Lions shouldn't be veering from gritty mindset - even in training camp

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell will do anything to protect his players. Conversely, his players will do anything to protect him, his job, his reputation, and their collective season.

That buy in has been a cornerstone of Lions football for the last few seasons, and at least since Campbell took over at head coach back in 2021. It couldn't have been assumed we'd get a normal tenure out of Campbell when he was talking about biting at kneecaps at his very first media availability. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but just something to keep an eye on.

So far, the Lions have more or less embodied that gritty mindset instilled by Campbell. They've been one of the most physical teams in the NFL, even on offense - they have an immaculate backfield in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to rely on for ground and pound scoring, which is in addition to a defense that just last season allowed a second-best 61.2 completion rate and a fifth-best 1,672 total rushing yards.

They aren't going to change their ways anytime soon, and that's been made obvious by their latest issues in training camp where Campbell has had to pause practice to tell players to chill out.

Could you imagine that? Campbell, the knee-biting enthusiast, having to tell his players to relax?

READ MORE: Even Dan Campbell couldn't control Lions camp chaos as fights erupt again

It's a signal of his growth as a coach, and as someone possibly less keen on taking risks with his team and its players. He experienced a heartbreaking postseason loss last year thanks in part to the incredibly absurd number of injuries the defense had suffered just before their projected deep run. It's also a testament to his belief that this core can make a real Super Bowl run, still.

"That core group is still intact and some of these guys are now -- we've signed some back, some are up on contracts and that'll be ongoing," Campbell said. "But yeah, we absolutely do (have a window to contend still). And I think the most important thing is ... you've got your culture, you've got your identity and you've got players that fit into that, and we've got that. We've got players in every pivotal position you can ask for to have success. And those guys are made the right way, so absolutely, our window is open."

While it's probably frustrating for Campbell to have to tell the very players he has gassed up into oblivion that they have to hold back some, it's for the long-term success of the Lions this season. They cannot afford to head into the 2025 season any more hobbled than they've already become in training camp and during the offseason.

With how mysterious the rest of the NFC North is shaping up to be, they have to play like they're the clear-cut favorites to win the division. They simply cannot do that if they're giving their absolute all in camp. But, again, that's no knock on Campbell's philosophy - it's something that won't fade despite these pauses in practice.

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