Detroit Lions 2026 Minicamp Day 2 Recap

The last of the offseason practices are here with Minicamp Day 2, so things will quiet down a bit here over the next few month or so. Let's recap the most important bits of news that came out of Day 2 from the press events, photos, interviews and boots on the ground from the Lions beat reporters.

Photo - Jeff Nguyen Detroit Lions

Injury Updates

Here are the players that are either not participating or limited due to injuries.

• The list of those not practicing

  • Avonte Maddox was still missing for Day 2 with Personal reasons Campbell mentioned yesterday.

  • TE Sam LaPorta (Limited) and Tyler Conklin

    • Another day, same drill with LaPorta was out there for walkthroughs but came out during the 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 situational drills to work with trainers and politely declining to talk to media after practice.

    • Tyler Conklin's was on the field but not participating with the unknown injury he left OTAs with last week. There doesn't seem to be any concern form coaches (Campbell or Oliver) so this is likely precautionary.

  • OG Ben Bartch

    • Not expected back until training camp and wasn't out there again today with his foot injury suffered last year but reiterated he is expected to be ready for training camp.

  • CBs Terrion Arnold (Limited)

    • Did not participate but was on the field and talked to media afterwards. Arnold said he wants to be 100% for camp but is currently at 75%-80% and is healthy and trending in right direction.

  • S Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph

    • Thsi will be a common theme likely into training camp. Both were out there supporting teammates in their drills.

Week 4 Minicamp Day 2 Observations form the Lions Media

• General Observations

  • All three new WRs (Tay Martin, Tarik Black and Lucky Jackson) were on the field for the last day of minicamp

  • When the transaction wire came out after 4pm, it was learned that the Lions had waived WR Kyre Duplessis who had been signed the same day law tore his ACL

  • Amon-Ra St Brown was on the field 25 minutes before practice working with the two equipment guys and the Jugs machine

  • The walkthrough contained a lot of red-zone work with unique combinations of players at positions that the media is unable to disclose at this time due to team rules.

  • It was reported that a punt drill to try and down the ball inside the 20 was run extensively, with Jack Fox getting in 20+ punts from the opponents 45 and gunners fighting through contact to get down and down it. IMedia in attendance mentioned they didn't see a single pun reach the endzone, and ~90% of them were downed inside the 10.

  • Situational Drill: In situational 11-on-11 drill, the offense was given the ball down 33-24, at their own 35-yard line with three timeouts and the clock at 1:59. Added context, the offense needed to score while retaining their Timeouts to use on defense to get the ball back (being down by 9.)

    • 1st Team offense with Jared Goff at QB

      • Reception by Gibbs, TeSlaa, two from Williams and two from St Brown with the second being a five-yard TD with ~:50 seconds left on the clock. Bates XP was good making it 33-31

      • Offense was given ball back at their 12-yard line with :22 left on the clock after use of all three timeouts and a punt were simulated. Two incompletions and a pass across the middle to Williams that ended with time expiring gave the defense a win.

    • 2nd Team Offense with Teddy Bridgewater at QB (same scenario)

      • Offense moved it down the field with completions to Kennedy, Lovett, Dortch, Cunningham and then Jackson Meeks caught a 12-yard TD.

      • The offense was given better field position, but less time, with the ball placed at their own 45 with :30 on the clock and no timeouts. Teddy had two incompletions before connecting with Cedrick Wilson on a short catch and inexplicably spiked it on 4th down (?), but they allowed Jake Bates a long FG to win it anyways. Bates drilled about a 63-yarder down the middle with about 10 yards to spare to pull out an offensive win 34-33 and end minicamp.

Starters and reserves by Position Group

Not much mention of who was in each spot for the units, so much of this was carryover form prior OTA and minicamp days.

• Offensive Line

  • 1st OL: Sewell-Mahogany-Mays-Ratledge-Borom/B Miller

    • Borom started the walkthrough, but B Miller was first out there at RT for the 11-on-11s

  • 2nd OL: Manu-Frazier-Scruggs-M Miller-Cochran

    • Reports are that Juice Scruggs continues to be the primary backup C, but is repping all three IOL spots

• WRs

  • 1st Team: St Brwon, TeSlaa-Williams

• TE

  • Wright, Kitselman, Horton and Gordon continued to spill the reps

  • Oliver mentioned that Jackson Meeks is basically a TE now.

• DL

  • 1st Unit: Hutch-McNeil-Williams-Rotation DE

    • More reports that Tyler Lacy is the big DE in the Five-man front.

    • In the end of game scenario, the DL was Hutch-McNeil-Wingo-Payton Turner.

  • 2nd Unit: Rotation DE-Wingo-Onwuzurike-Rotation DE

• LBs

  • 1st Tean - Campbell, Barnes and Rodriguez have been the starters in all sessions

    • Starting Nickel LBs are Campbell and Barnes

  • 2nd Team - Damone Clark and Joe Bachie appear to be next two up, with Rookie Jimmy Rolder working his way on the 2nd group

  • 3rd team - Rolder, Hunter and Nowaske

• Safety

  • 1st Team - Christian Izien (In for Kerby) and Chuck Clark (In for Brian Branch) continue to get 1st team reps

  • 2nd team - Loren Strickland (Maddox out) and Thomas Harper

  • 3rd team - No Reports (Hunter and Jackson)

• Nickel

  • Roger McCreary

• Outside CBs

  • 1st Team - DJ Reed with Ennis Rakestraw (primary) and with Rock Ya-Sin rotating in with Arnold still limited

  • 2nd Team - Nick Whiteside and Arnold/Dorsey/Rakestraw

  • 3rd Team - McCreary

• Punt Returners

  • Greg Dortch, Tom KLennedy, Isiah Pacheco and Amon-Ra St Brown

• Gunners

  • Cerick Wilson and Keith Abney

Rookies

• Blake Miller - It was observed that although he was splitting reps and 2nd RT out there after Borom for the 1st offense, he was the 1st tackle on the field in the 11-on-11 situational drills to end practice. Hank Fraley mentioned he likes where he is at. Said he is willing, hungry, quiet and listens to whoever's coaching him. Also showed up in Day 2 photos.

• Derrick Moore - Derrick Moore participated in a media session at the end of practice transcribed below.

• Jimmy Rolder - Rolder showed up in Minicamp Day 2 photos a few times. OLB Coach Carrao answered a question about Rolder coming from Michigan and if it gives him an advantage in the pro defense, which he said possibly, but they to keep pace with everyone else. LB Coach Dion-Hamilton also had praise for Rolder, but like Carrao, cautioned about rookies and learning curves.

• Keith Abney II - Mentioned several times in situational drill being on the field and as one of the best reps from Gunners in the punt drill to down it inside the 10. Also showed up in day 2 photos.

• Kendric Law - Law was placed on IR yesterday and is officially done for season with a torn ACL suffered win OTA Week 2 practices.

• Skyler Gill-Howard - No mentions or appearing in photos.

• Tyre West - No mention or sighting of him in any offseason session.

• UDFAs

  • Luke Altmyer -  No reports or mentions on Day 2

  • Miles Kitselman - No reports or mentions on Day 2

  • Anthony Lucas - D-Line coach Kacy Rodgers was asked about Lucas and gave praise and reiterated how excited they were to get him as an UDFA free agent. Said he flashes thigs they saw on tape and is just scratching the surface.

  • Aamaris Brown - Was brought up by Coach O'Neil in passing while answering a question about defensive backfield depth.

  • Erick Hunter - OLB Coach David Carrao was asked about Hunter in his media scrum and said he is doing a great job, they are getting him the exposure needed to make the jump to this level and he just needs to continue to learn from, mistakes, not repeat them and get better as a player.

Lions Rookies OT Blake Miller, LB Jimy Rolder and CB (#28) Keith Abney II Photos - Jeff Nguyen Detroit Lions

Media Scrums with Players

The Lions had media availability with Rookie Edge Derrick Moore and CB terrion Arnold after the second practice of minicamp.

Moore & Arnold media session on minicamp Day 2

Derrick Moore - EDGE

• What have you learned from them from being with the vets that's there? “Uh a lot of things. I don't want to really get too much into it, but you know, a lot of things, you know, but like they pretty much just been like, you know, a big brother to me. Um see all them guys and you know, like I said, you know, I'm just trying to continue to be humble, uh keep my head down and just be a sponge.”

