Dan Campbell OTA Day 3 Press Conference — May 29, 2026

[0:00] We started OTAs on Tuesday or Wednesday, I guess. [0:06] So, you know, today will be day three. [0:08] But it's, you know, the guys are working hard. [0:10] We wouldn't expect anything different. [0:12] And then, as we all know, the OTAs, it's, you know, we're really doing right now for this week. [0:18] It's jog through with the team. [0:20] And then we're moving pretty good on seven on seven. [0:23] But, you know, we'll have two spots. [0:25] We're going to have two fields and walk through. [0:27] So don't read into all that. [0:30] I saw so-and-so on field, too. [0:32] Okay. [0:33] Doesn't mean anything. [0:34] The guys know that, too. [0:35] So we're working through it. [0:37] This time of year is about communication, man. [0:39] Working your craft, getting better at what you do. [0:41] And then, man, learning to work with the guy next to you, whoever that is. [0:45] Nobody's going to win a job in the spring. [0:47] So that's where we're at. [0:51] Kirby, Branch, LaPorta, they're all improving. [0:55] Okay. [0:56] None of them are practicing. [0:57] It's the best I can tell you. [0:58] In Arizona. [1:01] Questions. [1:01] No, you're good. [1:04] We talked to you in Arizona. [1:06] You talked about moving today over to the left side. [1:09] Is that, in fact, been the case? [1:11] And just you were pretty confident it wouldn't take long for him to kind of fall into it. [1:14] I know it's not pads. [1:15] It's early. [1:16] But just how's that going? [1:17] Good. [1:18] You know, good. [1:19] But he's over there. [1:21] He's been, you know, really since. [1:24] I mean, he's been working it. [1:26] Even being back home before we started the offseason, you know, once I gave him the word. [1:30] So it'll be like riding a bike for him. [1:33] You know, he will be things left. [1:36] Yeah, of course there will be. [1:37] But, I mean, he has played left. [1:39] That's muscle memory. [1:40] You know, he played a lot of left in college and for us for those, you know, in 21, those first few games. [1:45] And he still took reps at left even, you know, over the last five years. [1:49] So that'll be seamless. [1:54] That'll be seamless. [1:55] So it can do it all. [1:56] Just a quick follow-up on the ranch, Joseph Laporta. [1:59] I know, you know, whatever, it's spring. [2:00] But can you, what are your plans, visions for them for the spring, summer? [2:04] I mean, there's no need to get them on the field, I guess, now. [2:06] Do you want to see Kirby or Sam at all? [2:09] Is it important for them? [2:10] No, I don't. [2:11] That's not the priority. [2:13] And it's not worth all that anyway, you know. [2:17] Now, Laporta's taking some walk through, jog through. [2:20] He's done some of that. [2:20] He's not going to be out there today. [2:23] But that's not a, you know, listen, the most important thing, [2:27] is continue to let them improve, rehab, all that. [2:30] That'll take precedence right now. [2:32] So they're in meetings. [2:33] You know, they're getting the mental side of this. [2:36] And just take it day to day. [2:38] Anybody else out there that we, you know, just so we're not covering? [2:41] There'll be a lot of guys who probably won't practice. [2:44] You know, TA probably won't practice. [2:46] We'll have a couple of these rookies that probably won't do very much. [2:50] And that's more precautionary. [2:52] You know, some of the rookies, it's the same way every year. [2:56] They train for the combine or for the, you know, for all of those drills. [3:01] They don't train for football. [3:02] So, you know, we just got our hands on them, you know, for, I guess, going on week three, [3:07] something like that. [3:08] So we just want to be smart with these guys, make sure they're ready to get on the field [3:11] to do, even though it's not a lot to be able to do that. [3:15] We don't want any setbacks. [3:16] So there'll be some guys that don't read into it. [3:19] You know, I've told you, you know, the big three. [3:23] Preemptively answered part of my question, but you scratched the rookie minicamp this [3:28] year. [3:28] You were, you know, doing a big overview of what you want to maybe change. [3:31] What went