After talking with some NFL draft prospects during the 2023 Scouting Combine week in Indianapolis, I got a better idea of the experience of formally interviewing with the Detroit Lions and head coach Dan Campbell.
Several players, notably Iowa TE Sam LaPorta, described how the Lions ask players to watch some film and then quickly analyze their role if put into the situation on film. Those are the more technical aspects of the interview period.
But what about Campbell’s demeanor?
For that perspective, Lions linebacker coach Kelvin Sheppard offers up some details. In an interview with Dannie Rogers of the Lions, Sheppard details how Campbell acts in the interview room.
“Dan kind of sits back, to be honest,” Sheppard told Rogers, which she quickly stated might be more intimidating for a prospect.
Sheppard agreed and then continued,
“Then out of nowhere he’ll get out of his seat and go up to the screen and be like, ‘alright, well tell me this — this guy goes here (gestures one direction) and that guy goes there, what are you going to do?”
Sheppard said he wants players to know “don’t get nervous. Dan is one of us.”
What I would give to be a fly on the wall during combine interviews with Head Coach Dan Campbell. . . @KelvinSheppard helped us paint us a picture of what HC is like lol @Lions pic.twitter.com/cWy8G1GGQQ
— Dannie (@dannierogers___) March 6, 2023
