Starting a new job is always a daunting experience, especially one as high-profile as “NFL player.”
Now a week into their first training camp, Detroit Lions rookies Jack Campbell and Jahmyr Gibbs are feeling more acquainted with the team and making the most out of every opportunity.
Head coach Dan Campbell said Sunday that, at this point with rookies, he wants to see that they belong and they’re not in over their heads.
“You expect them to struggle early with some things, and I would really say all those guys, you don’t feel that way, so that’s good,” he said. “You feel like OK, here we go, these guys will step up. They’re going to be able to handle this. They’re just gonna get better and better and better. I always think that’s the starting point with rookies.”
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Jack Campbell, who played linebacker for four seasons at Iowa before being selected 18th overall by the Lions, believes similarities between the two programs have helped his transition.
“I feel like it’s a program kind of ran like this organization,” he said. “You show up, you do what you’re expected to do. There’s no excuses. If you wanna set new standards, that’s what you gotta do.”
Since his arrival, he has been all business. Jack Campbell said he took the time to enjoy being drafted back in April, then quickly moved on to the work ahead. A self-proclaimed introvert, he has taken time to himself to learn the playbook while still going to veterans for guidance. He listed Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Anthony Pittman, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Malcolm Rodriguez — a rookie himself just last season — as some of the veterans he’s been learning from.
“We just like to compete and for me, obviously coming into a whole new system, whole new playbook, just really trying to be intentional with that, learn it as quick as I can,” Jack Campbell said. “So then when I step foot on the field, I kind of know how to do things, where to align, just like fundamental stuff, and then as I get more in tune with that, I can start looking at tendencies and stuff like that. I’d say that’s the biggest thing right now is just me getting my feet settled with the playbook.”
There’s no playbook to study however, when it comes to the Lions’ rookie tradition of singing in front of the whole team, especially if you’re not musically gifted. Campbell gave his rendition of Hank Williams Jr.’s “A Country Boy Can Survive,” a performance Gibbs scored as a 10 out of 10. Gibbs, meanwhile, opted for “Let Me Love You” by Mario, a performance he said he believes went equally as well.
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“I’m kind of more of an introverted person, but you just gotta go enjoy the moment,” Jack Campbell said. “Just be yourself; like, everyone has to do it, so might as well go out there and have fun.”
“I think it gets people out of their comfort zone,” Gibbs added.
Gibbs played two seasons at running back at Georgia Tech before transferring to Alabama for a year. He was selected 12th overall by the Lions in April. Like Campbell, Gibbs has been learning from the veterans, especially new free agent signing David Montgomery, whom he called a “big brother.”
He said he’s aware of the Lions’ offensive success last season — Detroit finished fifth on total yardage and 11th in rushing yards — and the expectations for 2023 and believes they can be great.
“It doesn’t scare me, but it pushes me because I wanna be great like those guys,” Gibbs said.