• How do you think Michigan, I guess, kind of prepared you for this? I mean, just, you know, having that experience in an NFL defense and how do you think it's eased your transition here? “Like being at Michigan and then coming into the NFL, you know, I feel like it's really I won't really I really wouldn't say easy, but I was really prepared for it. You know, I feel like, you know, Coach Harbaugh, Coach Moore, they all, you know, treated everything just like an NFL They treated the whole type program like an NFL, you know, program. And, you know, like we was mentally prepared for everything. Um and pretty much every Michigan guy that, you know, that's in the league now was always ready for the league. So, I feel like, you know, they did a good job, you know, training us to be ready for the uh next level.”

• But even schematically, I mean, just, you know, obviously you have that experience in a kind of ranking style defense. “Yeah, I'll see everything literally uh same knowledge, same everything, same almost like the same system, you know. Um you just got to come out and just be a ball player at that point. So, you know, I feel I feel really well uh in the system. You know the system really well. I just got to come out here and be a ball player.”

• Envisioning you playing with Aidan Hutchinson, what can this defensive line be about when uh you guys bring pressure and are out there together? “Uh you know, I'm not really trying to, you know, think too much about it. I feel like a lot of people always, you know, talk about how it feel to be with Hutch, how it feel to be with Hutch. You know, you know, it'd be an honor, you know, playing with Hutch, but at the end of the day, uh as a unit, we just trying to be the best unit, you know, in the country, in the league, really. And um you know, just go out and just dominate together as a unit.”

• What are your plans the next couple weeks? "Obviously, you guys get a little bit of break uh before training camp here. “Uh you know, my plan is probably just, you know, get off my feet just a little bit, but also got remember I'm still I'm still on the grind, so make sure I'm well in shape for camp and just staying in the playbook best playbook best as I can.”

• It must make it a little bit easier transition than the others or what? “Uh you know, just having Jimmy and also having guys like Hutch in the room, you know, it's just it kind of do make it easier cuz you got some type of familiar faces in the building. But you know, like for me, like my personality and type person I'm in, I'll always connect with anybody no matter what locker room I in, but like having guys like Jimmy, I can have somebody to joke around with and always think about, you know, times we had at Michigan, so it definitely is fun, though.”

• What would you say is the trademark of a Michigan defensive football player that you guys represent? “Uh I'd say physicality for one. I feel like that's us, like no matter who the defensive coordinator there, that's one thing we always was taught, you know, being physical, defeating blocks, getting off the blocks, and getting to the quarterback.”

• How many times have you been back there in Ann Arbor? “Uh I actually still living in Ann Arbor, so like I stay in the team hotel during the week and then during the weekends I go back home, so until I move I'll still be in Ann Arbor.”

• Have you met Whittingham? “Whittingham? "Oh yeah, yes I did. Yeah, you know, I feel like everything about Coach Whittingham, you know, he a great guy. Um when he first came in, I believe like the first week or two, I went up to the office, you know, just go talk to him. You know, we talked a little bit, he sat me down, just got to know me, actually a great guy. We got to know each other. Chopped it up for a little bit, and we just talked about the crazy season we had last year, and then he just pretty much talked about the goals that he had for the season coming up, and you know, it was just a great conversation, great guy, and everything I'm hearing back from, you know, all of the guys back at the facility, everything is sounding good, so I'm definitely I'm definitely looking forward to them guys. I'm going to be at a couple games for sure. And you know, I just hope one of them guys to turn everything back around.”

• He seems like he's fitting in. “Yeah, he definitely is. He I can see like any other time he just around in Auburn enjoying himself. So, that's what I like.”

Terrion Arnold - Cornerback

• TA, personally, what does the next step look like for you guys? Is it as simple as just staying on the field for 17 games? What does your progression look like ideally in year three? “Year three, I would feel like before I got hurt, I started playing my best ball. And like just as far as getting comfortable. Like with me, I started to get comfortable last year. And then like my injury, that's something that I was dealing with like rookie year, last year. So, just being able to go out there, stay healthy, then be the best teammate I could be. Like that's what I'm looking forward to. Going out there, being a leader, making sure I over communicate, and then really just knowing my teammates, understanding my teammates. And then like Coach Shep, he's preaching like leverage football. So, just going out there and I mean, when it comes to playing corner like all our mistakes are like visual. So, like the next thing for me is just you can't guard every route. So, like that's kind of like something critical that even Coach Shep preaches us. When you go out there and you have trust, you have the ability to make plays in the scheme just by having that trust with your teammates. So, that's like what I'm looking forward to.”

• Health-wise, what percent do you feel like you're at right now? Where do you want to be entering the spring? “Entering camp, I would say I want to be 100. But uh right now, I would say I'm at about 75-80%. Uh like I think the main thing for me is just knowing that I am healthy now. Like it's one of those things when you have to go through and you have to go out there and play and knowing that you not at 100%, which nobody is at 100%, but just being able to go out there, enter camp, knowing that I done had the surgeries, got worked on, like feeling better, like I'm ready for that.”

• Campbell has said all positions are up for grabs. Everybody's pushing everybody and nobody is getting handed anything. Do you feel that type of pressure for especially in your guys' position? “I mean, I wouldn't say it's pressure. I feel like when you go out here like the NFL, competition breeds excellence. Like that's what I was just preaching to the guys. Like their job is to go out there and find guys to come into the room to push the guys. And when you go out there and you have environments like that, like that's environments that I thrive in, environments that they brought the guys in they thrive in. Going to Alabama, guys where they came from, like that's what the NFL is all about. So I mean, if you don't have that or you don't have coaches who are going out there trying to find guys to replace you to push you, then it's not going to get the best out of you.”

• With all the off-season noise, how do you feel like you've grown as a person? “I feel like I grown as a person just because when you have to sit back and you just look at everything, you just be quiet. Like sometimes silence is like the best answer to everything. And it's like a growth as far as being a man and a growth as far as being a player.”

• But you're not big on silence, are you? You like to You do like to talk. “Nah, I mean, I feel like with me, like it's a time and a place. But like I'm confident. Like I ain't never going to like hold my tongue for nobody. Like it's a time and a place and even as far as us athletes starting to speak up, like it's always a time and a place and a situation for everything. Some things are better left to address, some things are better left unsaid.”

• Can you say anything about the off-the-field stuff that you've gone through? “Nah, I just want to focus on football.”

• With Brian and Kerby both facing uncertain starts to this season, how much of an emphasis is there on you and DJ providing that stability in the secondary as two you know, two of the better cornerbacks in the game? “I would say that's just for the whole group. Like the whole group, when you come in here, everybody who has came in our position group has had to step up and make plays. So I mean, even guys like Rock Ya-Sin, guys like Avonte Maddox, like guys like Thomas Harper, or even just seeing like the growth that Innis has took. Like we have guys in the secondary that honestly are like can go out there and perform. So, like when I want to say we have to step up, I would say we just have to step up as a group. And like I'm looking forward to that cuz I feel like when they come back and us taking that leap forward as a group, it'll make us that much better and that much closer.”

• Do you feel like in some ways a third year in the NFL is a make-or-break year for a player, especially a highly drafted player? “Nah. I would say cuz that's kind of like the narrative that like the media puts on it, but like for me, I feel like every year is a make-or-break year. And then just like when you go out there and you have to perform under pressure, have certain circumstances, players grow every year. So, when I go out there and play, like I don't treat it almost as far as it's a make-or-break year. Like every game is a win or lose game. Every play, every down, like it means something. So, like when I go in there, I just treat it as far as every day will be like a make-or-break day. And like uh Chuck Clark, he actually said something that was very meaningful, like the term is always you want to stack days, but you should like reframe that narrative and stack meaningful days. Like my uncle always told me like when I lay down at night, do I want to save this day or delete this day? So, like my goal is to just go out there and save as many days as possible.”

• Because of what happened, um have you made changes outside of this building here? Have you made changes like tightening up a little bit with who's in your circle and who you're hanging out with? “Nah, like I mean, I'm a I'm a home guy. Hang around my family and stuff like that, but I mean, as far as things like that, like I just feel like kind of when certain things happen in life, it's best to like remain silent. And I mean, you speak on stuff if you want to speak on it, but I mean, at the end of the day, like it's silence sometimes is the best answer, like I said before. That's how I treat it.”

• So, you're very comfortable with who's in your circle and everybody who's around you right now? “Yeah, I mean, I got my granddad, I got God, I got my family, like yeah.”

• What advice does Campbell give you on issues like that? “What advice does he give me? I mean, there really hasn't been advice on as far as issues like that, but I mean, just having everybody in the building like support and obviously just knowing that you have a coach that will go to bat for you, like it means everything. I mean, it was the same thing like when I came here and I got drafted, like Brad always said, "When you come here, man, this is a family. And this is like the building the type of place that you want to be in." And like a lot of guys preach that, but honestly, like this place feels like home.”

