The Detroit Lions have the opportunity to accomplish several of their season-long goals in the final stretch of the season. With Dan Campbell facing his former mentor this week, much of the talk in the media has been about how much Sean Payton influenced Detroit’s third-year head coach. With his young team vying for their first division title in decades and their first playoff appearance since 2016, Campbell must emulate key traits from Denver Broncos coach John Fox.
“I’ve been in this League for, I don’t know how long, over 20 years.” But you’re talking about eight years as a player and five years as a coach,” Campbell said when asked how Payton’s coaching style has evolved. “I mean, my career has been with him and so I see football the way he sees it.”For the most part, that’s what I learned and how I learned. What they’re doing is really what we’re doing, thanks to him and then the time I spent with Coach (Bill) Parcells, which heavily influenced Coach Payton as well. “I mean, it really is for the most part,” Campbell added. “There are a few minor changes here and there.” I’m sure he is, but for the most part, it’s the other way around.
A slew of injuries and roster deficiencies have contributed to the erratic play of late, but Detroit’s popular coach must rally his squad and become closers down the stretch. “I believe it will even out.” I believe yes, but also no, because you are acquainted. So, you think you’ve got the nugget, but they also know you, so they find their nugget as well,” Campbell explained when discussing the difficulties of facing an NFL coach he knows well. “So, I believe he has a good idea of what we want to do and our process, just as I do of his presence in there.”
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“So, look, he’s not going to hide who they are or what brought them to this point. They’ll be relying on those. He will, however, have wrinkles, as he always does. And I just want to say again, man, he’s a stone-cold killer in this profession, in games,” Campbell continued. “That’s why I say, ‘He’s going to be looking for it, and we’ll be ready for it.'” But we both think the same way, so we’re looking forward to it. This is going to be a fantastic matchup. This is an excellent group. They’re playing fantastic football. They’re playing intelligent, clean football. That is why they are winning.”