into that change? [3:33] And then I guess the second part of that is how did you maybe supplement the acclimation [3:37] period for those guys? [3:39] Well, I think, you know, yes, I kind of answered it there. [3:46] They're not ready. [3:47] They're not ready for football. [3:48] Not really. [3:48] Even on a limited basis. [3:50] Now, it's good to, here's, you get them acclimated, you get them on the field, at least it's your [3:56] kind of first chance to do those things. [3:58] And you can bring in some other guys, some veteran guys, you know, some tryout guys, some, [4:04] and you may, you may find somebody you like. [4:06] So you get a little bit of that, but it's, it's not worth it anymore, you know? [4:11] And, and really the, the straw that broke the camel's back last year was, you know, it [4:18] was the first walkthrough. [4:19] We had guys all over the ground, you know? [4:23] So the league didn't take too kindly to that. [4:25] And, you know, and it's not worth it. [4:28] It's just not worth it. [4:29] So let's get them ready. [4:30] Let's physically get them ready to where they can, they can get with the rest of the guys [4:36] and, and look like football players a little bit. [4:38] Do you feel like there's been some changes, like you mentioned, schedule wise, your offensive [4:43] line is going to look a lot different. [4:45] You've changed, maybe the most changes you guys have made in an off season. [4:49] Is there something about evolving now and not, because last year you did make the playoffs, [4:53] not just running it back, so to speak. [4:55] Is that part of what you guys are dealing with right now? [4:58] Well, look, you know, some of it, as you guys know, every year, you know, you, there become [5:07] new challenges, obviously, between cash and cap, as we all know, right? [5:12] Um, so that's always going to play into it. [5:15] But I think it's, you know, when you've been able to hold a group together for a significant [5:20] amount of time and then it doesn't, you know, you don't get the benefits you want or the [5:25] results that you want, you know? [5:28] Um, now there's a lot of things that go into that, but it's, it's, it's probably time to [5:32] shake it up a little bit, you know? [5:35] Um, and listen, I, I mentioned this at the owner's meetings, the guys that, that, that [5:40] have been here that we were not able to resign or have gone other places, man, those guys [5:45] will, uh, we will forever be grateful to those players. [5:49] You know, they were a big part of this and for us to get up on our feet, you know, and [5:54] I wish them the best. [5:55] Um, but it's, this is a new season, man. [5:58] It's a new season. [5:59] It's a new year. [5:59] And, uh, there are a lot of things that will never change here that we're about, but there [6:04] are going to be things that we, yes, we evolve, uh, offensively, defensively, special teams. [6:10] There's, there's a lot that we can get better at. [6:12] Um, and really the most important thing is learning to work together, man. [6:16] And the more you work together, the better you get at your craft, the more you trust the [6:21] guy next to you, the confidence goes up. [6:23] Then winning goes up. [6:25] Dan, last year you said on the podium when the season was over, you're going to take a deep [6:30] dive and the whole organization go by with all this work. [6:33] Okay. [6:33] Now that the new season started, um, the video you guys put out was a no nonsense video with [6:39] the schedule. [6:40] Did you find something out during that deep dive that you are going to implement immediately? [6:44] Or was there one thing last year that you said, we're not doing that again? [6:48] No, I just think there again, there's so many things that go into it. [6:53] There are, it's not just one thing. [6:55] You know, when things don't go the way you want them to there, it's not just one, just [6:59] like it's, it's not one player. [7:01] It's not one coach. [7:02] It's, it takes everybody to win and it takes everybody to probably lose, you know, unfortunately. [7:08] Um, uh, so, but I do think, man, just getting back to a little bit of the, the no nonsense. [7:18] Um, you know, it's a lot easier when, you know, when