Dan Campbell Media Session

Lions head Coach Dan Campbell met with the media on Wednesday for a quick Q&A session prior to Minicamp Day 2.

Dan Campbell Minicamp Day 2 Press Conference

• Opening Statement: “You know, send these guys off. It's been good up to this point for what we could get done. And uh guys know this, especially our veteran guys, you know, they they're not required to be here. I mean, I know the vet minicamp technically you are, but they've been here all spring and uh we got the right guys. We always have. We're fortunate. And uh it means something to them, you know, whether they like it or not or what it is this time of year. And if they're going to be out there, they're going to give you what they got. So, uh, always appreciate that. It's what we're built off of. Questions.”

• And I know you said, um, not to read into, you know, who's working with what team and what field. So, I guess I'll just ask you straight up. We've seen Terry on a couple times he's been out there working on the second field. Can you just, you know, explain why, I guess, and maybe in your view how much he can help you next year, what he has to do to win that starting job next season. “Yeah. Yeah. Well, and he took some stuff on the first field like earlier, you know, the first week, first couple of days here and there, and then we just kind of, you know, we mixed it up. Um, so the most important thing for him is just making sure that he's healthy. You know, that's step one, the rehab, which he's done a good job with. He's getting better. Um, you know, we feel good about where he's at in that regard, but that's the most important thing because he's not full speed right now. I mean, he can at least he's non-cont. he's moving pretty good, all that stuff. But um and so just make sure that you stay on top of that. You're ready to go for training camp and then and then it's on. It's just about competing. You know, we got a lot of good guys in that room and uh you know, he knows this. He's got to go earn it.”

• Now that you've had Mike Kafka in the building for a few months, what have you liked about his addition to your staff? And then just can you explain the passing game coordinator how they work with the offensive coordinator to perform in that role? "Well, I think there's a lot. First of all, he's been a great addition for us. He's um you know sometimes when you I know what that is when you go from where he's been you were the interim head coach and then you're kind of sliding back to a role you know um with a new team you know it's there requires you got to humble yourself again a little bit and uh and that's a good thing like for me it was easy because I came right back under Shawn Payton who I have tremendous amount of respect for and knew that he could fill in those things for me that I needed help with. Um, but he he's been unbelievable, man. He's a thinker. Um, he's he listens. Um, he's going to do exactly what Drew wants done, what I want done. Uh, he's good with the players and then a lot of it he's just finding his way too, right? You're kind of the new guy, so you're trying to get a feel of the other coaches around you, which is has grown and developed. He fits right in. And then with the players too with Goff with but I think in regards to that because he and David Shaw are both kind of in that think a lot of advanced scouting you know uh division opponents what's coming next down the road 2 3 weeks and then man give us your ideas you know um it's not so much okay this is what we're good at but how do we dress this up how do we how do we maximize the things we do well and it gives us some leverage or it gives us a matchup we want. That's what a lot of that is and because the coordinator doesn't have all the time in the world to do that. So, he needs those ideas and then he can pull from them. He'll have his own thoughts. So, it it's critical, man. It's critical. I do think he's creative. Um I think David Shaw's creative, too. So, that that's where those two guys really help out. But, he's been a really good addition at this point.”

• You're obviously going to play to your personnel strengths, Dan, but in New York, Kafka really unlocked the deep ball there. Um, it's been a piece of the offense. I think you've been looking to explore more. How much was that part of the thought process with the addition is just the success that they had with the deep passing game in New York last year? “Well, I think a lot of that comes with um, you know, certainly that's I think everybody would love the deep ball. you know, if you feel like you got a 101 and you um and you get really good at it, you know, um you want to you want to feel like you can um maximize those opportunities. I wouldn't say that was, you know, that was part of the niche like, hey man, they throw deep balls well, but he's got a grasp. He's been around some good coaches and he's been around some good quarterbacks, too. We have an excellent quarterback that they can make every throw in the book. Um you know, now is that something we'd love to get better at? Yeah, you know, cuz that helps. That opens up your offense and, you know, with the emergence of J Mo and then Tesla, you know, big long targets that that's always going to help. But it's time on task. It's real work. It's, you know, you got to do it with pads on. You got to, you know, because there's more to it. You got to get a release at receiver. It's got to be a good ball, give him a chance, and he's got to make a play.”

• Obviously, it's just pad. It's not pads. You won't know. But is there anybody that throughout this whole process has stuck out said, "Man, he's better than I thought he was." “Bates has done a hell of a job and Fox. I like where those guys are at, you know, to this point. I feel big improvement. And uh it's hard. It's hard to really answer. I there's a number of guys that you just particularly the young guys, you just want to see like knowing what it is that there's a step in their growth. There's a little more maturity, there's a little more urgency and I have felt that from some of our young guys, guys that we're going to have to count on or we need to count on. Um now those guys also know they're competing too. Nothing's a shoe in. um you know but I like where a number of those guys have gone you know in particularly our you know second year players third year players I do feel some growth in that regard and this time of year that's all you can ask for.”

• You said at the beginning of OTAs that you wanted a little bit of more no nonsense you know getting back to business uh approach do you feel you worked toward that you're starting to move toward that And what was your I guess favorite takeaway I guess from the spring? “I do and I and what I'd say there's a number of things that that come up when you're back out there on the grass. There is a um you know there's a little bit of okay, hey, we're kind of starting over in some areas. Let's go back to but where I did not want to let things slip or you know the false starts the offside the discipline penalty illegal formation. Um and so we hit that from day one. you know, and we there we don't care if it's here we go, man. We're six weeks from training camp, seven weeks from training camp, we're however many weeks from the first game of the season. I wanted to hit that stuff immediately because you can coach that stuff up and then the effort, you know, and what I mean by that is not effort to the quarterback or finishing your block here, but it is, man, I the ball is thrown, I'm bursting to the football to make a block or I'm the safety, I see it. So throw, I'm across the field, I'm angling off, and I'm so just the man the basics, the foundation of football without the contact is what we were looking for, and we hit that head-on. So I do like that. Um, and then I mentioned this earlier is just the I feel like we've done a good job of really testing each other um, schematically, formations, shifts, adjustments, defense, disguises. Those are all um those are all things that you can you can really improve on this time of year, you know, is your reaction time, your processing speed, and all these reps that we've learned and guys have learned from and made mistakes, whoever they are, when we start training camp, they'll be expected not to make those mistakes again. We what you already went through it or a teammate did, this should not come up again. That that's what we're that's what we're looking for.”

• Yeah. Along those lines, from how you felt about your roster when last season ended, which was a disappointment of course, but compare that to how you feel about your roster now, is it completely different? Is it still unknown? Like, did you get any revelations? “Well, we certainly we're younger than we were. Um, you know, and that there's good there's good things about that, you know, the youth. Um, and then there's things about it that that we're going to have to work through because it, as you know, it's about, you know, there's going to be a learning curve for some guys, you know, development and how fast they can go, but we're not going to let anybody hold us hostage. That's not going to happen. So, um, you know, I like the group we have. Nothing is set in stone. There's some guys that you feel pretty good about. I'd be shocked if they don't win their jobs. I think you guys know who those guys are. But we have a lot of open battles and our eyes are open and we're going to give these guys an opportunity and it's the guys that are the most consistent that can be trusted that do it time and time again that are the guys we're going to lean on and they're going to be part of that of the core group we have here.”

• When you say hostages, I know you don't mean it literally, but um, are you talking about guys that think they have a set position no matter what or? “Well, no. I think I think there there's always a balance when you get into the season of, you know, um, there could be a player that's a tick better. He he's an older player. He's a veteran player. But if you really feel like a young guy is learning from his mistakes and is growing, not making the same mistake twice, and you feel constant growth, at some point it's time to push them into that position and let them go because in about four weeks, they will be better and then they'll continue to grow from there. If that's not showing up, I don't care who those players are. We we're not going through it. We're not going to do it. Does that make sense?”

• Right. Right. You don't want you're not going to be hostage to a timeline if you're not meeting that timeline, I guess. Sort of. “Well, it's just we need to see growth. Like, we need to see development. You know, at some point, you can't wait anymore. It's not fair to everybody else on this roster or the coaches or us or anybody.”

• Just speaking specifically about yesterday, what did you like about seeing the defense get their hands on the football, especially in some periods that favor? “I think it was really good. You know, I it's good. you know, uh those were two really good situations and I you saw us get better defensively from there were some things that we learned over the last call it two or three weeks here cuz we've done similar situations to that and um that was good to see you know and look man Chuck made a couple of plays you know AB made a play in there Rolder is getting some knockdowns you know Jack's getting some punch outs I think that's what I like is man we're, you know, we're getting our hands on some footballs on defense, which was one of the things that we kind of emphasized going into this year. Um, you know, it's the takeaways and every team says it, but it's you got to make it happen.”

