Notes: Dan Campbell thinks D’Andre Swift ‘can be pretty special’

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell was interviewed on SiriusXM NFL Radio, and a clip of the segment went up yesterday. Besides some reminiscing with Movin’ the Chains host Jim Miller about their time in the league as players, the Lions’ head coach offered some thoughts on the offense.

It’s no surprise that he considers the best part of the offense to be the nutritionally-disciplined offensive line, but Campbell reiterated his faith in running backs D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. He thinks the interaction between the ballcarriers and the blockers up front will be good for the running game, and again we have hints of a Saints-style two back system.

Acknowledging the frequency of injuries in such a physical sport, Campbell likes the variety having both Swift and Williams brings to the ground attack. According to the coach, the staff “likes those guys, we like the change up.” While Swift is a devastating option in the passing game, Williams brings a good deal of power inside.

It seems likely there will be heavy usage of both running backs this season. If our fearless leader Jeremy Reisman is right we might even get to see them on the field at the same time for some snaps.

Now, on to the rest of today’s Notes:

• Drew Magary of Defector posted his annual Why Your Team Sucks article for the Detroit Lions (Subscription required). While we can neither confirm nor deny if ZODIAC MF shows up, it is always an entertaining (and sadly accurate) read.

• Yesterday, MLive’s Kyle Meinke wrote that the Lions believe the deep ball is coming back to the offense. Judging by our fearless leader’s live reporting from practice today, they weren’t kidding.

• Eric Woodyard at ESPN wrote a feature about new Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson’s 329-yard game against the Dallas Cowboys in 2013. Woodyard also posted some audio of quarterback Matthew Stafford remembering Megatron’s performance that day.

• The trees are safe once more:

• MLive’s Kyle Meinke found a guy who bet big on the Lions to win the division and then go on to win the Super Bowl in three separate bets.

“It was pretty funny,” Pashak said. “I tried to place the bet, and the cashier — the lady working at the sportsbook — at first refused the bet on the grounds that she didn’t take bets from people who had no shot to win. She thought it was an unwinnable bet.”

• Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzolo did not rank the Detroit Lions’ wide receiver corps dead last in the league.

• PSA for those attending Family Fest tomorrow: