Dan Campbell Thinks Lions Are Close, Need to Clean Up Efficiency

Lions head coach Dan Campbell took the podium at the Indiana Convention Center during the NFL Combine to take questions from the press. Here are some key highlights:

On new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing:

Drew was … we were fortunate to find him, always liked Drew, from afar, you know, facing those guys. Over the years what he was doing offensively. I just, I always liked it. You know, there was creativity to it. You know, certainly they’ve used a lot of heavy sets lately, but that’s where the roster has gone. You know, that’s not’s something that I foresee us being. We’re just ,we’re gonna be versatile, but he gives us ability to make the most of what we have.. And I just think he understands the protections, he understands the game, he understands the passing game, certainly, quarterback play. So I think he’s got it all. It was important for this when we had, you know, a lot of different guys to interview. It was great, the process was great, a lot of good men, good coaches, great coaches, really. But he was the right fit.

On promoting tight ends coach Steve Oliver:

He’s earned that. I’ve interviewed him twice. Over the last two times we’ve had that position open, and it was time, he’s earned it. So fired up for him, guys are excited. And that’s what we’re at, really. That’s where we’re at. Now it’s just about, ‘How do we improve from here?’ Brad and I have had a number of conversations. The free agency’s coming on, but, you know, for me, I needed to start with what can we do a little bit better as coaches? We’re not that far off. We still had a top five offense. We, just, our efficiency was a little off, so how do we get a little bit better with what we do as coaches, and now it’s about the roster. You know, where do we upgrade ourselves? Where do we bring in some competition? So, we’re excited for another year, man.

On the defense:

I’ve had to be able to sit down with the defense and just go play by play, cutup by cutup. And, well, let me go back. I think Shep. I think Shep did a good job, and I think he learned a lot, and I think he grew a ton. And I love the staff that’s around him. I really do, man. I think those guys from Casey Rogers to Sha Townsend to get Jim O’Nill back, (linebackers coach) Shaun Dion Hamilton, I just think it’s a really good unit, man. It’s an experienced unit. I think we got a lot of flexibility on what we do. And we just got to tighten the screws on a few things. But I do, I love the staff, and I love what we do. And there are things where we’ve already been through the cut up like, man, if we could go back, maybe we would play a little bit more of this, or a little less of this, so I think it just there’s a lot of clarity. What can we do better? What do the players, you know, what can they do better? How complex is this really? Is it out of their wheelhouse? It’s just we’re asking somebody to do something they cannot do.

On wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa:

Well, I think there’s a level of maturity with him. He did grow, you know? He made some plays for us when we called his number. and he’s tough, man. which is one of the things we love about him. You know, we asked him to do some of the dirty work, he did that. He played special teams for us. I just thought, you know, it’s hard for rookies to really help you and contribute in the first year, and I think for a receiver, it’s real hard sometimes, just because we put so much on those guys to have to do it. And I thought, man, you look at where he was from game one to the very last game, he improved, and there would be nothing to tell me that he’s not going to take another step this year, you know. I think we’re going into camp a little bit with some confidence in this guy.