Tag: jared goff

Lions at Packers: Five things to watch in the season opener; plus prediction

For so long the Lions could not find a way to beat the Packers at Lambeau Field.

In fact, that streak stretched for 23 seasons from 1992 to 2014. However, coach Dan Campbell is 3-1 at Green Bay’s shrine to football, winning there for three straight seasons. 

The two teams kick off the season there at 4:25 p.m. today. Campbell can’t wait.

“We love Lambeau, it’s awesome. It’s one of those places on the eighth day the good Lord made Lambeau,’’ Campbell said.. “… If you love football you love going to play there so our guys look forward to it.”

The Lions’ last loss there, 35-17, was on Sept. 20, 2021. They finished 3-13-1 that season. Since then the Lions have won 24-14 (2024), 34-20 (2023) and 20-16 (2022).

As NFC North champs for the past two years, facing a key division opponent to open the season is crucial. 

“Man, you want to win the first one, right. It just – you feel like you get off on the right foot and you get that first win under your belt. I just think that’s big for anybody. For us – you love it,’’ Campbell said. “I mean this is, I bring it up, the problem is not getting too excited too early right now. Division opponent at Lambeau, nationally televised game. I mean this is – we love this stuff, we live for this, so this is good, this is exciting. Listen, any win sets you up for the season, helps you. And that’s really what it’s about.”

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH:

ONE: Changes on Detroit’s offensive line could be a factor but the talent-rich position is expected to remain a strength. Graham Glasgow takes over at center (Frank Ragnow retired) while rookie Tate Ratledge has earned the start at right guard and Christian Mahogany will start at left guard. “Obviously Frank is such a great player and it’s hard to replace him in any capacity. But Graham is a great player in his own right as well and has done a hell of a job stepping into that role, and even last year at times when he needed to step in there,’’quarterback Jared Goff said. “ He’s been great. I mean he really has. He’s taken a lot of the responsibility on his shoulders and I thought today was great by him, and he’s been a lot of fun to work with.”

TWO: Expect the best from the defensive line with the return of Aidan Hutchinson and the addition of rookie Tyliek Williams. Campbell said veteran D.J. Reader had a “kick-ass” camp and that edge rusher Marcus Davenport doesn’t have to show him anything any more. “I tell them, ‘We’re not friends here, we’re family.’ You’re going to go through things together, and we’re still going to be family after. Friends, you kind of separate and it is what it is. We are family here, and that’s what you’re going to see displayed on the field is a family out there fighting together down in and down out,’’ defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said.

THREE: Jared Goff was kept safe and sound on the sidelines during the preseason games, but he excelled during training camp. The passing game, always a strength, gets a boost with a stronger Jameson Williams and rookie Isacc TeSlaa, a third-round pick, who won a roster spot during camp. Amon St. Brown is well, Amon-Ra St. Brown. “I’ve been looking forward to it. Certainly in a division game on the road, I’ve always said these ones feel like they count for two wins and whenever you’re able to go out and get to somebody else’s place and get a W, it’s important and that’s what we want to try to do,’’ Goff said. “These guys are a good team and I think we’re a good team and it’ll be fun.”

FOUR: Don’t expect big changes in the offense with new coordinator John Morton. He’ll add a few new wrinkles but it won’t be a major overhaul. Getting running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery on the field together could be a new twist. Perhaps it will be the biggest adjustment for Goff. “I feel great with him though right now. … He sees the game very similar to the way I do, and really very similarly to the way that I was taught in L.A.,’’ Goff said.

FIVE: Don’t overlook special teams ace Grant Stuard who is in his first season with the Lions. Voted a captain, the veteran linebacker has been a standout through camp and the preseason games. He’s a bulldozer on kick returns, actually on every play he’s on the field. Also expect to see plenty of TeSlaa on special teams.  “(TeSlass is) a good body type, he’s got some size and some length, he’s got some speed, so that’s huge. I mean for us on special teams, sometimes there’s just nothing you can do if a guy can just flat run and a guy just can’t run, it’s hard for the guy who can’t run to match the guy who can run,’’ special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said. “And he can run, so that gives him a chance to play some of these positions on the outside, gunner, hold-up guy and some of that stuff.’’

PICK: Lions 27, Packers 23. 

UP NEXT: Chicago Bears at Lions, 1 p.m. on Sept. 14. Former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson returns to Ford Field as the Bears head coach.

Lions LB Jack Campbell continues growth, takes pride in ownership of defense

ALLEN PARK — Lions linebacker Jack Campbell takes pride that coach Dan Campbell has given him ownership of the defense.

