As the pressure continues to mount on the Detroit Lions and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, one popular solution proposed by fans is to add a senior defensive assistant. On Wednesday, coach Dan Campbell said he hasn’t considered adding someone to the coaching staff.
“Not at this moment, no I have not,” Campbell said.
However, Campbell did leave the door open for that possibility, noting that next week’s bye week could be an opportunity to re-assess everything.
“Look, we’ve got another game here,
and then I’m going to have a bye to be able to sit down for a minute, and not drink out of a fire hydrant,” Campbell said. “And that’ll help just a tic.”
While adding a defensive assistant coach midseason is not a very common elixir to fixing problems, there is precedent of it working. Back in 2024, the Baltimore Ravens were struggling mightily under second-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr. In early October, Baltimore hired Dean Pees as a senior advisor, and the Ravens defense was drastically different down the stretch of the season. After allowing 25.2 points per game through five weeks, Baltimore allowed just 19.6 points per game after the hiring of Pees.
In the meantime, the Lions head to Arizona this week to face a Cardinals team that is currently 17th in points scored, 31st in yards per play, and 17th in EPA/play. If Detroit’s defense—which currently ranks 31st in points allowed, 29th in yards per play, and 32nd in EPA/play—can’t hold them in check, it could mean changes are coming during their break.