nobody knows who you are, you know, I'm [7:24] talking about us as a team and all that, um, because you, you know, now you, you just, [7:30] you kind of fly right under the radar, you know, but then the better you do, the more [7:33] you do, the more hype, the more, uh, you're doing this, you're doing this, this, this player [7:38] gets paid, this coach, this, well, you know, whatever, this coach moves on now. [7:42] He's a, and it's all this other stuff that, that has nothing to do with what got us to [7:47] that point that gave everybody. [7:49] We all reap the benefits of that. [7:50] Um, it's just a little bit, let's get back to that, man. [7:54] Let's just get back to the business of what it is. [7:56] It's about football first and foremost, and it's about the guy next to you. [8:00] Um, that's it. [8:02] That's it. [8:03] And you, have you, have the players kind of, have you helped players buy into that? [8:07] Well, I look, it's, it's not that hard. [8:12] I mean, our guys, that's the good news is it doesn't take, our guys know, man, you [8:16] know, and our guys know, you know, we got the right guys. [8:20] That's why we've, um, you know, you, you guys know who they are. [8:25] That's why it's so insane and Jack and golf and, you know, Hutch and we can keep [8:30] going, you know, we can keep going. [8:33] Um, so those, those are our guys. [8:36] And then let's bring in some competitive guys, um, that we feel like fit what we're [8:41] about. [8:41] We try to do that every year and, and man, they'll, they'll be, they'll mesh with [8:45] those other guys. [8:46] It'll be good. [8:46] You know, speaking of some of those new guys, we talked to Jack on Wednesday after day [8:51] one and he said, it's refreshing to see kind of just a new hunger amongst some of [8:56] those new guys. [8:57] I know it's only been two practices, but has there been any new faces that have [9:00] stuck out in the first two days? [9:02] Uh, I mean, there's been a lot of guys that have done really well, uh, for two [9:07] days in pajamas. [9:08] And then there's, you know, there's some that are learning through it. [9:11] You know, they're working through it. [9:12] They're learning. [9:13] Um, but there again, I'm not gonna, I'm done with the hype of, of, uh, the pajama [9:19] party in may, I'm just, so man, it's about the mental, it's about the movement [9:24] skills, like all that other stuff doesn't matter. [9:26] And then we'll find out in training camp. [9:28] Who's who this will be the most competition we've had. [9:31] In my opinion. [9:32] Um, I think top tier competition, I mean, this is going to be, this will be good. [9:39] It's going to be good across the board. [9:41] Um, you know, so now it's just there again, let's get acclimated. [9:46] Let's get, we want to hit the ground running when we get to late July, August, that's [9:50] what we want. [9:51] So that's really what this time's about one or two spots in particular that you're really [9:57] impressed with that depth right now. [9:58] Yeah, there's a lot. [10:00] Yeah. [10:01] Sure. [10:01] You want to know what they are. [10:04] Can you talk about, uh, I mean, obviously one of the emphasis is off season was that [10:08] the offensive line, you guys bring a lot of new guys in acclimating these guys, how have [10:13] they been doing so far in just the job that you guys deal with the line? [10:15] You feel like, you know, they will come on, be better than last year. [10:19] I like those guys, you know, and they're again, it's early. [10:21] Um, but you know, Cade, man, he's a good looking dude, man. [10:25] He's a big man. [10:27] Uh, he's built right. [10:28] Moves pretty good. [10:29] And, and now it's just getting up to speed with our terminology, the mic points, all that. [10:33] But, but, uh, but I like Cade, man. [10:36] He's, he's going to be a, he's a good fit for us. [10:38] You know, um, he's a good fit for us, you know, and, and same thing with Larry Borum, [10:44] man, you know, moving soul over there to left. [10:46] I think there again, um, for what you want from a young guy talking about with where we [10:53] are going into week six of all season or whatever, I like where Rattledge is going, right? [10:56] That's