Kelvin Sheppard – Page 4

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 Derrick Barnes says unfinished business key to signing of 3-year contract extension

ALLEN PARK — Detroit has become home to linebacker Derrick Barnes since the Lions drafted him in 2021. He did not want to leave.

Unfinished business was also a key reason Barnes signed a three-year $25.5 million contract extension with $16 million guaranteed and a $6.32 million signing bonus.

“When it came down to it I told my agent I wanted to go back home, I wanted to be in Detroit, that’s where I belong and we’re building something great, we’re continuing to build something great and I want to be a part of it,’’ Barnes said at a Monday press conference.

Barnes tore his PCL and MCL in his right knee in Week 3 last season.

“The fact that they had that faith in me to pay me that amount of money coming off this injury is amazing to me,’’ Barnes said. “It’s emotional because I know a lot of people don’t get this opportunity especially coming off knee injuries.’’

He could only watch as the team won its second straight NFC North title and then fell apart, losing to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round of the playoffs.

“This is a winning program now. We’ve changed things, like I said, we’ve got the culture where going to the playoffs is not going to be enough for us. We need to be in the dance,’’ Barnes said. “That’s why we let the outsiders think what they want to think but we know who we are and what we’re capable of doing. That window is definitely still open and I’m super excited to be a part of it.’’

He loves the team that has been built under the direction of GM Brad Homes and coach Dan Campbell since they took over in 2021.

“We’re building something great here and I want to be a part of that,’’ Barnes said.

Physically he said the knee is fine now. He said he can take a deep breath and start training now that the deal is done.

“As far as my game, we saw a little glance of what I was becoming for three weeks (last year) and I think there’s a lot more to come – knowledge of the game and even physically I feel like I’ve taken a step and kind of just playing a little more of a leadership role. I’m kind of older in Year 5, which is crazy to think about.’’

He felt like he was playing his best ball at the time but thinks his best is yet to come.

Kelvin Sheppard, who coached the linebackers the past three seasons, has been promoted to defensive coordinator after Aaron Glenn moved on to become head coach of the New York Jets.

“Like you all know, we’ve seen that coming with (Sheppard). Passionate about the game, loves the game, loves the players, cares about the players. That’s one of the things I love about him is how passionate he is about getting players better and putting them in positions to be successful,’’ Barnes said. “That was a big part of my decision to come back to Detroit. He is a guy that anybody would want to play for. Him being D.C. I’m pretty sure every guy is going to buy into what he wants.’’

(Up next: NFL free agency officially begins at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.)