Matt LaFleur sets the record straight about Dan Campbell, as Packers-Lions rivalry heats up ahead of their Thanksgiving matchup
Lions head coach Dan Campbell has been the offensive play-caller, and Matt LaFleur talked about what he expects on Thanksgiving.
It’s a transition period for the Detroit Lions. The team lost Ben Johnson, hired John Morton as the new offensive coordinator, and now head coach Dan Campbell took over the play-calling duties. It’s not like the offense is bad by any means — sixth in DVOA, eighth in EPA/play, and 10th in success rate. But Campbell wanted to go back to how efficient the unit had been in years past.
After scoring 13 points in Week 1, seven of them in garbage time, the Lions have a new challenge against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, and Matt LaFleur talked about what he’s seeing on the other side.
Coaching respect
The Lions haven’t necessarily been that much different scheme-wise, but there have been some improvements. Between Weeks 10 and 12, with Campbell calling offensive plays, Detroit improved to sixth in EPA/play and seventh in success rate.
“I don’t know if it necessarily changed,” LaFleur said on Tuesday ahead of the Thanksgiving matchup. “I think he’s done a heck of a job putting his guys in position, and ultimately they got a ton of playmakers.”
With Campbell as the play-caller, running back Jahmyr Gibbs is a bigger part of the offense. Over the past three weeks, Gibbs was targeted more frequently on a per-route basis (38%) than any other player in the entire NFL. LaFleur thinks the full offensive structure deserves respect.
“Obviously, it all starts with their offensive line; I think it is really talented,” LaFleur added. “And then I think [Jared] Goff, just watching him play, he’s playing the best football these last couple years of his career, and he’s playing at an extremely high level. And then you got a bunch of playmakers to throw it to with Amon-Ra [St. Brown], with [Jameson] Williams. Obviously, [Jahmyr] Gibbs and [David] Montgomery are two very special backs. I know they’re missing [Sam] LaPorta, which is a big loss for them, but they got a lot of weapons.”
Almost three months after the first matchup, the Packers and Lions will face off again with significantly different circumstances on both sides. But there is mutual respect because the two teams know what’s at stake at Ford Field on Thanksgiving.