The talented but humble third-year player said it will not change him, he’ll continue to work hard every day.

He was thrilled for the first padded practice on Friday and it showed on the field.

Campbell took a step forward late last season when linebacker Alex Anzalone was sidelined with a broken forearm. While others on defense may be adapting to new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, Campbell and the linebackers have been coached by him the past two seasons.

“I’ve had the honor of coaching Jack since he was drafted. Jack’s a player, out of everybody, he’s never had any other voice in his head,’’ Sheppard said. “He knows what I’m thinking, we’re in lock-step with one another, and we spend a lot of time together, quite frankly. I wanted to open up that healthy kind of door communication, let him know this system, because you to have to give ownership to the players out here.’’

Linebacker Alex Anzalone has not participated in camp yet due to a contract situation, but Dan Campbell has made it clear he needs both Jack Campbell and Anzalone on defense.

Anzalone has the experience factor while Jack Campbell, a first-round draft pick in 2023, continues to study the game.

“When he came in he was pretty good. He was one of these guys who was a little bit ahead of everything mentally and now to see where his growth is. It’s impressive. He’s done an outstanding job,’’ Dan Campbell said.

“He has a good feel of the game, he understands the game, he knows what we’re trying to do defensively. He did it with AG (Aaron Glenn) and now even more so with Shep and so with that we’re going to give him a lot more – he and Alex both,’’ Dan Campbell said.  “A lot more flexibility to get us into the play. He also studies, he studies the opponent, he studies our offense. He’s trying to get in any little key he can. One of the reasons we drafted him is for that.’’’

Jack Campbell ‘s growth is due in part of his understanding of the game’s mental side.

“The NFL is mostly mental. You get guys who come in this building everyday who have all the physical attributes,’’ Jack Campbell said. “It’s the guys who set themselves apart mentally and I feel like that’s where everyday it’s to fight to get a little better, a little bit smarter, a little quicker on your reads I feel that’s where I’ve seen my game improve.’’

Jack Campbell said his biggest stride last year was understanding the defense as a whole.

“The biggest stride I want to make this year is not letting one mental error ever happen, and it’s gonna happen and when it does happen, move on to the next play,’’ Jack Campbell said.

NOTES: For the second straight day Graham Glasgow took reps at center while rookie Tate Ratledge was at right guard. Dan Campbell said that’s probably the direction they are headed but Ratledge will still get some snaps at center. With the retirement of Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler leaving in free agency there are two starting positions open. Christian Mahogany has seen the bulk of reps at left guard. … Derrick Barnes (finger) and Terrion Arnold (calf) practiced Friday after leaving the field early on Thursday to have injuries evaluated.

Lions Dan Campbell cherishes a good challenge; calls schedule the ‘right kind of brutal’

ALLEN PARK — With the OTAs this week, the Detroit Lions are taking the next step toward the start of the season in September.

Coach Dan Campbell sees a few challenges ahead. One of them is the schedule which he calls “the right kind of brutal.”

While outsiders may look at the Lions’ game schedule and think maybe the team is headed for a season of disappointment, that is not the way Campbell sees it at all.

“I love the schedule we have this year, this is the type of schedule that builds you for the postseason. We’re going to get tested early and often and all year long and it’s freakin’ awesome. It’s really how you want it,’’ Campbell said on Friday prior to the on-field work. “We’ll be ready to go when the time is right.’’

That’s because his message, as usual, is there is no room for complacency.

“We’ve gotten to where we’ve gotten because we haven’t been complacent and we have gone and put the work in again and done all the little things you have to do to win games and win the division again. We have to do that all over again,’’ the coach said.

He said the challenge is why he loved this game and why the NFL is the best.
“Not only (games) here at home, our own division, go on the road, it’s awesome. To me, by the end of the year we ought to  be scarred up, scarred up and ready to, hardened for battle and ready for the playoffs,’’ Campbell said. “There’ll be nothing easy about it. Just to get through our own division is going to be brutal, but it’s the right kind of brutal.”

Another challenge is that he is working with two new coordinators – John Morton on offense and Kelvin Sheppard on defense. Plus new personnel and a few in new positions.

“We’ve got offensively and defensively staffwise either new coaches or in new positions or first time having the room — that’s 14 guys, that’s a lot,’’ Campbell said. 

He’s got to get everyone on the same page by making sure the coordinators want what they want and they also know what Campbell wants.

“This is the best time to do that, we’re working through the kinks which is awesome,’’ Campbell  “It’s only been two days but it’s been really good. Guys are in a good spot, good energy, thorough has been awesome.’’