Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton, defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp all met with local media on Thursday in the lead up to Sunday’s game vs. the Packers.
Here are my six biggest takeaways from those sessions.
Offensive coordinator John Morton
It’s Isaac TeSlaa time
Morton was asked about the confidence he had in both Kalif Raymond and Isaac TeSlaa now that the Lions traded their established WR3 in Tim Patrick. Interestingly enough, Morton only talked about the rookie receiver, leaving Raymond out of
his answer entirely.
“Yeah, I think TeSlaa did a great job in training camp, here in practice, and he made plays,” Morton said. “He got better every single day, carried over to the game, we thought he did an unbelievable job. He’s a smart kid, he’s tough, there are some good things that he can do that’s going to help us this year. He took advantage of the opportunity when Tim was out.”
I don’t want to overreact to an omission, because sometimes a coach just forgets to mention a player in the middle of an answer. But I do think what he said about TeSlaa certainly suggests a big role for TeSlaa in his rookie season, even if it’s not right away.
David Shaw will be his boots on the ground
Morton will be up in the booth during the game, as he believes it’s less chaotic than the sidelines and he can see the game better. But his long-time friend—and Lions passing game coordinator— David Shaw is expected to be down on the field, and that gives Morton a sense of confidence that the players will get the proper coaching on the sidelines.
“He’s just another pair of eyes at the quarterback,” Morton said. “Just looking at the quarterback, any ideas. During in between series, he’s over there with the quarterback, they relay it to me things that he is seeing, so that’s kind of how that goes.”
Morton and Shaw go all the way back to the year 2000, when the both worked under Jon Gruden’s Raiders. And it’s clear Morton is excited to be working with him again.
“I think it’s awesome to have him down there,” Morton said. “He’s done it, he’s been the head coach, he’s just another pair of eyes that can help Jared during the game and Dan (Campbell), so I love it.”
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard
Sheppard anxious, not nervous for first game as DC
Sheppard was asked about his excitement to coordinator his first NFL game this Sunday, and while he admitted there was excitement, he was also quick to point out that it’s not about him.
“I take myself out of that equation. I’m excited for the players and the opportunity that these guys have to go out,” Sheppard said.
It would be natural for any coach to get a little anxious or nervous before their first game calling plays at this level—or at any level when it comes to Sheppard himself. But the Lions defensive coordinator differentiated between those two emotions. He is anxious. He is not nervous.
“I’m not BS-ing you at all. I’m not nervous at all. I’m very anxious, but I’m not nervous,” Sheppard said. “There’s a big difference. Someone is nervous, you’re not prepared. We are prepared and we will be prepared, and we’ll let the chips fall where they may on Sunday.”
Sheppard credits coach Dan Campbell and former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn for that preparation. For the past few years, he’s been calling plays in his mind in case Glenn was out, and Campbell afforded him plenty of situational opportunities in the preseason and training camp to the point where Sheppard feels prepared for anything.
“It’s the first time others are going to see me call games, call plays and things like that, but, as far as defensive players and myself, I’m going into this deal. I know the D and Ds [downs and distances], I know the plan, I know what we’ve said we’re going to do here, I know what we’ve said we’re going to do there, and not deviate from it no matter what,”
D.J. Reed means ‘everything to our defense’
The Lions’ cornerback room was looking very young heading into the offseason. Then the Lions added D.J. Reed via free agency, a player with seven years of experience and a Super Bowl appearance. Sheppard had high praise for Reed, not only in his ability, but in the example he sets for a young cornerback crowd, including second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold.
“Not just Terrion, he’s meant everything to our defense,” Sheppard said. “He’s been a plug and play guy not only on the field, but in the classroom, in the locker room. D.J. Reed, I can’t say enough about him. I know that (Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch and (Lions LB Alex Anzalone) Anzo were voted captains, but he would’ve easily been a guy that would’ve earned the right to wear that patch. Everything he does is by his work, all you have to do is watch him.”
Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp
Kickoffs still a work in progress for Jake Bates
Earlier this offseason, Fipp noted that last year Lions kicker Jake Bates was asked not to focus too much on the kickoff itself, instead working to get the field goal operation down. The strategy worked, as the Lions mostly took touchbacks on kick coverage and Bates was electric as a field goal kicker.
With that down, the Lions entered this year hoping to expand upon Bates’ skills on kickoffs, especially since a touchback is now much more costly—the ball moving from the 30 to the 35-yard line on kicks that land in or beyond the endzone. Fipp noted progress from Bates there, but admitted it’s something the Lions kicker will still need to work on.
“He’s definitely much better than he was a year ago, that’s for sure. I feel good about it,” Fipp said. “I would just tell you, in general, the strengths of his game are, man, big leg, pound it, drive the ball. Not necessarily place it as much, and this is a little bit more of a place it game, so it’s inherently a little more difficult for him. But, all that being said, I mean this guy’s an exceptional talent and he’s worked hard at it.”
In practice, it certainly seems like the Lions went away from the line-drive approach—a strategy that involves landing the ball between the 20-yard line and the goal line, making it difficult to return and avoiding the 35-yard touchdown. Still, Fipp expects Bates to grow throughout the season.
“I know he’ll continue to improve throughout the year. And I would say that for him in general, there’ll be ups and downs on the thing,” Fipp said.
Lions considering using starters in the return game
Because there is an expectation for a massive increase in kick returns this year with the new touchbacks, Fipp admitted that it does open up the possibility of using starters in the return game.
I think it’s definitely a conversation people have to have. I’m not going to get into all of that for us necessarily, but I think you’ve definitely got to consider it,“ Fipp said. ”It’s going to be impactful plays, and even if it’s not every time, is it in big moments? Is it – you know, I think we’ll find out.”
Based on what we’ve seen in training camp—and the team’s unofficial depth chart—it seems more likely the Lions will utilize some combination of Grant Stuard, Craig Reynolds, and Sione Vaki at kick returner, with Kalif Raymond remaining the punt returner. But in a big moment? Maybe they slip Jahmyr Gibbs or Jameson Williams back there.
