Johnson on his conversations with Campbell.
“It’s really his vision for it and having his back with that vision,” Johnson said. “What he wants to see, where he wants it to go. I think it really kind of centers there. This is a head-coach-driven team and that’s offense, defense and special teams, and where he wants it to go, we will go, and that of course depends on our personnel and goes out from there.”
We know Campbell wants grit. Beyond that, I’m not sure we know a whole lot from this season. Do they want to be a power offense that pounds and sometimes goes over the top? Do they want to be a slice and dice ball control like the Saints were?
The WRs they took in FA are all big and fast, but the ones they kept ended up being the quick and shifty slot guys. Is that because of Goff’s strengths?
This draft will and who the OC is will tell us a ton about what DC wants this offense to look like.
Can anyone decipher anything deeper from Ben Johnson’s comments?
To not answer your question — we really don’t know yet
We know they want to run the ball
We know he wants a strategic offense
Beyond that … I think your resources determine the style of play
My guess has always been that Campbell wants a “find the fish” approach. That is a Saints thing. Find a weakness on a team’s defense, find a player to target and go after that player or scheme. If we are better at them at running then they are at stopping the run then run the damn football 40 times!
Against the Steelers we want the ball 39 times. In the second Vikes game we threw it 40 times. Do what it takes to win. Be good enough to win in multiple ways.
But attack them. Dictate the game on offense. I think that is the Dan Campbell approach. Don’t stop yourself. Keep them off balance. Make them play sound defense. If they are over aggressive…hit them with flea flickers and reverses. If we have them on the ropes…keep up the pressure!
I like this answer a lot and it can be a very functional approach.
From a practicality standpoint, you have to be very thoughtful in player selection.
At QB, do you go with a running QB like Willis to add a new dimension, or do you add a guy like Zappe that is more Goff like so you have continuity + youth?
For WR/TE, do you go for big and physical with a blocking background that helps the running game and red zone? Do you go for a speed demon that stretches the field? One of each?
its all about adaptability. Think about it. All these coaches talk about meeting players where they are at and adapting to what they got. Work hard, Play tough and never give up. They adapted as the season wore…….week 17 was a good look at the offense…
He won’t have to. There were things going on behind the scenes that influenced the decision. Ben Johnson isn’t an asshole. Lynn was an asshole here in Detroit. Arrogant and didn’t listen to anyone. He was a joke. Every other coach is talking about adapting to the players and working as a unit, and not letting MCDC down…….this was deeper then just the offense going stagnant…the stagnant offense was a symptom of a much bigger septic issue that MCDC handled w class.
