Lions’ Dan Campbell: ‘I’m Not Sure’ Za’Darius Smith Is a Culture Fit

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is known for his fiery and passionate sideline demeanor, and he expects the same from his players.

But Campbell is also a realist, and he knows that not every player is going to be a perfect fit for his culture.

That may be the case with Za’Darius Smith, the veteran pass rusher who the Lions signed to a three-year, $42 million contract in March.

Campbell has been critical of Smith’s conditioning and effort at times, and he even benched him for a series in the Lions’ preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

After the game, Campbell said that he was “not sure” if Smith was a culture fit for the Lions.

“I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” Campbell said. “I’m not sure if he’s a culture fit. He’s got to do some things different. He’s got to get in better shape. He’s got to play harder. He’s got to be more consistent.”

Smith is a talented player, but he has a history of being overweight and out of shape.

He also has a history of being fined for tardiness and other off-field issues.

If Smith wants to be a success in Detroit, he’s going to have to change his ways.

Here are some of the things that Smith needs to do to improve his conditioning and effort:

• Eat a healthy diet
• Get regular exercise
• Get enough sleep
• Stay hydrated
• Avoid alcohol and drugs

Here are some of the things that Smith needs to do to improve his culture fit:

• Be on time for meetings and practices
• Follow the team’s rules
• Be a good teammate
• Show effort and intensity on every play

If Smith can make these changes, he has the potential to be a valuable contributor to the Lions.

But if he can’t, he may not be a good fit for Campbell’s culture.