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The Detroit Lions defense has incurred a ton of injuries this season, but no position has been hurt more than the linebacker room. This is what the depth chart looked like in Week 1:<\/p>\n
SLB: Derrick Barnes
\nMLB: Jack Campbell
\nWLB: Alex Anzalone
\nReserve: Malcolm Rodriguez
\nReserve: Jalen Reeves-Maybin
\nReserve: Ben Niemann
\nReserve: Trevor Nowaske<\/p>\n
Four out of those top five players are now on injured reserve: Barnes, Anzalone, Rodriguez, and Reeves-Maybin. As a result, when the Lions faced the Packers last week, they had to play four different linebackers who were added to the roster in the month of November (or later): Ezekiel Turner (17 defensive snaps vs. GB), David Long (16), Kwon Alexander (17), and DB\/LB hybrid Jamal Adams (8).<\/p>\n
Despite the high overturn, the Lions managed to keep their head above water. On the first three possessions of Thursday night, they were terrorizing Packers quarterback Jordan Love, forcing his offense to punt, punt, and then turn the ball over on the third possession. By halftime, the Lions had held Green Bay to just seven points and a mere 104 net yards of offense. And while they didn\u2019t hold up as well in the second half, a key red-zone stop at the end of the game gave Detroit\u2019s offense all the room they needed to close out the game.<\/p>\n
So how has the linebacking unit managed to keep its head above water, and produce solid play despite having players who have been in the building just a couple of weeks?<\/p>\n
Linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard is one of the more beloved coaches in the building, but he was quick to credit his staff of assistants for helping get the newbies aboard as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you have guys, when I look to my right, and I got a guy like (assistant LB coach) Shaun Dion Hamilton, who\u2019s fully ready to run his own room as a linebacker coach,\u201d Sheppard said. \u201cI look to my left, I got (defensive assistant\/outside linebackers coach) Dave Corrao, who helps me with the edge guys, the OLB guys, and then I look in front of me, and I got Aaron Glenn, I\u2019m all good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sheppard believes one reason players are catching on quickly is the standard defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has set, and the buy-in that has followed from all the players in Detroit.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had guys tell me this in my room that, \u2018Man, guys talk about this, but the way that y\u2019all practice here, the way we prepare, this is different, man,\u2019\u201d Sheppard said. \u201cSo when they see the belief, when they see us living these things, I think it\u2019s a trickle-down and these guys buy-in, and it\u2019s almost like without knowing.\u201d<\/p>\n
That unwavering buy-in helps motivate guys like Anzalone\u2014who remains on injured reserve\u2014to get in on the onboarding process, whispering tips to guys like Alexander and Long in the linebacker meeting room.<\/p>\n
The lone remaining starter from the beginning of the season, Campbell has certainly taken the Year 2 jump many were anticipating. The 2023 first-round pick is now the ninth-highest graded linebacker by PFF with the sixth-highest run defense grade among linebackers with at least 200 run defense snaps.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s playing at, if not the highest level, one of the highest levels, at that position in the league the last month,\u201d Sheppard said.<\/p>\n
Beyond that, Campbell has taken up a leadership role. With Anzalone out, Campbell has taken over the green-dot responsibilities, communicating the play calls with all levels of the defense. He\u2019s become such a natural middle linebacker, that Turner\u2014despite knowing Campbell\u2019s only in his second year\u2014said he feels the presence of a veteran player.<\/p>\n
Speaking of Turner, when the Lions signed him to their practice squad, we were quick to point out his vast experience playing special teams\u2014and that was not meant to be any disrespect to Turner. Up until landing in Detroit, he had 1,769 special teams snaps in the NFL compared to just 190 on defense.<\/p>\n
Even Sheppard admitted he didn\u2019t know anything about Turner when he landed on the roster. But in the month that followed\u2014when Turner was forced into the lineup and has now played three straight games with at least 11 defensive snaps\u2014Sheppard learned one very clear thing about him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI learned that he\u2019s not a special teams linebacker, and I want that said to the entire league,\u201d Sheppard said. \u201cI believe this is his seventh year, and he was almost in tears after the last game, just because of the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Turner had one of the most important plays of the entire game Thursday night. Love, facing a third-and-goal from the 14-yard line, had an opportunity to re-take the lead with under four minutes remaining. After the pocket started to close, Love tucked the ball to try and scramble for the score. Turner, who had coverage on the running back, had to make a split-second decision: stay with the back or get to Love. He dashed toward the quarterback and stopped him for just a 2-yard gain. The Packers had to settle for a game-tying field goal, and Green Bay would never get the ball back again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew I was trusted with a big role and in that critical situation,\u201d Turner told Detroit Football Network after the game. \u201cAnd the standard is the standard. No matter who is in there, we know, we play how we play in Detroit. I knew I had to bring my A-game and do my job to the best of my ability. That\u2019s what I was trying to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sheppard was quick to point out that the players they acquired can ball. Turner is a seven-year vet. Alexander is in Year 10. Adams is in his eighth seasons. To be able to identify, assess their fit, and acquire those players this late in the season, requires a well-oiled machine when it comes to the personnel department. It has been Director of Pro Scouting Rob Lohman\u2019s time to shine.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s helped that Sheppard has a relationship with a couple of the new players\u2014Adams and Alexander share LSU roots with him\u2014but the linebackers coach has been amazed by the culture fit of everyone in the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese guys have come in, they\u2019ve been coached differently (than) my coaching style. I know that, but they know the standard is the standard, and I credit these guys,\u201d Sheppard said. \u201cEach and every one of them has stepped in here, \u2018Yes, sir.\u2019 \u2018No, sir.\u2019 This is the way we play. This is the way we do it. And they understand if you show that in practice, you\u2019re going to get opportunities on game day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, every front office has its limits. And Lohman joked with Sheppard that he may not be able to help any longer if the injuries keep happening.<\/p>\n
\u201cRob Lohman told me the other day, \u2018I don\u2019t got much left in the vault, though, Shep. Tell those guys to be careful, okay?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lions LB coach Kelvin Sheppard explains how the defense has remained strong despite multiple injuries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6271,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6270","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-detroit-lions"],"yoast_head":"\n