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

Can Dan Campbell win games?

So the real question is; can Dan Campbell win games the way he has won over fans?

It is funny to me how Pat McAfee, a former NFL player himself, said that he thought Campbell’s introductory press conference was easily the greatest ever. The sentiment was the same on the Dan Patrick show. Yet many of the pundits nationally immediately dumped on Campbell and the Lions after that initial presser saying this is nothing more than the ‘same old Lions’.

In the end, it may turn out to be yet another dead end for the Lions. But when we consider what has been assembled, not only by Sheila who chose Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell but the coaching and front office staffs, the tune has been very positive by league insiders.

This isn’t even to mention heads all around the league turning when Brad Holmes pulled off the Matthew Stafford trade.

Now, none of that positive feedback will mean anything when the Lions finally hit the field. The offseason is the time for hope, the season is the cruel reality. If the Lions finish 7-9 then I would say that Dan Campbell should garner some votes as the coach of the year.

Yet there are realistic signs that Lions fans can look for that may help indicate the direction this franchise is headed.

First Brad Holmes will have to do his job well and start the influx of talent. Secondly, Campbell and his staff will have to make the Lions competitive on the field. This is shown in a couple of ways. One is the effort and execution on the field and the other is the development of young players.

Unlike former head coach Matt Patricia’s belief that success would come from running his system, regardless of who he put on the field, Dan Campbell understands this is a players league.

Players make plays, not systems. Granted a good system will put players in a position to make plays, but it is still the players that make the plays.

Dan Campbell understands the game and players. If his Lions, which will be undermanned this fall, buy into his culture change, execute their assignments, and give maximum effort, then regardless of their record, it means given more talent, Dan Campbell should continue to win fans, but more importantly, games as well.