Has the Detroit Lions defense finally started to settle in?
That question has a much different feel now than it did a month ago. Detroit’s defense opened the season looking rough enough to spark real concern, but over the last four weeks, defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has helped the group find some footing. It still has a long way to go, and the loss of All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell in the Week 8 win over the Minnesota Vikings only adds more pressure on the unit.
There was a point when some fans and media members were ready to move on from Sheppard if the defense didn’t turn things around, especially after the loss to the Carolina Panthers, when Detroit looked out-schemed from the start. But after some tough conversations and a few schematic and personnel changes, the defense has started to look more stable since the Week 5 blowout of the Arizona Cardinals.
Even with only a three-game sample to judge, it’s fair to say this group has started to figure some things out. It is far from clean - there are still too many missed assignments - but Detroit can do a lot with the way its front is playing. Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill are making their presence felt almost every snap.
The support around them has picked up, too. Rookie Skyler Gill-Howard and second-year defensive tackle Tyleik Williams are both playing good football, and the secondary has shown signs of settling down.
D.J. Reed’s play has leveled out, Brian Branch is back in the mix, and the team opened up All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph’s 21-day window last week.
If Detroit can keep stopping the run and clean up the blown coverage issues that have shown up through seven games, this defense could be good enough to matter late in the season. For a team with an offense like the Lions have, that might be all they need.
In Other News...
Lions Hit With NFL Punishment After Another Edge-Crossing Moment
The NFLs emphasis on sportsmanship has once again landed on Detroit, with the league continuing to crack down on taunting as it tries to keep emotions from spilling over. For the Lions, it is another reminder that even in the heat of a divisional matchup, the line between competitive fire and unnecessary attention from the officials can be a thin one.
Detroit also received the leagues latest reminder about preventing unsportsmanlike conduct, a message that extends beyond game day and into the controlled chaos of joint practices. With the NFL making clear it wants those standards enforced consistently, the Lions are being asked to keep their edge without giving the league a reason to step in again. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Need These 3 Defenders To Hold Up Vs Miami
The Lions are heading into their Week 9 matchup with Miami with some real strain on the defensive side of the ball, and the ripple effect is putting more on the plate for several depth pieces. Moore is in line for a bigger workload, Rodriguez is set for a heavier role in the middle, and Ya-Sin should see more snaps in the secondary, all because Detroit is trying to patch together a defense that has been hit by injuries at multiple levels.
For a team facing a Dolphins offense that can stress a defense in a hurry, the timing is far from ideal. Moore, Rodriguez and Ya-Sin now have a chance to show they can hold up under expanded responsibilities, but their performance grades and recent usage suggest different levels of readiness as the Lions try to get through a game that could ask a lot more of them than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Face A Week 9 Depth Chart Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Lions are heading into their Week 9 matchup with Miami with the kind of updated depth chart that always gets attention, even when the headline names are still expected to suit up. Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown are all projected to be available, but the list still reflects the wear and tear that comes with this point in the season, and Detroit has already started making small roster moves to keep the week on track.
One of those moves points to a thinner margin than the Lions would prefer, especially in the backfield and along the defensive front. Practice squad elevations are often a sign of caution rather than panic, but they also tell the story of a team trying to protect itself against short-term absences while waiting for the final injury picture to settle. [Read more 🡒]