Dan Campbell is ensuring his guys stay grounded entering the 2024 season.
Despite a history-making 2023 season ending just a sneeze away from the Super Bowl, the Detroit Lions aren’t letting overconfidence get the best of them.
For decades, the Lions grew accustomed to the rest of the football world doubting them—and rightfully so — but expectations have obviously skyrocketed following last season’s success. It’s hard to fault a player for brimming with confidence heading into this season, especially while watching Brad Holmes work his magic bolstering the roster in the draft and free agency. But it’s any potential overconfidence that Dan Campbell is here to squash, says quarterback Jared Goff.
“He certainly knows that what could possibly hurt us is thinking like, ‘Oh we’ll just show up Week 1 and do it again,’” Goff said Wednesday. “I don’t believe for a second that will be our attitude. That’s human nature to think that way. So he’s been honest, and we appreciate it. We’ve been on ourselves—we’ve been holding each other to a higher standard, higher accountability.”
Goff credited Campbell with being the one harping the most on not becoming complacent. You may recall the Lions head coach reflected honestly following the heartbreaking loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship.
“I know how hard it is to get here. I’m well aware. It’s going to be twice as hard to get back to this point next year than it was last year. That’s the reality,” he said back in January.
So this type of mindset is what’s behind the work the guys in Honolulu blue are doing today. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Derrick Barnes echoed the echoed the same thing.
“Coach said it’s going to take more this year, it’s going to take that extra little ‘umph’ of things—practice, games. When they say finish all four quarters, it’s going to take all that, it’s going to take everybody here,” he said.
And onto the rest of your notes.
- An absolute legend on the Detroit Lions beat is retiring and received some well-deserved love from MCDC.
- Three Lions made this list of top guards in the league entering the 2024 season from Pro Football Focus’ Thomas Valentine. Okay, two Lions and one former Lion.
- Also from PFF: one star Lions center (I’m sure you can guess who) made Trevor Sikkema’s all-decade mock draft.
- Lions past and present presented together at the big Michigan Central Station.
- Reminder — Dan Campbell not too long ago said: “Jamo is that guy right now. He is a man on a mission, and I’m just going to leave it at that.”
- “The best thing the Lions did for (Jared) was holding onto offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.” Detroit was listed as one of the top seven teams that helped their quarterback between free agency and the draft.
- Looove this piece by A to Z Sports’ Mike Payton identifying eight players to watch in the UFL playoffs this weekend.
