After one year of the Dan Campbell experience as the Detroit Lions head coach, we’ve got a solid baseline idea for what makes up a Campbell type of player. Kneecap quips aside, there’s a definite style that Campbell and his staff covet.
The head coach talked about what he thinks he’s looking for in an interview with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero from the Senior Bowl practice session on Thursday.
“You’re looking for these guys that have a little bite back to them, a little resiliency,” Campbell told Pelissero on the broadcast. “You see some of these guys, how they handle adversity. If they mess something up, how do they respond — do they go in the tank (or) do they snap back?”
Campbell continued and offered an important distinction between his attitude and that of his Lions predecessor, Matt Patricia,
“If they don’t like something they’re willing to stand up for themselves but yet they can keep their emotions under control. They’re not going to be flag (penalty) machines. You’re looking for those little things.”
Campbell also elaborated on why he’s big on ending practices with 1-on-1 competitions between offense and defense. It’s been a huge hit with the players on the American roster here in Mobile.
“You don’t know the very best of the best, or the worst of the best, until you put them 1-on-1,” Campbell explained. “You find out who can rise to the top and sometimes you realize maybe the guys, they fall to the wayside … I think it’s great to put those guys into competitive situations.”
Campbell gave credit to the practice-ending battles to RB coach Duce Staley, who is the acting head coach for the Lions this week. Staley brought up his idea earlier in the week when talking with reporters after Tuesday’s practice session at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
