Dan Campbell didn’t sugarcoat the state of his defense, and he put the challenge right where it belongs: on the Lions’ linebackers.
After Detroit’s Week 4 loss to the Carolina Panthers, the head coach went on 97.1 FM and made it clear what he wants to see in Week 5.
"You know what I want? I want somebody to come in tomorrow and say, 'I want McBride.'
That’s what I want. I want to know who that’s going to be on our defense."
That’s a direct call to a defense that has had trouble handling tight ends all season, and it points straight at Jack Campbell. The Lions are set to face Trey McBride and the Arizona Cardinals, and McBride, along with Michael Wilson, gives Detroit another receiver group that could create problems for a secondary that has already struggled.
The timing of Dan Campbell’s challenge matters because he also laid out just how bad things have been. Speaking to reporters ahead of Week 5, he didn’t hide from it:
"There’s been plenty of mistakes by me in the past four games, 100 percent. But for me, that’s in the past.
Let’s move forward. Right now it’s terrible, though.
I mean, based off where our defense is right now, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. It’s not good enough.
And it’s not gonna win football games. We’re still 2-2, thankfully to our offense and special teams because they’re playing unbelievable.
But defensively it’s not good enough, and that’s everybody in the room. And it starts with me."
The numbers back up the frustration. As cited in the same article of this quote from Will Burchfield, Detroit is giving up the most receptions to tight ends in the NFL this season, along with the most touchdowns. The Lions also rank second in yards allowed to the position.
That leaves Jack Campbell in a tough spot, because the burden against tight ends falls heavily on the linebackers. Detroit’s safety room, like its cornerback room, is in shambles, so the first and often only help in coverage has to come from that group. When quarterbacks see that, they’re going after it.
Against McBride, Campbell has to be cleaner in coverage and more physical at the point of attack. McBride is one of the league’s most athletic tight ends, and Campbell will need to use his strength to make up for the speed gap. If he gets beat in man coverage, he also has to do a better job helping organize the defense behind him so the Lions aren’t left exposed.
This isn’t about asking Campbell to become a shutdown linebacker overnight. It’s about asking him to hold up enough against McBride and the Cardinals’ passing game to give Detroit a chance.
In Other News...
Lions Make A Quiet D-Line Move That Could Matter Fast
Detroit added another body to its defensive line mix with a practice-squad signing that fits the kind of low-key move teams make when they want more options without making a splash. Jeffrey MBa has been around the leagues International Pathways Program and spent time on the Washington Commanders practice squad, giving the Lions a developmental depth piece as they continue sorting through the line rotation.
The timing is what makes it worth watching. Detroit has leaned on the front to steady things when other parts of the defense have been less reliable, and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has already pointed to the lines strong play despite those issues elsewhere. With the group still absorbing new wrinkles and juggling availability, a practice-squad addition can become relevant faster here than it would elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Get A Close Look At A Possible Jared Goff Insurance Plan
Jared Goff is set to make his 74th consecutive regular-season start for the Lions against the Cardinals, a run that now ranks as the second-longest active streak among NFL quarterbacks. For Detroit, that durability has been a steadying force, but it has also kept the backup conversation in view. The Lions have had reason to keep an eye on Jacoby Brissett, who has emerged as a possible candidate to strengthen the depth chart behind Goff.
Brissett enters the matchup as Arizonas starter, and his play this season has made him a name worth monitoring around the league. For a Detroit team that has treated quarterback insurance as a real roster priority, the appeal is obvious, especially if the Cardinals eventually decide to move in a different direction under center. Whether the Lions can do more than observe from afar is the lingering question. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Branch's Status Just Got Bigger For Detroit's Secondary
Brian Branchs recovery has become one of the quieter but more important storylines around Detroits defense, especially with the Lions trying to settle in before the schedule turns to division play. Dan Campbell made it clear the safety is still working his way back from an Achilles injury, and Kelvin Sheppard has already signaled how eager the staff is to plug him back into the mix once he is medically cleared.
For a secondary that has had to keep piecing things together, Branch is the kind of player whose return can change the conversation fast. The current expectation is that his first game back will come after the Week 6 bye, which lines up with Detroit heading into Week 7 and the stretch that really starts to matter in the NFC North. [Read more 🡒]