Dan Campbell's superb decision: Giving Detroit Lions permission to shoot for Super Bowl
Nothing is subtle about these Detroit Lions.
Everything is out in the open.
After the Lions' win over the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the playoffs, quarterback Jared Goff brought his teammates into a postgame huddle in the locker room.
“I love you guys so (expletive) much,” Goff said in a video released by the team. “This is just the beginning. We got three more of these (expletive). Next week, at home, at our place, against whoever the (expletive) wants to come in here.”
The key phrase? Three more. Yes, that is counting the Super Bowl.
Then, the Lions went out and beat whoever the heck wants to come in here … the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Which brings us to the following week, the next locker room video.
“You guys are unbelievable, man,” coach Dan Campbell said in a video clip released by the Lions, after they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-23, in the divisional round of the playoffs to advance to the NFC championship game Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
He looked exhausted.
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Like he had played a game.
“You’re built for this,” Campbell said, the emotion bubbling up.
He started pacing around the room like, well, a Lion.
"You're (expletive) built for this, man,” his voice rising. “And look at what you guys did, you went out there, and it's another (expletive) hot team that we knocked off.”
Some players clapped.
"Do you know how hard it is to win in this (expletive) league in the playoffs?” Campbell asked.
He spun, looking at his players. “Do you understand what you're doing right now, what you're capable of? That's two, all right, that's two. We got two to go."
He held up two fingers.
“With a bye in the middle!”
Guys were clapping now.
“With a bye in the middle!” Campbell repeated.
'Hard Knocks': The winning version
I know these videos are edited and are designed to show the Lions in a positive light.
But still, they offer a wonderful behind-the-scenes window into this organization.
Into Campbell.
And it’s no different from what we saw in “Hard Knocks.”
But this is different. This is like Act 2: the winning version of the Lions.
And Campbell’s messaging has been spectacular.
I love how he doesn't shirk from the moment. He was honest with his guys — yes, this was huge, probably bigger than most of them even realize.
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Do you understand what you're doing right now, what you're capable of?
The rookies on this team likely have no clue what this team is accomplishing.
But the guys like Taylor Decker? The ones who have been around? Heck yes, they know.
“I even said it to — or (Lions center) Frank (Ragnow) said it to me when we got in the locker room, he’s like, ‘Dude we’re playing in the NFC championship,’ " Decker said. "Of course we always work for this and work towards this, but it’s here and it’s real. It’s kind of surreal.”
Different approaches to playoffs
Back in November, I had a fascinating conversation with backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater about how different teams approach the playoffs.
“It all depends on the team you're on,” Bridgewater told me. “I've been on teams that have been to the playoffs back-to-back — veteran teams that have been to the playoffs to where it's like 'there's no pressure.' Some organizations or losing organizations get there by faith and they are just like 'oh, whatever happens, happens.' And then at some organizations, the expectations are through the roof.”
Campbell has struck an interesting balance. He has found a way not to put extra pressure on his team, but he acknowledges the moment, acknowledges the success, acknowledges what is possible, while never allowing any space for complete satisfaction.
That’s a tricky dance that he has maneuvered spectacularly, and it's the art of coaching.
But Campbell has created an even bigger message.
In those two fingers. That’s the goal. The Super Bowl.
Not to get to the Super Bowl. To win it.
Do you understand what you're doing right now, what you're capable of?
That comment exudes confidence and belief, and it's incredibly important.
Because after Campbell speaks in the locker room, something interesting happens.
The players start to parrot him.
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“Don’t want to say this arrogantly, but we expected to win the first game,” Goff said, Sunday after beating the Buccaneers. “We expected to win this game and now we get to go to a game we expected to be in against a really good team at their place and we’re going to come into it expecting to win. It’ll be a tough game, but It’ll be fun.”
Is that bold and reckless, possibly creating locker room material?
No. Because Campbell already said it.
It’s as if Campbell gives these players permission to be honest. To make huge goals and dreams and actually talk about them, as if to speak it into existence.
So, here we are.
Two fingers up.
Two more to play.
In Campbell’s world, everything is possible.
In Campbell’s world — this team is capable of being Super Bowl champions — it’s right there for the taking.
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Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @seideljeff.
To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dan Campbell wisely gave Detroit Lions permission to think Super Bowl
