Campbell sees Lions' brutal circumstances as 'perfect,' sets lofty expectations for Jameson Williams

Allen Park — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell met with local media for the first time since the league meetings in early April. Here are three key takeaways from Friday’s media session.

Embracing the challenges

During the team's last championship era, former Detroit Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace embraced the mantra, "If it ain't rough, it ain't right."

So, when Campbell hears about the multiple obstacles his team faces trying to stay atop the NFC North and among the league's genuine Super Bowl contenders, all he can do is smile.

"Look, give us any nugget you need to," Campbell said. "It's all good. We'll take it all. We'll take all of that. So, give us every excuse and we will use that, especially when the time is right. I'm not worried about that we don't have pass rush," Campbell said. "I'm not worried about we lost two coordinators. I'm not worried about the injuries. I'm not worried about the Hall of Fame Game. I'm not worried about the schedule.

"I think it's perfect," Campbell said. "I think it lines up perfect. I think it's going to be what's best for us with where we're at going into 2025. My fifth year here, the core of this team's fifth year — I really think it's exactly what we're going to need. The timing is perfect."

Honestly, did you expect Campbell to say anything else?

Sustaining success in the NFL isn't easy. Good teams draw tougher schedules, have their coaching staffs raided, struggle to keep their cores together, and earn worse draft picks, making it more difficult to restock the cupboards.

The Lions are dealing with most of those residuals following last year's 15-2 season, outside of keeping the team's core intact. They have yet to face a cap crunch, although it looms.

And Campbell will continue to welcome each wave of the storm because he believes strength is found through trial and tribulation.

"We've gotten to where we've gotten because we haven't been complacent," Campbell said. "We have gone and put the work in again and done all the little things that you have to do to win games and win a division again. And so, we got to do that all over again.

"…I just think the challenge of it is what you really love," Campbell continued. "It's why you love this game, you know? The NFL, that's when it's at its best. I mean, to be able to, not only here at home, our own division, go on the road, I mean, some of these teams, it's going to be — I mean, it's awesome, man. To me, by the end of the year, we ought to be just scarred up, you know. We should be scarred up, and ready to go, hardened for battle, and ready for the playoffs. There'll be nothing easy about it. You still, just to get through our own division, is going to be brutal. But it's the right kind of brutal."

Finding another gear

Lions fans rejoiced while watching Jameson Williams break out in his third season, thrilled to see the former first-round pick with infectious exuberance overcome some early-career struggles — on and off the field — and start fulfilling some of his massive potential.

But a 1,000-yard season is just the tip of the iceberg with Williams. Campbell believes the speedster has so much more to offer going forward. The coach is particularly excited about Williams' growth as a route runner.

"What's next? Oh, my God, he's got a ton of growth left," Campbell said. "And you know, he's listening. He's had a good spring, and it's another one — I don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves in OTA's, but I mean there's so much versatility with him. There are so many things that we can do just with his routes on the outside. I mean, we can do things inside, but just with his speed, and he's gotten so much stronger.

"His ability to stop, put his foot in the ground, man, when you can run like (he) can run, and now you're beginning to, where man, you can stop on a dime, I mean, you talk about a hard cover," Campbell said. "So, the sky's the limit for him. He's exactly where we want him to be right now at this point, man. He's been here, he's grinding, he's getting better."

It might not sound like much, but the lanky Williams said he's added five pounds to his frame this season. Additionally, Campbell said it's been awesome to watch how hard Williams is being pushed by position coach Scottie Montgomery, who shifted to the receivers after working with the running backs the past two seasons.

"We expect him to have a huge season," Campbell said. "We really do, man. He's going to be one of those guys that we're going to lean on this year, and it is really going to be big for us. And all he's got to do is just keep working like he's working and we'll be good."

Preseason plans

The Lions will play four preseason games this offseason, but you still shouldn't expect to see many of the veterans in those matchups.

"I think the thought right now is, as much as we can, get some of these young guys reps," Campbell said. "That's where we'll lean first. I'll never rule out playing the vets in the preseason, but right now, my thought is kind of, 'Hey man, let's see if we can get a number of these other guys reps and find out what we can about them. See if we can get them more plays to get developed, because that's all you're going to get with them, you know?'"

With the veterans, the Lions will focus their preparation in the more controlled environment of joint practices. Campbell announced the team will practice twice with the Miami Dolphins and once with the Houston Texans ahead of the team's third and fourth preseason games.