• Injuries obviously are a big theme last two seasons. Uh, like kind of looking ahead to training camp, is there anything that you're going to change structurally to kind of, you know, maybe potentially mitigate that? “Yeah, we're going to push it. We're going to push. That's what we do. And uh but we'll do it smart. Um you know, we got to get these guys ready for a season. There is a chance we play some of these guys in the preseason without the joint practices, you know. Um and so, you know, I'm going to do what I think is best to prepare these guys for 17 weeks. Um you know, but also understand that, man, we got to be smart about it and we can't break them in training camp. And so the approach will stay the same. you know it will and you got to get ready and you can't let fear of injury scare you away from what you believe in. Um, yep.”

• Big picture. You come off last year wasn't good enough. You sit down, you make a plan, you change your coaching staff, you change your roster, which you just talked about, understanding its potential, understanding the work has to be put in. Just your excitement level about the state of the organization right now as you kind of come to the close of this offseason. “Yeah, I'm excited. I am I feel really good. about where we're at right now knowing what we're getting into six weeks from now. I feel really good. I I feel great about the staff and I feel like we have the right we have the right type of players um that we're going to need to rely on and the surrounding spots, positions, area. Man, we've got some really good competition. I mean, some of the best we've had since I've been here in different areas. That's exciting. That's because there is no greater motivator than the guy who's pushing you. You know, he's trying to get what you think is yours. Um there's nothing better.”

• There was a uh there's a supplemental draft coming up. Um we haven't had that since you've been a coach. I think since you've been here, do you have any idea if you guys would be interested at all uh you know, in using a future pick and you guys did have the gambling suspensions a couple years ago. How would that impact the evaluation? “All I could tell you is that we look at everything. Brad looks at everything and so nothing is off the docket. So our eyes are open. Doesn't mean we will make a move or we won't. Who was who did I miss? Yes, sir.”

• David Shaw mentioned yesterday that you guys have kind of trimmed down the offense at this time last year just to home in on the things that you do well and maybe not overload guys too early. Can you explain what went into that decision from your perspective? Maybe Drews as well? “Well, I think a lot of it is man, what are the things you really feel like um that you that you can hang your hat on? you're going to want to hang on it. Our we already know our guys do well. We're not going to go away from those. So, let let's trim it down a little bit in that regard. But then, it's kind of what I mentioned. We're doing a lot of the same things, but man, we there's so much different. It's same girl, different skirt. You know what I mean? It So, it's the shifts, it's the motions, it's the turbos, it's the stacks, it's the stack inverted, it's the And so, the presentation for the defense is different. You make them have to talk. you make them have to communicate to adjust on the run, you know, and so it's just enough sometimes. That's where you got to be disciplined on defense, right? You're trying to stress those guys. Um, and so that's what the uptick has been. Okay, the playbook is kind of reduced to right now, but we've done a lot more bells and whistles with it, which is good. Thanks, D. Thanks, man. Thanks. Good summer. Hey, hey, hey.”

Lions Assistant Coaches Media Scrum

Assistant Coaches Minicamp Day 2 Press Conference

Kacy Rodgers – Run game Coordinator/Defensive Line

• Opening Statement: How you guys doing? Good. Good. Y'all don't have any questions there? I'll see y'all later.

• How does a guy like uh Aiden Hutchinson get better? Like when you guys have that that meeting at the end of the year, like a guy's an all pro, right? 14 sacks and everything else. Like how does a guy like that continue to reach another level year after year after year when he's already? “Well, a player like Aiden is never satisfied. He is always constantly trying to improve, steadily working on his game. So cuz he's so self-motivated, he'll continue to improve.”

• Shep has noted how much uh more length there is in the edge position. Okay. What might that length allow you guys to do differently this year? “Well, with the length came a lot of more we feel like a lot more athleticism. So that'll give us the opportunity to play different packages and throw a lot of different looks at uh defenses where more than been more traditionals. You got two big guys inside. You got two out ends outside. You can have four ends out there. You can have three ends in a backer. You can have three ends and a tackle. It just gives us more flexibility on defense.”

• Dan mentioned Anthony Lucas last week as a guy, you know, popped a little bit just for a young guy, right? What do you What do you like about him? “Well, the thing I we just talked about the other day, he's kind of been a pleasant surprise for me when we got him on. I didn't, you know, when I was looking, I didn't think there's no way this guy was going to be available in free agency when I'm just watching him play. And then the thing is he just start growing and moving up everybody list in the building and before you know it, he's here. Now that he's here, you know, you flashes some of the things that we saw on tape like this guy got a chance. He's really just scratching the surface, but when you look start looking at the skill set, you want as many of those type guys as you can have.”

• You start coaching over the years, you said that, you know, the ideal pass rush base for Aiden Hutchinson, the crush the can type of guy. Do you still feel that way? “I mean, I feel like uh Aiden just been around a lot of different rushers throughout my career. He has a real toolbox. You know, he can go speed to power. He can go up and under. He has counter moves. He can rush from the right side. He rushed from the left side. I don't know if you noticed throughout the year, he rushed from in the middle. His versatility to me is really growing. I think he's probably a really versatile rusher.”

• Does it allow you guys to do more on that other side or get more creative with the second? “Exactly right without really jumping in the game plan when you have him and you can do whatever you want to on the other side then you run the problems with here and know you kind of notice just looking at stats he was ranked really high up there in the chips and nudges. So now with having the ability to move him in different spots kind of run away from some of that and keep him on one-on- ones.”

• Kacy, you guys lost two defensive linemen. We played a ton in in the A gap last year specifically and PJ and Roy. Who do you see filling that void this year? “Well, right now, you know, till we get to camp is we're going to be that's hard duty first of all because we were fortunate enough last year to have two guys I felt like were starting tier caliber guys in the NFL backing each other up. So, that's a good problem to have. And then when you look at what we got now, we got some young talented guys that we're kind of feeling around to see what we what they can do and we feel like we'll be okay.”

• Feel like Tyliek is someone that can help. “Well, with Tyliek so far this spring, he's had a really good spring going in and it's just the transition. The thing is we got to see when the live bullets, it's hard to really evaluate it just running around in shorts right now. And then the thing is I have to step back, and you got to coach him from the standpoint of you had two veteran noses that certain things you didn't have to coach. It came with the territory and number of years of experience. So now you got a guy that never played the position before. So the transition but he has the skill set. So that's definitely a given. So you know we now we got to coach him. You know what in a perfect world we just got to see how it unfolds. And once we kind of get everybody we got Levi back. You got we got some moving parts. We got some in type guys. We got We got some moving parts. We, you know, once we get to camp and the pads come on, as we always do, some people are going to separate themselves, but right now I think is we have a good problem to figure out.”

• How does Levi fit into the mix? Obviously, a different player than just your loss. “Well, when you when you look at Levi, he's just kind of the way we play. I say a jack of all trades. We have what we call the big end position. He definitely can do that. You know, if we had to move him in nose, I believe he could do that. Can play three technique and then you got Mac back. So that's like I say you got some moving parts there which is a good problem to have. So it' be interesting to see how it all unfolds.”

• How does Lacy fit into that mix too? He's gotten a lot of run here with the first guy. Another guy that was versatile did a number of different things for you. What you like? “No doubt getting Lacy in the mid-year like we did last year and he kind of jumped on and picked up the scheme and just took off and kind of ran with it. And so far I thought he's having a really good spring. So, he's another piece that adds another piece that's going to make probably some hard decisions for Dan and Brad down the road.”

• In what ways do you feel the line is better off this year? “Well, when I look at us right now, the first thing that jumps off me is the athleticism cuz, you know, really in this league, those guys, you can't have enough athletes on defense anyway. And then the length that some of these guys have and then we'll see once the pads get on get on if these guys can translate. You know, you would love if you say you have the ability to put four defensive ends out there at one time or three tackles in one end or just the different packages you can come up with and cause problems for the other side of the ball. You can dictate what protections you get, which way the turn is. We can put these over here and put Hutch over there. Now, what will they do? You know, it just give you the flexibility to do things that you like to do, be able to do deeper, right?”

• But let's fade the four-time pressure rate. I think you guys were second worst in the NFL back. What can you do to get to the quarterback quick? “You know what that's to me when I look at I don't really look at a whole lot of it like that, but that to me that's kind of a from the structure that we play cuz you go from a low pressure rate to fourth in the league in sacks. Which one you want? There you go. They you know, so I'm like we were finishing the play. Finishing the play. So what we, you know, we want to play defense on our terms. You know what I'm saying? And it's all relative, too. You know, when you go pressure rate, look at the teams you were playing, how many sacks were they giving up. So it's all relative. It's all relative.”

