As we enter 12 months 5 of the Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell period of the Detroit Lions, now is an effective time to replicate on the previous 4 years.
Campbell has amassed a 39-28-1 document over the primary 4 years, not together with a 2-2 document within the postseason. There are some things unimaginable about these accomplishments. For one, he already has the fourth-best successful share (.581) of any Detroit Lions coach in historical past. His 4 playoff appearances are solely second to Wayne Fontes (5), and his two playoff wins are solely second to Buddy Parker’s championship groups of the Fifties.
However maybe essentially the most spectacular a part of Campbell’s general document is how he began. Bear in mind, the Lions went 3-13-1 his first season in Detroit and adopted that up with a 1-6 begin in his second yr. That’s a collective 4-19-1. So since then, the Lions have been 35-9. That’s a .795 win share because the center of the 2022 season.
There have been some darkish occasions earlier than that turnaround, although. Issues have been so dangerous that proprietor Sheila Hamp needed to exit and communicate on to Lions followers to inform them that they simply should be affected person and issues will flip round. The start of that 2022 season featured a 29-0 loss to the New England Patriots led by Bailey Zappe. They have been rolled by the Dallas Cowboys 24-6 after that recreation. After which the Miami Dolphins hung 31 factors and practically 500 yards of offense on them.
So at the moment’s Query of the Day is:
Did you at all times consider in Dan Campbell?
My reply: If I’m being trustworthy, the reply is not any, nevertheless it’s additionally probably not a good query. As a result of I don’t actually begin with “I consider on this man.” I start with: present me. So when the Lions employed Campbell, and it was considered as unorthodox, and he had his iconic press convention, my general response was simply to maintain an open thoughts. There have been some issues I appreciated (his authenticity, his emotional intelligence), and there have been some issues I didn’t (an old-school strategy to soccer).
I’m the sort of one that additionally thinks coaches/normal managers want extra time than some NFL franchises give them. So, when the Lions began out so terribly, I used to be principally affected person and forgiving. I wouldn’t say I ever “believed” in Dan Campbell over these first 25 video games in Detroit, however I additionally didn’t suppose he was failing the franchise but.
Nonetheless, that Patriots recreation broke me somewhat bit. I mentioned and tweeted some embarrassing issues. I let my guard down, and my impatience took over. Granted, that was an emotional recreation for lots of Lions followers, and we have been hoping to seek out some aid and therapeutic from the Matt Patricia period by way of a highway win. Not solely did that win by no means come, however it can most likely go down as one of many worst losses in Campbell’s period with the Lions.
So, I let doubt creep in. I knew the Lions have been within the midst of an extended rebuild, and I knew that they weren’t going to be a contender in 12 months 2. And if I’d’ve been level-headed on the time, I’d’ve identified that typically you simply lay a stinker and it’s okay.
I by no means known as for Campbell’s head and even remotely urged it. Nonetheless, that was the primary (and actually solely) time I ever thought to myself: “This is probably not the man.”
How about you? How did you are feeling concerning the preliminary rent? Have been you a Dan Campbell believer ever since his opening presser? Share your ideas on the Lions coach within the remark part under.
