Dan Campbell Likes What He Sees in New Lions Additions: “They Don’t Back Down”
Lions head coach Dan Campbell is fired up about the team’s new free-agent signings and not just because they’re talented. It’s how they play: tough, scrappy, and relentless.
Talking from the NFL’s annual league meetings, Campbell praised cornerback DJ Reed, nose tackle Roy Lopez, and linebacker Grant Stuard for bringing exactly the kind of energy the Lions are all about.
“These guys are competitors. They go all out. They don’t back down from anything,” Campbell said.
Reed was the big get coming over from the Jets with a 3-year, $48 million deal. Campbell likes that Reed’s not only great in man coverage, but isn’t afraid to throw his body around in the run game. “He’ll come up, tackle, and mix it up. He’s feisty,” Campbell said, recalling a play where Reed got beat but hustled back into the play instead of sulking.
As for Roy Lopez, Campbell remembered seeing him up close last year when the Lions played the Cardinals. “That dude’s tough,” he said. “He held his own against Frank Ragnow and that says something.”
Lopez is a 318-pound brawler with wrestling experience, and Campbell loved how he never quit fighting in the trenches. He’s on a one-year deal with Detroit now.
Then there’s Grant Stuard a guy Campbell says brings the right attitude. Stuard noticed how the Lions played last season and said, “If everyone in that building plays like that, I want in.” That was enough for Campbell.
“He’s not flashy, not the biggest name but he’s tough, and he plays like he belongs,” Campbell said. “He’s a special teams beast, and he can handle himself on defense too.”
When asked if the defense will be better this year, Campbell kept it real: “We’ll find out when we hit the field. Ask me again in September.”
No Quit in Them”: Campbell Praises Toughness of Free-Agent Signings