• What was the biggest area of growth you've seen from Hassanein? “You know what, with our mid, the thing is he's gotten bigger and stronger in the off season. And right now, we're kind of making him we're transitioning from the rush position, which we got a lot, to the big end position. And with his size and stuff, you know what? He's been a pleasant surprise this spring.

• He obviously came in here with a lot of energy. Then he kind of went through the tough season last year with the end of the week. Just where's his mindset at this time of year? “Right. He just wants to play. This guy just wants to play, help the team. Coach just put me wherever. You know, you can't have a hund of those. You're going to have a good team. You know, he just wants to do whatever asked of him and go from there.”

• Why do you see him potentially having success uh transitioning to big end? “Well, the thing is with the big end, say right now when you start listening to that, he might be the most athletic big end where some of those guys maybe 20 pounds bigger than he is. So that's going that's another good problem to have athleticism versus the size kind of play the game.”

• Given this situation that stay get that pass rush going consistently? Well, no doubt. You know, anytime, you know, you would love to say we can sit here, we can just rush for and that's, but in today's NFL, that's not necessarily always the case. “You know, it when you talking pressure, how can you generate it? Is it simulated pressures? Is it six-man pressures, five-man, four, three? You can get pressure with three. So, it's just a lot of different ways, but the more versatility we have gives us the opportunity to do a lot of different things like that.”

• Kacy, what are the more guys like the important sort of nextgen stats here? You know, time to pressure, quick pressure. What sort of things do you look at and maybe tell you how well a player is producing beyond the… “Thing when we look at it, I want to see, are you winning one-on- ones? Cuz you can win a one-on-one and they get the ball off. So, you didn't get the pressure, but you didn't have an opportunity to pressure. So, we I really, as we look at it, it doesn't hold a lot of water to me unless he's sitting back there baking a cake. Then, that's an issue. But otherwise that co when you look at certain things and criteria people judge off and I'm watching the tape they would by PFLF standards that's a pressure and he didn't even get close. So that's what I'm saying. I don't the analytics part of it. We don't I want to see are you whipping somebody physically and if you win in your one-on-one everything else will take care of themselves.”

• Win rate essentially. “When there you go more of a win rate. Let me see how many are you. Are you stuck on the line or are you winning? Cuz you can win and not you have 20 wins but no sacks and everybody say you can't rush the quart. I'm winning. He just got the ball off. We can't control when it's quick game or when there's full slide protection. We rushing forward and they block in seven. So we don't really control what we can control.”

• With Tyliek. I know you want to wait to get the pads on to see where he's physically but how have you seen his understanding of the game kind of evolve? “Tyliek is highly intelligent. You know you're no one ever talk highly intelligent. The transition, the mental part of it is good. The thing of his just a learning curve when you talk about veteran noses who done been in the league 8, nine years that knows they can do certain things in their sleep. He's been there two months, a month, you know, so that's will be the learning curve, but the skill set's there, so, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out.”

Deshea Townsend – Pass Game Coordinator/Defensive Back

• What have you seen? “Oh, man. just the just the ability to compete, you know, especially at the level that we're at now where you don't have a lot of pads on and the rules or restrictions of how much you can press or not press, but just seeing them work, you know, um that that mentality of competing, that's what you're looking for right now.”

• It's been a hard luck first two seasons for Ennis just from an injury perspective. Just what have you seen from him this spring and going into his third season? Is he in a position if he stays healthy that he can kind of carve out a role and help you guys? “Oh man, his he most definitely u the role is there for him if he can stay healthy. But his body has changed. You know, you can see physically how much how much mass and strength he's put in the shoulder and neck area, which is important. Um but you know, just staying healthy, that's going to be big for him, but he his body most definitely looks different.”

• Keith Abney, we've uh heard the plan is inside for him a little bit. Just from your perspective, like what fits him without being able to handle that role? “Man, I think the most the thing that impresses me the most is the mental side. Like he has picked up a lot of things and he's able to take it from the classroom to the field, which is really important for a young player and uh it's been impressive to see him handle that that role in in in the way that he's handling it. But inside is probably better suited for him, but he's smart enough to play outside as well. So, I'm excited to see him compete.”

• But Terrion, how have you viewed his mindset overall this spring after year where he had dealt with a lot of injuries? “TA is most definitely the mindset is good. You know, the mentality I'm sure he's ready to get out there and play, but um you know, he's been working at it. Been doing a lot of things off the field mentally to help him get prepared and especially cuz he's not able to do everything on the field with all the group, but he's been doing what it's been asked and he's been doing at a high level.”

• You looking forward to the competition for that nickel, a number of guys McCreary, Avonte. It looks like that's really going to work itself out. “It is. It is. And that and that's what we want. You know, that's one thing that that Dan and Brad have done a good job of getting uh people and guys in there to compete and that's only going to make all of us better. And that's one thing that we believe in and that's a good group to go in there and somebody to earn a job. Somebody's going to take it, you know, looking forward to it.”

• How critical is that position? “Yeah. Oh man, it's most definitely uh important, especially we had a guy like Amik last year who was really a really good player for us and now it's just the next man up. But uh that that that position is kind of, you know, how I was brought up in kind of the quarterback of the defense for a lot of especially for us because they do a lot of communicating. They do a lot of speaking of who's running, setting the setting the defense in a lot of ways. So it's a very important position.”

• We've seen the defense play a lot of press man coverage. We're hearing maybe a little bit more nickel this year. What are the early challenges about maybe a little bit of different coverages that this this secondary might deploy this year? “Well, you know, I think the biggest part is just the run game. You know, we we're most definitely have used linebackers um in some of those position and that's going to be the biggest part because our first and foremost job is stopping the run. So, those guys have to be physically able and ready to go um to do that job.”

• Woke up late. Sorry, it's been asked about Terrion already, but you know the uh obviously the injury stuff last year's inability to get on the field. What does he have to do to earn back the trust the starting spot really? “Yeah. I No, I just think the biggest thing is just getting back out there. You know, it's tough when you're when you're, you know, you're rehabbing and wanting to do things, but you know, that's just a part of it until he's out there full time is, you know, you have to go earn it. But he's doing everything off the field to get himself ready, but on the field is just limited to things that he can do. So, he'll get his job back when he gets back out there. But, he's got to get back out there first.”

• Rock was such a good pickup for you guys. Some good snaps. How awesome was it just to be able to get him back this season? I don't know if you guys expect him to be able to, right? “No, the depth piece is always important, especially at corner. You know, it's tough to find bodies to go out there and actually do what we asked those guys to do, and Rock came in and did an excellent job. But that's who he is. He's a pro. Uh he's diligent. He works the right way. You know, I wouldn't expect anything less. And I'm so happy to have him back because I thought his, you know, for us to get him back, that was a that was a good move for us to get a player like that with the ability to play and the experience that he has and the type of leader he is good for our role.

• What do you think of the depth overall at the cornerback spot? The safety spot looks deep, too. It just looks from the outside in that you're much deeper, younger, talented secondary. “I think that's what that Dan talked about earlier on especially with us and is just to bring competition like that's the most important thing that we can have is guys competing hungry ready to go earn a spot and I think that's the depth that we have and we're able to do that and like I we all believe that that makes you a better team that makes you a better unit uh it keeps everybody hungry and working in practice and that's what it's going to take to get us to the uh to over that hump.”

• Get into that a little bit but what sort of chip do you sense on that showing his problem. “Oh man. Well, first off, Ennis is most definitely not a friendly guy first off. He's a good dude, but he is he has a chip on his shoulder just, you know, who he who he is uh me his mentality is anyway. But, um I think he's hungry. You know, I know he's, you know, first he's frustrated, you know, because he hadn't been able to be out there and play, but I know he's ready to go and he works that way.”

• Clearly got clearly got some more experience last year was a Whiteside. Have you seen him grow this spring? how much you're looking forward to seeing. “That's just the depth. Like you got guys that have played in games and that's what you want. It's not like you're guessing on what you're getting. You know what you're going to get from those guys and so another year in the system, you know, another year of competing is he's going to be better. Um and just, you know, that's the thing about the NFL. You got to have guys to go out there and compete and he's another one that's capable of playing and it's going to push everybody else in the room.”

• Give me early impressions of Roger since he's been out here. “Yeah, you know, just a vet a vet that can, you know, his strong suit is playing man and that's what we need. Um, you know, he's giving us another competitive piece that's inside and he's all could play outside because that's what that's what he was drafted to do at Tennessee. So, he's a capable veteran that's going to push the entire room.”

