Dan Campbell's Attention to Detail Aids Lions' Trick Plays
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The Detroit Lions made waves with their willingness to fake punts during the 2021 season.
Led by special teams coaches Dave Fipp and Jett Modkins, Detroit successfully pulled off three fake punts last season. Two of them came in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams, a game in which the team also executed an onside kick.
Heading into 2022, it is reasonable to expect more of the same from the Lions’ special teams units. Head coach Dan Campbell has installed a fearless mindset in his team heading into his second year as head coach.
Modkins appeared on the latest episode of the "Twentyman in the Huddle" podcast.
In the latest episode, hosted by team reporter Tim Twentyman, the assistant special teams coach spoke on the team’s success when taking risks on special teams.
“Coach Fipp is great,” Modkins said. “Coach Campbell is as well. I mean, coach Campbell is super aggressive, so he’s always looking for any advantage he can find in the special teams phases. Coach Fipp as well.”
Modkins played an important role on the staff last season, as he experimented with different potential fake punts against Detroit’s rush team. During the season, he would throw different looks at the defense and consult with Fipp on what worked.
“Something that we do is we practice fakes,” he said. “We practice different fakes, and he gives me the freedom to work on different fakes against our rush team that maybe we don’t have installed. That’s a lot of fun for me, because I look at some of these offensive plays and I try to build it into maybe a punt or some type of return.”
Modkins added that the Lions’ special teams unit has been so successful partly because of Campbell’s attention to detail.
“It’s incredible,” Modkins said. “Coach Campbell, he doesn’t miss a rep of special teams. He comes into coach Fipp’s office every night and we watch every single clip. We watch it all.”
Jameson Williams’ special teams potential
Coming off a torn ACL suffered in January, it’s uncertain when the Alabama product will be available to play for the Lions. The rookie had said he hoped to be ready by training camp, but Campbell told the media he was uncertain that those words would ring true.
When Williams is in fact able to return, he could play a role under Fipp and Modkins. The Lions return last season’s primary punt returner, Kalif Raymond, but could see a competition.
“Once he gets back out there, we’ll throw little hints out there, try to get the keys to the car,” Modkins said. “(Williams), he might be the one asking to get back there before anybody else. That dude is competitive and he loves ball, so it wouldn’t surprise me if it went out like that.”
At Alabama last season, Williams spent some time as a return man. He returned 10 kicks in the 2021 season for 352 yards and two dazzling touchdowns. He did not return any punts.
Despite the relative inexperience, Modkins said the rookie’s passion for football could get him on the field in several ways.
“To me, (Williams) lights up whenever he’s in this building, he’s great to be around,” Modkins said. “Even out there on the field everybody talks about when he goes between the white lines, he definitely glows then. When he’s in this building, he’s locked in. He’s in every one of our special teams meetings locked in. We show a lot of his special teams stuff that he did in college, my favorite one as the gunner clip. He sends this dude into another realm.”
Heading into Year 2
Modkins was part of a rebuilt coaching staff brought together by Campbell prior to last season. His father, Curtis Modkins, coached the Lions’ running backs from 2013-15.
Thoughts of coaching crept into his mind after his playing career ended. With stints at Glendale (Arizona) Community College and Mesa (Arizona) Community College, he’d gathered JUCO experience. However, he couldn’t fight the injury bug and elected to get into coaching.
“I got hurt, I couldn’t stay healthy,” Modkins said. “When I decided to put the cleats up, I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know what else I’m gonna do.’ I never really thought about anything else other than football. It was natural for me to step into this role, especially seeing it done my whole life with all the coaches that I’ve been around.”
Prior to working in Detroit, he was hired by the Broncos as part of the team’s Diversity Coaching Intern program. He worked alongside his father, who was the team’s running backs coach. Now, Curtis is coaching the Minnesota Vikings’ running backs coach.
Heading into his second season, Modkins is committed to doing his part to get the Lions back into contention. Last year was his first time working directly with special teams, and he was able to connect with the entire team. This was core to his experience and something he appreciates about working with Fipp and the special teams units.
“I loved it,” Modkins said. “Especially being in the special teams role. It’s so much bigger than just one unit. You work with the whole team, whole roster. Working with the receivers, it was a much smaller group, I didn’t have the same relationship with maybe some of the defensive players that I do now as a special teams coach. I have a relationship with just about every player on this team and that’s one of my favorite things about this job. I love that, especially about special teams.”
