Nick Baumgardner

Nick Baumgardner

@nickbaumgardner.bsky.social

Senior writer at The Athletic. NFL Draft analyst. Flint born, Millington Cardinal. 🎙️Welcome to Detroit. Writer of Books. YT/IG: @nickbaumgardnerfb

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I love Dan Campbell admitting analytics had nothing to do with his 4th down call vs GB Some models had it as a toss-up, some said go just barely. He ignored all of it and went with his gut (which is what it looked like). Don’t care where you land on that tbh, I just respect the honesty.

(and for the record it was, and remains, a stupid decision — he tried to jam it in there without a plan or play he knew would work, it was spur of the moment carelessness and he got lucky)

I love Dan Campbell admitting analytics had nothing to do with his 4th down call vs GB Some models had it as a toss-up, some said go just barely. He ignored all of it and went with his gut (which is what it looked like). Don’t care where you land on that tbh, I just respect the honesty.

I cannot tell you how many coaches I’ve seen do something reactionary like that without consulting any data. Then it works and it’s later revealed numbers supported the decision and the coach now wants to say: ‘We use science in this building.’ No you don’t lol stop pandering ‘

same thing happened with him in WWE, btw ... many really liked him when he started, most I'd say actually. but over time, and it didn't take long, he was universally loathed and basically had to leave

and that's where the line gets drawn -- if you wanna go for that, fine. i really don't have that big an issue but you cannot just "we'll slam it up there and see what happens" you CANNOT coach like a player. and Campbell still does that way too much

Lions were up 10-7 going in for a score with like 50 seconds to go in the first half, and getting the ball to start the second, and are now down 14-10 losing football in every way, just handing Green Bay -- who is not really playing well -- the game at this point

This is grow-up time for the Lions, basically, right now. They can continue to be the really talented offense that does dumb shit in winning time and loses critical games by, like, 1 or 2 plays or they can stop being that.

take your pick, you can point to literally everyone in that huddle save for Goff as being a reason for sabotaging an extremely productive drive this year ... lotta boys have to turn into big boys now

it's hard to quit LaNorris Sellers -- but in the money moments, way too often, it's impossible not to notice his happy feet, rushed process and general lack of an ability to just bear tf down

that last shot was a game-winning TD if he just takes a normal drop, plants his feet and throws the ball on time. instead he danced with it, swung his back leg and over-shot the dude by 5 yards