Lions head coach Dan Campbell has set a goal for his team to play with more instinctiveness in the 2024 season. To emphasize this point, he referenced a character played by actor Will Ferrell as an example of what he wants the team to avoid. Ferrell’s character Ron Burgundy in Anchorman gets into trouble by reading off a teleprompter without realizing that the text has been changed to something vulgar. Campbell wants his team to be able to adapt to situations and make adjustments on the fly to improve their chances of success.
Campbell believes that awareness of who is on the field and what the situation calls for is crucial for the team to grow offensively and defensively. He wants his players to be able to think on their feet and not just stick to the initial plan like Ron Burgundy reading off a script. The coach feels that this adaptability is the next step in the team’s evolution and will help them compete at a higher level, as demonstrated by their game against San Francisco.
With a few years of continuity on both offense and defense, the Lions are expected to have a strong understanding of their roles and the game plan. This depth of understanding should allow them to make quick adjustments during games and perform at a higher level during the upcoming season. If they can achieve this goal, they will set themselves up for a successful season without needing any heroic efforts to save the day.