Campbell said.

Since immediately after the win, the mantra is “That’s one.” Now onto the next. 

Quarterback Jared Goff said they plan to build off the momentum.

“You’ve got to keep finding ways to win and keep playing well and practicing well and fixing our mistakes, and there were plenty of them in that game, and finding ways to win,’’ Goff said.  “And I think that’s what we’ve done well over this little stretch where we’ve been winning. It’s just late in the fourth quarter, making plays, need guys stepping up. We had a rookie make a pick-6 the other day, stuff like that helps you win and we’ve got to keep doing it.”

The Seahawks have beaten the Lions two straight years — 48-45 in 2022 and 51-29 in 2021.

“We remember and really two years in a row, they’ve beaten us two years in a row and yeah, we remember and want to get our shot back, but they’ll be ready,’’ Goff said. “They’re coming off a loss and have a lot to play for as well, so we’ll be ready for a good fight.”

Seattle (0-1) is coming off a 30-13 loss to Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams. 

“I thought they held their own for a while and it got to the point where I think after the injuries, they got a little bit behind the offensive injuries and the defense had gotten a little bit worn down, but this team always presents problems,’’ Campbell said. “It’s been a thorn in our side for two years and so, we know what’s going to be coming in here. We’re going to assume the best out of them and they got after us pretty good last year, real good, so that’s something we won’t forget.”

Five things to watch:

1.  Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn knows Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and expected him to run the ball early and often. “That’s his background, that’s who he is. … We’re going to have to commit to stopping the run because they will run you out of the stadium if you don’t,’’ Glenn said. “We also have to be able to stop the explosive passes. They have receivers who can take you down.” Running back Kenneth Walker rushed for 64 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry last week.

2. While the offense played well enough in Week 1, one emphasis will be on third-down conversions after converting just 5 of 15 third-down attempts. “We did have chances, some of those short yardage, call it 2-6 (yard) area, we weren’t very good,’’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said. “I think we were 2 of 7 for the game, we should be over 50 percent based on what we’re aiming for. …  It’s something that L.A. did really well last week against these guys. They didn’t run the ball particularly well but they were able to stay on the field on third down and they had some explosive plays out of it. We need to be better there.’’

3. While the Lions did not sack Patrick Mahomes, he was pressured with 17 hurries and 7 quarterback hits. The discipline showed and that leads Glenn to believe that sacks will come. “I thought Hutch (Aidan Hutchinson) really played his ass off as far as being disciplined and he had a couple shots at the quarterback along with (James) Houston, he had a couple shots as well,’’ Glenn said. “… I’m proud of the way our guys, the discipline as far as how we rushed them. Sometimes sacks can be overrated.I like sacks, I do. Everybody does, the discipline is what I like more because that carries over into the next couple weeks on how you have to rush the quarterback. Those sacks are going to come.’’

4. Expect to see more of rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs who was solid in his debut. Campbell said he didn’t want to put too much on him in the opener so veteran David Montgomery got more touches. Neither disappointed. They must keep it up against the Seahawks’ defense. “We will get Gibbs going as he gets more comfortable. We always have plays tagged for him going into the game but we feel really strongly about David as well. That whole combination, that 1-2 punch is good for us,’’ Johnson said.

5. The fake punt at Kansas City helped set the tone for the game. The Lions are 7 of 8 on fake punt attempts since Dave Fipp was hired as special teams coordinator in 2021. Not only do these fakes make an immediate difference, but opponents have to always be thinking about the possibility on every punt.  “Coach Campbell is incredible with that stuff, I’ve said that every time we run one of these things. Really the players are the guys who go out and execute it,’’ Fipp said. “… Ultimately it’s those guys out there making plays and the head coach having the confidence in those guys to call them. It’s been good.’’

KEEP AN EYE ON: Left tackle Taylor Decker (ankle) is doubtful so the O-line will be adjusted if he’s out.

PREDICTION:  Lions 31, Seahawks 17.  Detroit is the better team and with the home crowd cheering them on, can’t see them laying an egg.