INDIANAPOLIS – Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke to the media Tuesday as the NFL Scouting Combine kicked off.
Here are my six biggest takeaways from Campbell's media session:
1. Patience key to formulating new coaching staff
Campbell lost both his offensive and defensive coordinators and a number of key assistants in this year's hiring cycle, which meant he had to go to work reshaping his staff in Detroit.
Campbell said he told Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson this when they left, and he truly believes this as a key principle, that hiring the right staff is the most important thing a head coach can do. Campbell did it once when he took the job in 2021 and again this year in what he referred to as Phase II of that process this offseason.
"I wanted to take my time and do it right," Campbell said. "I had a lot of interviews. A lot. Really sat them down and got to know them. Kind of figure them out a little bit. The football is there. It's really about the mesh and chemistry. I'm big on that. That was a big part of it. I think we got it right."
Campbell said he had 24 different interviews with coaching candidates before hiring a number of new members to his staff.
2. Campbell knew Sheppard was ready for DC role
Kelvin Sheppard has spent the last two seasons as the linebackers coach, and Campbell said he and Glenn have been mentoring him for a defensive coordinator role the last two seasons.
"I've always believed Shep could be an outstanding coach," Campbell said. "About two years ago I just felt like, 'This guy is going to be ready to be a coordinator sooner rather than later.' So, AG and I talked about it and tried to give him more responsibility over the last two years with that in mind for him ... without telling him and nothing was ever promised."
Campbell said he felt really good about how Sheppard handled the increased load and just felt he was ready for the role. He's been impressed over the last three or four weeks with how Sheppard's handled the elevation to defensive coordinator.
Campbell loves the different viewpoint Sheppard brings to the defense from a front-seven perspective working back to secondary, where Glenn was a secondary-focused coordinator working forward to front seven.
Campbell said there will be some tweaks defensively to the system they've been running with Sheppard now in his DC role.
3. Why bringing Morton back was important
John Morton was on Detroit's staff as an offensive assistant in 2022, and Campbell and him were together coaching in New Orleans as well. Morton was part of building this offense in 2022, and Campbell said he felt it was the best move for the Lions to get him back.
"Somebody I have a lot of trust in and faith in," he said. "(Jared) Goff knows and is comfortable with. He's got a good rapport with (O-line coach) Hank (Fraley) and (quarterbacks coach Mark) Brunell."
Morton was one of the pivotal pieces of putting together an offense that has ranked in the top five in just about every major statistical category the last two seasons.
Game planning and preparing for opponents is Morton's biggest strength, per Campbell, and he's an offensive mind that is usually one step ahead of the competition.
4. Campbell prepared to face Johnson twice a year
Campbell admitted it will be different seeing Ben Johnson on the opposite sideline twice a year since he's been on his for four years.
"That's the way this game works," he said. "Somebody's going to be on our sideline and somebody's going to be on the other and you play to win."
View photos of Detroit Lions players at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Florida linebacker Alex Anzalone runs a drill during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Florida linebacker Alex Anzalone runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama defensive back Brian Branch runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama defensive back Brian Branch runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
University of Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looks on at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Charleston defensive lineman John Cominsky runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTSA defensive lineman Marcus Davenport runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 4, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Auburn defensive back Carlton Davis runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Ohio State offensive lineman Taylor Decker during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Rice kicker Jack Fox runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan offensive lineman Graham Glasgow runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
California quarterback Jared Goff runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
California quarterback Jared Goff performs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson runs during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Indianapolis. Hutchinson is expected to be taken in the NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (31) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph (54) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Iowa tight end Sam Laporta runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa tight end Sam Laporta runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Boston College offensive lineman Christian Mahogany runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa State running back David Montgomery runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa State running back David Montgomery runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Miami defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad competes in the vertical jump at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Arkansas offensive lineman Frank Ragnow watches during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 2, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Tennessee linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Louisiana Tech defensive back Amik Robertson watches the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Penn State wide receiver Allen Robinson makes a catch during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oklahoma State linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (28) participates in the broad jump at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Arkansas offensive lineman Dan Skipper runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, March 3, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Arkansas offensive lineman Dan Skipper runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kentucky defensive lineman Za'Darius Smith runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Utah defensive back Sione Vaki runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia Southern defensive back Kindle Vildor runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
LSU defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
5. Tashard Choice has been on Campbell's radar
"I just think he's somebody that's done a really good job developing backs wherever he's been," Campbell said of the new running backs coach. "There's a number of things that come up when you start talking about these backs, this style and his name starts coming up and two years ago I know he was somebody that was on my radar and it didn't work out and it was all good.
"But everything comes back around, and it just felt like this was right. I think he's really good at what he does. He's gifted. He's played the position. He's coached it in college. He understands our level of it. He understands (Jahmyr) Gibbs, he's coached him (at Georgia Tech), so that helps. I think he's going to be great for David Montgomery as well. That's big. I just think he's going to bring a lot to us."
6. New D-line coach fits Lions culture
Campbell said Kacy Rodgers and former Lions defensive line coach and current New England Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams are the two best defensive line coaches in the NFL, in his opinion.
When Campbell was a player in Dallas, Rodgers was an assistant defensive line coach for the Cowboys, so the two go way back. They also coached together in Miami.
"I've seen him coach and I know what he's like," Campbell said. "I know what the D-line is like with him coaching them. I've always thought really highly of him. I was fortunate to coach with him and Terrell.
"When I knew there was a chance to get him, and he was going to be available it just made sense. I think he's going to be great for our D-line. I think Hutch (Aidan Hutchinson) and those guys are going to really like him and gravitate to him. He's one of us. He's about doing it the right way, hard work, sees the game well, understands scheme really well and he knows the fundamentals and grinds on those guys."
