Dan Campbell connects with his players
This offseason has treated the Lions and their new general manager, Brad Holmes, as well as Dan Campbell pretty well. Despite the shotgun marriage that brought them together they seem to be thriving as a team.
The offseason has been about the two of them being in lock-step through trades, free agency, and the draft. Even though the rebuilding process still has plenty of work left, it is a team that is taking the shape both Holmes and Campbell envision.
Now as Campbell and his impressive staff have hit the ground running in training camp, there is a lot of work to do before they are even going to be ready for an exhibition game. But even with all the work this team needs, Campbell is finding ways to build unity.
New defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has decided that his defense will set the tone at each practice by doing 40 up-downs or grass drills or whatever terminology any of us who have ever played the game have called it, before any drills.
When Glenn’s defense started doing the grass drills on day one, Dan Campbell joined in. According to Campbell, it was spontaneous since it isn’t just Glenn’s defense, but his defense too.
Some critiqued how Campbell’s up-downs weren’t that crisp, but it was just impressive he joined in and the players noticed too. Because there was no reason for Campbell to be hitting the dirt.
Campbell understands how to connect with his players. Sure Glenn and the defensive staff had joined in and those members of the staff who couldn’t do grass drills did planks. Campbell proved his own leadership by joining in and after the practice when the media asked about it, Campbell gave Aaron Glenn full credit.
Now the truth of the matter is that doesn’t mean the Lions will have a break-out season and contend for anything, but it means Campbell continues to give his players a reason to buy-in.