• Seemed like DJ was a guy who just benefited from getting the offseason to get himself healthy. What have you seen from. “Man, he's been good. you know, it's been good uh the way that he's able to move. You see his speed back, you know, you see him changing direction, all those things. And he's back to where, you know, kind of what we saw on the Jets film, you know, pre-injury, you know, cuz before he got hurt during the season, he was playing at a very high level. So, just excited to have him back and as especially for him, uh the mentality that he is healthy and I know he feels that way. So, that's important.

• How much do the injuries to the safeties affect the way the cornerbacks have to play and prepare? “Uh, well, this is first and foremost a very safety friendly defense. You know, those guys are able to make a lot of communications. They're able to help us out in a lot of spots. And I think uh for us, you know, that that piece of where those guys are like Chuck, Avonte, Izzy, like those guys are picking up and not missing a beat. So, so for us it's important for us to know where they are, but it's also understanding the call and those guys are doing a good job of communicating with us so far this this offseason.”

• Seeing it from the other side of the field, how special can the wide receiver unit be this year? “Man, those guys are an issue every day. You know, it's the same issue as last year. So, those, you know, J Mo and Tesla and coach St. Brown, those are, you know, coming to work every day. We're seeing three of the top guys in the NFL. So, we can only get better.”

• Shep and Dan have kind of talked about that offseason defensive deep dive. Yeah. But what were some of your takeaways from that time? You've been going to look back on the defense and try to find answers. I guess from… “I think for me, man, like and what I kind of believed is you've been telling the guys, if we can buy one yard a play, we're going to be a whole lot better. You know what I'm saying? If it's a thousand snaps in the game and you buy one yard, you get back by one yard, it's going to significantly help the defense. And every player can see how they can get one play better or one yard better. And so, I think guys are kind of bought into that that deep dive for us, especially as a coach. It made me want to teach more about talk more technique, you know, more of the little things so the details so the guys can be better and that's what we're here for.”

• Back to question just since you see the different angle Scotty talking about this yesterday, but Tesla, have you what sort of growth have you seen from him that maybe challenges you’re going back to different? “I think he's learned how to run routes. You know, I think I'm sure Scotty's doing a good job of just understanding how to use his size and advantage and not be so full speed on every play. So, you see him adding some repertoire to his route running game, that's going to make it more even more effective because he is he can run by you and he can highpoint it. But now, when he adds the running the route part to it is only going to make him a better player, you know, especially being around Sane and J Mo, those guys I'm sure are helping him. But he's becoming a much better route runner.”

• Trickle down for your group when they see, you know, and I'm others. “All right. No doubt. What he can do with this speed with this ability, how does that help your…that's what we're going to see every Sunday, you know, and you're not seeing a group that's going to be better than what you face every day. So, if you perfect your craft out here, it's going to help you when it's time to go play.”

• Another year running the operation. How have you seen Shep grow in the time he means everything? “Well, Shep is sharp. You know, that's one thing. He's he was already detailed and I think he's pushing us as coaches like he's making us better coaches and I think that was the step from year one to two is how he pushes us to go excel and then what he demands from us as a staff to give him every day and I think that was a big step for him.”

• Shep talked about playing more nickel this year. What does that change for you and your guys this? “No, like I just said earlier, it's probably a little bit more in the run game. Um because typically when we roll nickel out there, we sure it's heavy pass, but for now, if we're going to play more nickel, those guys have to be more in tune to run game. And what they're going to try to attack us with is probably more runs and play action off of that. So, I think that's the biggest part. when you do um deploy a smaller guy in there line up.”

• Totally on you, but the um do you have a sense for what the plan is for Kerby specifically when it comes to practicing how much he needs or doesn't need to get back on the field this year? “You know, if it was up to me, just get him to Sunday. That's all I need. You know what I'm saying? But it's on the head coach. It's on it's on it's on how he feels and what Coach Campbell deems whatever he needs. All right. Appreciate it.”

David Corrao – Sr Defensive Assistant/Outside Linebackers

• A lot of young linebackers, they're better going forward than going back. I think that's just naturally versus. But Jimmy's made a couple plays out here on drops. Maybe that wasn't his resume coming in coverage. Was there What have you seen from him early just kind of in identifying, evaluating, and making some plays behind him? “I mean, he's a young player still in the process of learning what we do. And I think it's to sit there and say he's really gotten anywhere. I mean, we're still here in our pajama party, as Dan likes to call it. So, what we want to see from him is the recognition, the running, the huddle, uh, lining the defense up, see putting his eyes in the right place, and then when he does that, you see the fruits of it in that rep, those reps where he's got those interceptions. We just want to keep see him stay on that trajectory and keep developing as a young player.”

• How valuable was it just coming from Michigan, playing in the pro style system that they had? How much does that help the pay player acclimate quickly to an NFL locker room, NFL classrooms and field? “I think I think because every defense has different, they're not all the same, but I think that gives those Michigan guys kind of a prerequisite of understanding. They understand conceptually how an NFL defense worked. So, I do I do think it gives them a little bit, but at the same time, you get they got to be on the same pace as everybody else. I don't think it gives them so much of an advantage that it keeps them ahead of other guys because the speed at which we operate, the speed at which NFL offenses operate, they're going to put pressure on rookies no matter where they come from.”

• When you see the uh when you look across and see the offense, you know, how difficult is it to prepare for them now? Just the camouflage looks that they present. “Oh, I think Abney is doing an outstanding job. uh they're putting us in a lot of situations where we're already into the mode of we got to have answers. You know, we build our defense within the structure of our rules. We give our players, this is your assignment, this is your alignment. Here's your keys, your reads, but then we've got to make these adjustments and we got to make sure that we have easy rules for these guys to operate with. and Drew is constantly putting pressure on us every day with shifts, motions, new alignments, new plays that it's already putting us into a mode of this is what we're going to see from these advanced NFL offenses. Basically, it put you in the deep end of the pool right out of the gate.”

• How challenging is that when you basically have the same formation, same play essentially, but then it's just you've got these variations off of it that can really kind of, you know, again… ”Well, you're back to you're back to what are your rules? Like how do I get lined up? Where do my eyes need to be? And then what am I looking at? And what is it telling me? And then you should be able to react based on you know what you're supposed to do. And then no matter what the offense does, you should have a reaction already in plan in place. And that's where we want to get to the point where our guys know what we're doing and they're worrying less about what they're doing. And then we get to coach more on how to do it. And I think that's where Drew is challenging us is we know what we do. So, we got to get ahead of this curve and help our guys improve every day on how they're doing what they're doing.”

• Because the offense is forcing you into the deep end of it. And because it's year two under Shep, does the defense feel more advanced, more mature at this time than it was last year at the same time? “Well, I mean, advanced year two, I mean, obviously, we're going to be uh, you know, we're going to try to be more in depth and more advanced in year two because, you know, the, you know, you go back to the continuity of our coaching staff, right? It's the first time in as long as I can remember where we have the exact same coaching staff from one year to the next. So, that allows us to drill down. Again, we're back to we're not spending as much time on what we're doing, but now we get more time on how to do it. And then that's the pressure the offense is putting on us is again, we're already in this mode of coaching to give our players answers. We're not in the mode of just line up and play basic football. These guys, this is the NFL. Like, the offense isn't just going to line up and show us what they're doing. So, we have to uh ingrain in our players to anticipate when things are going to move, when things are going to change, and the more we can do that, the better off we'll be in the long run.”

• In what ways do you feel like you guys can improve the pass rush? I mean, is it just a matter of personnel or is it are there schematic things that you feel like you guys can do to kind of bolster that area? “Well, you're always trying to improve personnel, right? It's an old coach once told me in the NFL, you you're either getting better or you're getting worse. You're not staying the same. So the introduction of new players, their skill set, we still got to figure out who can do what and where, and that's what this process is all about. And then when we figure out what we have and what we can do, then we'll put together a plan that helps, you know, to sit there and say, "Oh, schematically we're going to do this on pass rush." I think we're way too early to sit there and say, "This is what we are." We don't know what we are yet. We haven't even put shoulder pads on yet.”

• With a young player like Erick Hunter making a pretty large jump in level of competition, what's kind of the early steps of development that you really focus on to make sure that he can have the best possible training camp he can have as a as a first-year player? “Well, I think exposure to the bigger jump in in levels that he's dealing with coming from where he came from. Um, I think he's done a great job. Uh he's an excellent young man to work with and I think he's just got to keep being that sponge that soaks up any and all information. You know, be the guy that learns from your mistakes and don't be repeating mistakes and then that's how he's going to improve as a player. But I you know, again, we're out here in shorts and t-shirts. So if that based on that, you kind of everything's an open-ended. We'll see when we get the pads on.”

