Dan Campbell is winning Lions fans, but what about games?

Campbell is able to connect with his players

This past week Dan Campbell was a guest on the Pat McAfee show and discussed many topics. Yet when we go beyond the questions and answers, the thing that really stands out was Campbell’s ability to take control of the interview.

The following day when Campbell appeared on the Dan Patrick show it was the same thing. He presents himself as he is and has a presence. It’s not the same thing as saying Vince Lombardi had a presence, but I think the thing that is very clear is that Dan Campbell knows who he is.

Campbell doesn’t put on any airs, and while he can be light-hearted, when he has a point to make, there is no mistaking that point.

In 2015 when the Miami Dolphins fired head coach Joe Philbin four games into the season, Dan Campbell was given his first opportunity to be a head coach, even if it was in an interim capacity. The Dolphins finished out the 2015 campaign going 5-7 under Campbell.

Yet there are some undeniable facts that surfaced from his short stint as Miami’s top dog. The first is that his Dolphins played tough and hard. They weren’t the most talented team in the league, but the effort was present from week to week and play to play.

The second was how Campbell was able to connect with his players. Did he work them hard? Yes, but his players loved playing for him and it showed on Sundays. Just like in his press conferences and interviews, he is as direct as he can be, given league rules for discussing issues like the Stafford trade until it is official or the natural discretion to not give away all your plans to the rest of the NFL, but much like his former coach Bill Parcells, his players know where they stand with him.

Every athlete, from pee-wee to professional wants to know where they stand with their coach. It’s the ability to know where you stand with them and what you need to do to improve that helps motivate players.

Not that I was ever a great athlete myself, but I played for a coach who told me point blank that the reason he was always yelling at me in practice is that he saw potential in me. He said not to worry about being yelled at, but to start worrying if he stopped yelling because that meant he’s given up.

After that, it didn’t matter how loud or ‘colorful’ he corrected me in practice, the only thing that mattered was knowing I needed to do my best to improve every day. We talk about professional athletes being pampered, and to a degree they are, but I guarantee you they appreciate knowing exactly where they stand.