Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard compared third-year LB Jack Campbell to Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher when it comes to his knowledge of the game.
Jack Campbell is off to a hot start with 48 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles through five games, but Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said Campbell's biggest growth in his third NFL season has come in the mental side of the game.
"It’s rare when you’re talking about a guy that can call the game as a player," Sheppard said. "It is because of the time it takes. A lot of these guys are talented and that kind of bites a lot of these guys because when you hit a certain talent peak, you feel like you don’t need to do certain things. And that’s just human nature. Like, ‘I don’t need to study extra. I know I’ve got this guy, I’m going to go eliminate him.’"
Sheppard said he and Campbell meet weekly to go over the gameplan and to help Campbell gain a deeper understanding of why Sheppard calls plays the way he does in certain situations.
Now in his second season of wearing the defensive communication helmet, Sheppard said Campbell is "starting to get into that upper echelon of the green-dot linebackers in this league."
"I’m talking go back to (Brian) Urlacher, go back to Ray (Lewis), you go back to all these guys that’s been able to do that. (Luke ) Kuechly," Sheppard said. "And these guys that you’ve seen be able to adjust on the run in-game without a coach having to be over their shoulder. It’s rare, and we have the luxury of having two of them. It’s not just Jack. Alex (Anzalone) actually has been doing this for two, three years now."
Sheppard called Campbell and Anzalone, who wore the green-dot helmet before Campbell, the "Batman and Robin" of the Lions defense.
“They’re the calming presence in the storm," he said. "When things are hectic, when things are getting a little frustrated out there, they’re the guys that say, ‘Hey, this is what we’re doing. We’re good. This is why he called that, we’re good. Trust me, it was a good call.’ They’re able to echo that message that I’m bringing in the locker room and in the huddle with the players that I know hits a little different.”
Silent treatment
Sheppard and Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo have a close relationship that dates back to Sheppard's days as a player with the New York Giants in 2016-17, when Spagnuolo was an assistant with the team.
The two have communicated regularly this season, though not this week.
"I haven’t heard the phone ring this week but before this, like constant," Sheppard said. "I mean I’m like, ‘You’ve got a game today, don’t you?’ ‘Good luck. I’m rooting for you brother.’ Training camp, every week. I mean weekly. I’m going to have a text message from Spags, ‘You need anything? You got any thoughts? Anything?’ And he doesn’t have to do that. I mean he’s a Hall of Fame defensive coordinator. He has a million things on his plate over there. They’re expected to win the Super Bowl every year and granted he finds time to reach out to me. So I mean, I owe a lot to Spags."
Spagnuolo told the Free Press at the Super Bowl in February he's a big fan of Sheppard and believes Sheppard will be an NFL head coach one day. Sheppard said he holds Spagnuolo in equally high regard.
"Spags was one of the first guys outside of Dan (Campbell) to believe in my ability to be a coach," Sheppard said. "He was the guy pushing me, ‘You need to go coach. You need to coach.’ Here’s the why’s. He always explained the why’s. I appreciate coaches like that. And believing in me, but then importantly, pouring into me non-stop."
Assessing Manu's starting debut
Lions offensive coordinator John Morton said Gio Manu's first career start at left tackle last week against the Cincinnati Bengals was "encouraging."
"There were some things, communication wise or technique wise, that he could’ve done better," Morton said. "But listen, we won the game. The plan was set up to protect that side and the coaches did a great job with that. But I was encouraged."
Manu played all 62 offensive snaps at left tackle against the Bengals in place of the injured Taylor Decker. He allowed two sacks and whiffed on a handful of other pass-block snaps, but played well in the run game as the Lions had 118 yards on the ground against a Bengals defense loaded up to stop the run.
Decker's status for this week's game is uncertain. If he can't play, it's unclear if Manu or Dan Skipper will get the start.
"He’s young, so he’ll learn from his mistakes and if he gets another chance, he’ll do better," Morton said. "You know how it is, the more reps you get, the better you’re going to become. But I was encouraged.”
Raymond's record
Kalif Raymond needs 58 yards to break Mel Gray's franchise record for career punt-return yards (1,427 yards).
"I would say it’s a testament to who he is," Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said. "He’s just a very competitive player, and I would also say it’s a testament to the guys who’ve been around him. The guys are blocking for him, holding up for him. He’s got a lot of faith and confidence in those guys. He catches and returns a lot of balls, he doesn’t take a lot of fair catches."
Raymond is tied for third in the NFL with 12 returns through five games. He scored on a 65-yard punt return against the Cleveland Browns, his third career return TD.
Gray had two punt-return TDs and five kick-return touchdowns as a Lion, and Raymond trails Hall of Famer Jack Christiansen for highest punt-return average (12.8 ypr) and most career punt-return TDs (eight) in franchise history.
Raymond, who injured his neck against the Bengals and is uncertain to play against the Chiefs, has 1,369 career punt-return yards for a 12.2 yard average.
"He's a great player," Fipp said. "He’s very competitive and, I mean, everybody loves him. Yeah, happy for him. Obviously probably a reflection of him and the team.”
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions benefitting from bright 'Batman and Robin' tandem at LB
Category: Football