• A player like Alex is tough. doesn't matter where you are, but to have a security blanket like Rodriguez who's one been in the scheme for a really long time and has started reps, how valuable is that for you as a coach? “Again, that's the core of the guys that we have that have been here. Uh getting Malcolm back to where he was before the injury. Um you know, that's part of that whole process of us spending time coaching the how to, right? We're not, we don't with a player like Malcolm, we're trying to spend less time on the what because he's a more advanced, developed veteran. Now he gets to worry about the how, my feet, my hands. Look at this play. What's my reaction? Did I key this right? Did I get to the right landmark? All the little nuance details that speed a player up when they're no longer thinking about that.”

• Is Derrick Barnes turning more into a leader now? “I hope so. I mean, you know, I think Derrick's what in his sixth year now? So, you know, you see some growth. You know, again, we've still got a long way to go here and I'm excited to see where Derek goes where, you know, he's now made some plays in big games for us in the past and he's got to be that guy that is a is a reliable player for us that we can count on and hang some things on his hat to help us win.”

• He has more pace than maybe last season. obviously leaving a lot of things off incorporate more nickel. How much is Jack's uh growth in past coverage to also give you guys maybe more flexibility to do that? “Well, I mean whether we play bass, whether we play nickel, I think a lot of that is still to be determined. You know, that's part of the process where, you know, there's going to be 10 other guys on the field besides Jack. You know, Jack is a rare player. you know, you know, the amount of football that that guy plays for us and the way he plays, you know, I mean, if we had nine, 10 guys just like that, yeah, we can do whatever we want, but not everybody's like that. And so, we got to figure out, okay, what else is out there? And that's part of this process in any given situation. What does the offense have in the game? What's the best 11 players for us to put on the field to give ourselves a chance for success”

• Shep has talked about Derek's ability to play five positions on the field and do it. We've seen kind of his role change based on year to year what you need to plug him in and play with Alex again. Is there more opportunity for off-ball stuff for Derek in his season? “Yeah, I mean that that that all remains to be seen. I mean, we're not we're not getting into that. I mean, every guy on the depth chart has this is where you're going to start and this is where your starting point in base. We don't even call it a depth chart, right? It's a position chart. So, here's what you need to learn in base. Here's what you need to learn in nickel. And then as the rest of the team develops, we'll figure out who can do what and when.”

Jim O’Neil – Assistant Head Coach/Safeties

• What have you thought about the depth, especially the veteran depth that you guys have added there? It seems like that room is much deeper than you were at this point last year. “Yeah. No, I agree. I think that uh if there's one thing we've added is competition. So, if you ask me right now what it's going to look like week one, I have no idea. But, um you know, between Chuck, Avonte, Harp, um uh Izzy, you know what I mean? We got a lot of guys that have banked a lot of a lot of reps in this league. Uh and we got a lot of guys that that have a chip on the shoulder because this is they're all on one-year deals. So, it's going to be a highly competitive uh training camp. You know, we've kind of soaked all four of those guys with reps, especially Izzy and Chuck to try to catch them up to where Harp and uh and Avonte are mentally. And it'll be an all-out battle once we get into training camp.”

• A little bit more security just from your sense knowing that you got some veteran guys. I think Izzy and Chuck have started 95 games in this league. So, you know, you got guys that have played. Is there just a little bit more comfort level with you just knowing that you've got a little bit out there, too? “Absolutely. And the thing that I like the most about those guys is they fit our culture and there's a lot of guys that are playing in the NFL that are good enough to play in the NFL, but they might not be able to play for us because they don't fit our culture and both those guys do. So, they're two great additions.”

• How much communication have you had with like Brian and Kerby for all those? “Oh, every day. Every I love I love both those guys. I mean, they're two those guys. They're so different and they're two of my favorite guys that I've ever coached in football. But, um I mean, I'm sure you guys have been out there. You see them on the sideline. They're in it. We've been meeting extra with both of them. It's driving them both crazy not to be out there on the grass. Uh so, they're both highly motivated to get back and they're doing everything that they can uh to get back. So, uh, those guys are doing an awesome job.”

• Just as I walk there a little bit, Kirby's out there with a call sheet yesterday. We see him kind of, I don't want to say running a drill, but participating in, you know, running a drill. Like, you know, how hard is it to pull the reins back on a guy like that that's just so desperate to get back into the. “Well, no, I think they got a great plan for him. We're doing everything we can with them in meetings. Um, you know, if you ask Kerby, you know, before he retires, he's going to be a backup quarterback somewhere in the NFL, which I don't see that happening, but, you know, but no, they they've been great and they're into it. Um, you know, like they, you know, we've even gone back and watched stuff from two, three years ago just to keep them interested in in some extra meeting stuff. So, those guys are awesome. They're awesome.”

• Specifically, with Kerby, do you anticipate like he'll practice every other day and practice back-to-back days? Like once you get into camp, “I don't know. I don't know. I know he's doing everything he can to get back as soon as he can. Um Dan and the medical staff have a plan. So, whatever that plan is, that's how we'll go for it and we'll execute it.”

• I guess follow up. A veteran guy like that, does he need does a guy like Kerby need I guess what's your perspective from a poetry of a guy dealing so much? Does he need to practice? “Yeah, you can't every day. Yeah. No, maybe not every day, but you need to practice. You can't take a year off of football and expect to go play at an all-pro level. So, and that that's everybody at every position. I mean, you need to practice to get the timing to get have the chemistry. I mean, we got a lot of new guys, so absolutely he needs to practice. Does he need to do it every day? Probably not.”

• There's going to be so much focus on those guys health and specifically Kerby. You got some pretty good, you know, guys behind them, too. Just, you know, maybe it's a tough one to answer, but at what level does he need to be at in order to be better a better option than those backups? You know what I mean? “If Kirby or Brian Branch is healthy enough to practice, those are starting safeties.”

• You picked up a new title here. You opened up new coordinator in this league college. But just curious, you know, what does it mean that the organization made that effort to retain you and then what new responsibilities have come with that? “It I mean I obviously had some opportunities this past offseason. So um anytime an organization, you know, wants to keep you around and I'm not a big title guy, so it is what it is. But it does feel good to be want to be, you know, when the brass and they want to keep you around. So I if my opinion's asked a little bit more, that's awesome, you know. But I, you know, anything I can do to support Dan, to support Shep, um, you know, that's what I'm going to do. I love it here. My family loves it here. And, um, we got unfinished business here. So, I'm glad I'm back. I'm glad I'm back.”

• You guys spent a lot of resources. Fortifying the depth kind of makes it a tough run for someone like Dan Jackson who lost that rookie season. How's he kind of responded to that challenge for competition in that room? And I guess where do you see some growth there with him? “Yeah, he missed a lot of reps because he got hurt pretty early on in training camp last year. Um, the thing that's fortunate with Dan though is he's not a high rep guy. He's really smart. He's really cerebral. He's a guy you can make an adjustment to on the sideline and he'll go out and execute at the next play. So, it's not going to hurt him as much as it would some other guys, but obviously he's got some catching up to do because of all the time that he's missed. So, it, like I said, you know, you got a Aamaris Brown, you got Lauren Strickland, we haven't even talked about those guys. So, it's going to be a hell of a battle and as a coach, that's all you can ask for. You know, you might see different guys run with the ones every single day of training camp through the first two weeks, which is great because the best ones will play. And then when Brian and Kirby come back, if those other guys earn a role for themselves, they're going to play, too. Shep's going to find a way to get the best 11 on the field.”

• Chuck and Christian, they've played every position within the safety realm. We've seen you flip them kind of the strong weak side stuff here, strong three stuff here. So when you're trying to figure out what they do best, how much of that is scheme specific? Like just figuring out how they best use those skills within what you guys do? “Yep. Well, I think that's a lot what the spring's been about. Like we've gone out in days and say, "All right, Chuck, you stay left. Izzy, you stay right. We've gone out some days and say, "All right, all the down safety defenses, Izzy, we want you down. We want Chuck. Then you flip it on them and then you go back and you evaluate it all. Obviously, as we get closer to uh to game planning and stuff, you're going to put those guys in the best position to make plays. So, if Izzy's better down in the box than he is high, we're going to try to we're going to try to highlight that stuff with him. Um but, you know, if you get Kerby and BB back at different times, you know, if you're out there playing with Kirby, you're going to be down more. If you're out there playing with BB, you're going to be high more. So, we're going to play off those guys, too. So, it's important. You just can't say Izzy, you're always down. Chuck, you're always high. And then you get out there, you play with Kerb, and it might be opposite. or you play with BB and it might be opposite. So, um, those guys have done a great job. Uh, I'll throw Thomas Harper into that, too. Like last year, Harp played a lot of reps for us, right? But it was mostly at deep safety, right? So, this whole off season was getting him comfortable down playing in the box some, right? Just in case he's out there with somebody who's better playing deep safety, so he can do both. So, he's taking a big step um for us. So, I'm like I said, it's going to be it's going to be a great competition. All those guys have a chip on their shoulder. Uh I expect a hell of a training camp out of all.”