good. [10:57] You know, it's good. [10:58] So I feel a guy that, um, you know, had learned a lot and has grown, you know, has taken some [11:07] of those things. [11:07] So that's good. [11:08] Um, but yeah, we, we got a lot of competition in there. [11:11] I came back to the conversation with Panay about switching positions and how much his mindset [11:20] and talent, athleticism allows him to, to do that. [11:25] Yeah. [11:26] Well, he's, I mean, his talent speaks for itself and then he he's, he's got all the intangibles. [11:34] I mean, that's why he's, he's rare, you know, he's got, he, he has all the skills. [11:38] He has all the intangibles and he, you know, he, he works hard, man. [11:41] He works hard. [11:43] So, um, he's just, he's versatile. [11:46] I mean, there, there's a number of positions he could play. [11:48] I think he could play guard if we want him to play guard. [11:50] I've already told you can play tight end if you need him to play tight end on some [11:52] stuff, just, you know, uh, the big thing will be don't overload him, you know, I mean, pretty [11:57] soon it's like any other player, you start asking him to play three different positions, [12:01] you know, and it starts to add up, but he's just, you know, he's, he's another one who's [12:06] don't take that for granted, his ability to move, um, and kick over. [12:11] But, you know, he's, um, he was good, you know, he's, he'll do whatever we ask him to [12:17] do. [12:18] That's he's a team guy. [12:19] Yeah, just thoughts on, uh, where Levi is and any chance he can pick up on the momentum [12:25] he had coming out of 24. [12:27] Yep. [12:28] I like, I like where Levi's at. [12:30] All right. [12:30] And I'll leave it at that. [12:31] He's working. [12:32] He feels good. [12:33] I'm not hyping anybody up. [12:38] Not in May. [12:39] It's not worth it. [12:41] Organizationally, you guys are cool with the TA stuff off the field and all that stuff. [12:45] Yeah, I, I'm, we're good. [12:48] You know, my understanding, we're good. [12:50] And, uh, it's all I know. [12:53] Just sneak one in here about the whole 2024 group, uh, Terry on MS and that class. [12:59] What's what gives you confidence that group is still developing and can give you what you [13:02] need from, from the program? [13:03] Well, I like that room. [13:05] I mean, we, we got Reed, we got Dorsey, uh, we got McCrary, uh, you know, we drafted Abney. [13:11] Who knows? [13:11] He's a rook. [13:12] We'll see. [13:13] Um, you know, um, I mean, we, we got a number of guys in there and, and also we got, we got [13:21] rake straw and we got Arnold. [13:23] So, you know, you just mentioned those first two and I understand, but I mean, that's a [13:27] good room, man. [13:27] There's some thick competition in there. [13:29] You know, we got a veteran guy in Reed, man. [13:30] He's done a lot, played a lot. [13:32] Um, so it, it'll be good. [13:34] I mean, anything can happen. [13:36] Did you feel you guys got away from things? [13:39] You said shake things up a little bit, but when you did your deep dive, did you guys get [13:43] away from some things that bothered you? [13:45] Um, well, I, I think inevitably there's things that you get away from, but there's reasons [13:54] why too. [13:55] You don't just do it to do it. [13:56] Sometimes it's, you're, you're trying to, you're trying to adjust, you know, you're trying [14:01] to adjust, you're trying to help yourself. [14:02] And, uh, and you may be helping yourself, but then you're becoming something you don't [14:07] want to be because you're forced to. [14:09] Um, so there, there's a lot that goes into it, you know, and I think more importantly, [14:15] it's about doing the little things, right? [14:18] Not beating yourself and getting our confidence back, man. [14:20] And there's only one way to do that. [14:22] You know, you got to prove to yourself. [14:24] You can, you can win. [14:27] Um, you can win tight games, uh, situational football. [14:31] And the only way to do it is do it in real time. [14:34] You know, you do the best you can to prep yourself and practice for it. [14:37] But, but when it, when the real bullets are flying, that's, that's when you got to do [14:41] it. [14:42] Okay.