Pressers and scrums: Coach dubs Goff 'elite,' takeaways from '23 loss to Ravens, and Hutchinson on first sack

Allen Park — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell, assistant head coach Scott Montgomery, passing game coordinator David Shaw and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson met with the media on Thursday. Here are some highlights from those sessions.

What was learned in '23

Inevitably, there’s going to be plenty of references to the last time the Lions traveled to Baltimore to battle the Ravens. We all remember how that one went, with the 5-1 Lions falling behind by 28 at the half on the way to a 38-6 loss.

It’s no less jarring two yards removed.

“Physically, they wore us out,” Montgomery said. “Physically, they beat us up. That's hard to do when we work the way that we work. …When they go in and they outperformed us physically, that's what we took from it, right?

“…We pride ourselves on physicality, and they put it on tape,” Montgomery continued. “That's kind of what we took from it, and that's what we have to live with, because that's what we put on the tape, our resume. So the physicality of this game is going to be high. We know that, and that's what we have to expect, and we have to do a lot better than we did last time.”

Obviously, each year and each team is different. Regardless, there’s enough carryover on the rosters that the Lions can use the last game in Baltimore as both a lesson and motivation.

“We had a lot of guys that went out there,” Campbell said. “You don’t forget those because we didn’t give ourselves a chance. By the end of the first quarter, we were in a bad way. I think the environment, the opponent, most of our guys have seen them up close, in real time. If you didn’t have an idea, you’ve got a really good idea now, what you’re going into.

“We know it’s going to be a challenge, but I’m telling you, we’re looking forward to it. I mean, these are fun, man. These are as good as it gets.”

Stamp of approval

Shaw has worked with some good quarterbacks during his career — most notably Andrew Luck at Stanford and former NFL MVP Rich Gannon with the Raiders — and the passing game coordinator has also been around plenty of subpar talent at the position.

Almost needless to say, he’s grateful to be working with someone of Jared Goff’s caliber in Detroit.

“Jared Goff is elite,” Shaw said. “Whatever category you put together of elite players, he's in that category. And we only have a few guys that are in that elite category. There's no question about it. And no shock to anybody, you don't roll out of bed and become elite. He's worked extremely hard for his career.

“He works hard every single week, every single day,” Shaw said. “He pushes himself, pushes his teammates, so he can go out there and perform like that. That's his standard, and that's our job as coaches, to give him the information and opportunity to play up to his standard. I'm glad he's on that team.

Shaw has known Goff for a long time. Stanford pursued the quarterback as a college recruit. He ultimately chose to go to rival Cal, where he lost to Shaw’s team all three times they matched up.

Shaw then got to watch Goff stay in state and mature from the No. 1 draft pick to a Pro Bowl-caliber passer.

“Every year, there's another tool in the toolbox,” Shaw said. “Everything's a little bit better. His decision-making and accuracy are at an elite level. And my favorite thing about him is that he'll take the compliments, but he just goes back to work. Because every week's a new week. Every day's a new day.”

A welcome relief

Early in the fourth quarter, more than 11 months after his last one, Aidan Hutchinson recorded a sack.

You could sense the relief as Hutchinson extended his arms wide and soaked in the adulation from the Ford Field crowd before repeatedly blowing kisses to the faithful like an actor getting a standing ovation after a play.

“It was great,” Hutchinson said. “The fans were really awesome. The overwhelming support has been amazing. I believe this is the first of many this year, but that first one was special, just to get it and feel the support. It was almost a flipping of a page.”

Searching for themes

Since adding running back Derrick Henry, the Ravens have been tough to beat. They finished first in total offense in 2024 and third in scoring. They currently lead the league in points per game in the initial stages of the current season, impressively averaging 40.5.

Of course, they’re not invincible. They blew the season opener against the Bills. They also lost six games last season, including a Divisional Round matchup in Buffalo.

I asked Campbell if there had been any recurring themes in those defeats.

“Population of the football, gang tacking, trying to make this guy (Henry) stop his feet, which is not an easy task,” Campbell said. "And then (those opponents) find a way to get takeaways. Those are the common themes. Look, it’s easy to say, it’s not always easy to do. We know the test that’s in front of us, the task that we’re given, and we accept it.”

Plan for new addition

Detroit signed former Louisville quarterback and Ravens receiver Malik Cunningham to the practice squad this week. Campbell confirmed the plan is to keep the player working as a receiver, while acknowledging there’s value in his ability to replicate his former college and NFL teammate, Lamar Jackson, on the practice field.

“Yeah, we want to use him, just to get some looks,” Campbell said. “But we’re also going to use him on offense as a receiver. So, we like the versatility. And yes, he gives us something that’s different for our defense to see that’ll help us.”

Campbell has been pleased with the way the Lions have handled a pair of mobile quarterbacks to start the season and sees value in having that ramp up heading into a matchup against Jackson, one of the elite dual-threats in NFL history.

“We talked about improving, we improved even from Week 1,” Campbell said. “I thought, with the exception of probably one play, I thought we did a pretty good job on (Bears QB) Caleb (Williams). It was a point of focus, man. We worked on it. Our guys really worked with each other, running the stunts and the games, and I thought we were very disciplined in that regard and it helped us."

Lasting impression

Shaw’s last NFL job before jumping to the college ranks, where he eventually carved out a great run at Stanford, was a four-year stint with the Ravens. He coached the team’s receivers and quarterbacks.

Asked what impact that time had in shaping his career, Shaw explained why it was instrumental.

“First and foremost, (former Ravens coach) Brian Billick, who was my receiving coach at Stanford, his organizational approach, I thought was outstanding,” Shaw said. "So the daily schedule that I used at Stanford was coach Billick's schedule.”

Shaw had similar praise for longtime Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome.

“His approach to personnel was the approach that we took at Stanford, to identifying the caliber of person and player that we're looking for, and I have that same feeling here,” Shaw said. “The standard that's been set, organizationally, who we're looking for, both how they're going to play and how they're going to be in our meetings and in our building and in the community.”

Unheralded and reciprocated dirty work

A significant chunk of Detroit’s rushing yardage against Chicago came on carries around the edges, with the team's receivers and tight ends providing several key blocks.

Montgomery highlighted one play, in particular, then noted how the backs return the favor.

“It was a very detailed play on the Jahmyr (Gibbs’ 42-yard) run down the right side, where (Kalif Raymond) Leaf sealed the safety, and Jahmyr was exactly where he was supposed to be in the run. We wanted him to put pressure on the corner there, to make the corner make the play, and because he had the trust in Leaf to get his job done, you could just watch that path. It didn't deviate.”

It wasn’t for Raymond, but Montgomery highlighted how, later in the game, Gibbs hurried downfield to provide a block for Jameson Williams.

“Watch Jahmyr Gibbs, and watch what he did on that play, playing without the football,” Montgomery said. “So when you do that for your teammate at the running back position, he turns around and does it for you. …Those are the things that make teams stronger and more connected.