• You mentioned a couple times. There's like there's more problem solving going on at this time than there was last year on both sides of the ball. Like offensive defense putting each other in conflict more often. How have you felt that happen? “So just with football in general nowadays, right, offenses are doing so much pre- snap and forcing communication. So, um, you know, we you talk a lot about guys who can be a racers post snap. There's also guys that can be a racers pre- snap and make guys around them better by communicating. Like Chuck Clark is unbelievable. Avonte Maddox is unbelievable as far as their anticipation pre- snap and being able to communicate with the nickel, the corner or the linebackers. And that allows Shep now to maybe go into every play with the two play calls. Or hey, you know, if they're in shotgun, we want to be in this. If they're a quarterback under center, we want to do this. If they're three by one, we want to do this. If it's 2 by two, you want to do You can't do that if you don't have smart guys. So having smart guys allows Shep to be more creative with his play calling. And it allows Shep to be right more than he's wrong because he can give those guys the flexibility, all right, along with Jack Campbell, all right, to be the alphas in the back end and get us where we need to be in the best position to make plays. But that is huge in today's football game. Like you can't just single play call, line up and play or hey, my eyes are here. There's multiple levels to every call and there's multiple things happening before the ball's even snapped.

• When did you feel that shift across the league? Like always needing more than… ” Yeah, I so I felt like uh you know I was at I was with the Raiders in in 2020 and I felt like the motioning and stuff really started to amp up and then obviously I was out of the league for three years when I was in college football and then when I came back it was like it's every play and that's the whole the Shanahan influence, the McVey influence of everything. So they're forcing they're forcing guys into positions that they're not normally in like Nicholls in the box playing linebacker and they're forcing communication amongst the defense which makes it harder on us. But you know with Drew we get it before every play. So it's great that we're getting it. So we're seeing who can handle and who cannot. You got to be able to process fast to play especially safety or linebacker or nickel anywhere in the middle of the defense um in this scheme you know and for us. So, it's a challenge, but it's good to see that those guys can do it.”

• Just building on that a little bit, but just specifically as it relates to Chuck, the value of the leadership, the experience, the knowhow that he adds. I mean, apart from the physical skills that he brings to the opposition, what do you what do you get from just having that comfort level having? “Well, first I love the fact that he's got a chip on his shoulder. I mean, this time last year, he was sitting on his couch, right? And now he's here running with the first group. So, so that's one, right? and every rep to him is meaningful. Like he appreciates being here. Um I think he is he is stone cold serious about football and he takes he takes notes like he's a rookie. Um but how he can anticipate out on the grass and how quickly he can process and like I said make guys around him better I is a quality that's hard to evaluate unless you have them actually in the building like that. That's really hard to evaluate in the draft. That's really hard to evaluate in free agency because you're not experiencing that firsthand. And there's not a lot of what of what I call alpha communicators in the back seven. He's one of them. Like he can run the whole show. He can run it all back there. So, I've been really impressed with him to answer your question and I think he'll really help us as the season goes on.

• Have you seen him smile yet? Shep said he's never seen him smile. “I saw him smile when he had an interception yesterday. So outside of that, he's serious and like I said, he knows he's fighting for his NFL life and him with some other guys in that room, they're fighting every day for their NFL life and it's highly competitive and we should get the best out of all of them, the best version of themselves, so.”

Shawn Dion-Hamilton - Linebackers

• As you uh get ready to kind of break for the offseason here, what are you just thinking about the progress of your room and what the defense is for? “Uh, I think it's been a bunch of progress, you know, um, for sure. Like, uh, picking back from where we left off at last season, uh, obviously a bunch of new guys. Uh, I think we've, uh, made some good strides, uh, going into this last, uh, minicamp day or whatever. Uh, excited to see guys come back, see how they retain information, uh, coming back for training camp.”

• What's the dynamic of the room change with Alex gone now? Obviously was here for a long time, a big leader for those guys. “Um it for sure has changed, you know, but I think that what comes with change is opportunity for growth, you know. So now you get to see uh Jack who's going into his fourth year, you know, you get to truly see, okay, the leadership step up, you know, and you know, he's not the little brother anymore, you know, with the veteran like an Anzo. You get to see guys like D Barnes, you get to see Malcolm, you get to see guys who we sign in free agency drafted. You get to see guys grow, you know. So I love it, man. you know, I get to challenge these guys to be uncomfortable, you know, and tap into roles that maybe you hadn't done, you know, in in years past.”

• Our impressive has been Rolder? “He he's been good, you know, still has a lot of room for growth, you know, but I'm pretty good with where he is now, you I just continue to challenge him like day in and day out, you know, where it's always a learning curve uh for rookies, you know, coming from college football to the pros, you know. Um but I'm excited to work with him and uh it's going to be a lot of meat on the bone, a lot of things that he can grow uh coming into training camp. Think he'll have a good player.”

• He made that play yesterday, too. Where have you seen the most? “Um, I'll probably say uh just probably as a total football player. I think one thing that uh specifically linebackers, you know, in this league is different because of uh offenses in the NFL can't do what guys do in college, you know. So, a lot of starring from square one like, hey, okay, you don't see this formation in the NFL, you know, you may see this in college. So just trying to work with him as far as understanding, okay, like the big picture as far as an offense, understanding like, okay, how they're attacking us, what's the weaknesses in the defense and all that type of stuff. But I've seen a tremendous growth with him, uh, primarily from just like the understanding football, NFL football concepts primarily.”

• He was known as a pretty stout run defender in college, but didn't get to play much in in coverage. Where do you where do you see his instincts, his ability in that that area coverage specifically? “Um, you know what? I can't wait to see when training camp comes. I mean, you know, now, uh, we're OTAs and things like that. You know, we can't get too nitty-gritty, you know, out of just protection of the players. So, I think that you'll really see like the instincts cuz it's not just a seven-on-seven lead. So, you get to see, you know, in the run game and in the pass game, see how those are tied together.”

• There was a big uh kind of emergence of, you know, the multi tight end since last season. What does that change the responsibilities of the linebacker? Maybe what you have to prepare for this time of year, assuming that trend continues and more tight end usage across. “Um, you know, I always tell the linebackers, man, you know, it's a passing league, you know, it's an offensive minded league, you know, so I'm always preaching to the guys, man, you got to be ready to go and knock somebody out on first and second down, and then you got to be ready to cover a tight end on third down. Nowadays, I mean, teams giving us a bunch of 13 personnel, teams can have 13 personnel that play like 12 personnel and open us up, you know? So, we got to be able to just continue to grow and expand as far as in from run game wise and also as far as in man coverage and zone coverage.”

• You've been to the point of the football calendar where it's just speculation and questions on the outside for months. Why can your role be a strength with this defense? “Um, first thing first, sorry, I'm going start off with Jack Campbell. You know, he's been he's the he's the anchor. He's the safety net, I would say, on our entire defense. You know, he's the uh the man in the middle. Obviously, that's the reason why he got the country our heads. You know, I told Jack, we're going to go as far as you take us, brother. You know what I mean? So, Jack has to be the safety net, the common presence, the alpha male, you know, as far as in the defense. You know, everything goes through him, you know what I mean? So, he has to be the voice for everything. And we're we've been putting a lot on him since we got him here. And for sure, you know, he's showing us that, okay, I can grasp I can I can withstand all this, you know, and that only will increase with him, especially losing Anzo.”

• With more time removed from the injury, how have you seen Malcolm Rodriguez progress and what expectations for him this year? “Malcolm's in a great spot, man. You know, the had the ACL myself, you know, it's always that first year it's kind of like ah, you know what I mean? But now he's moving around great. He's feeling great. I think that also was telling Shep it it's great that he got a full off season to be in Shep's defense rather than AG, you know what I mean, with some of the changes and stuff like that. So, I'm excited where he is. I can't wait to uh see him in training camp.”

• You guys played bass more than any other team last year, but there's a lot of talk about or nickel. Um, how does that affect, I guess, in the linebacker room and, you know, and along those lines, how much is Jack's growth in coverage uh maybe can influence, you know, that move to Nickel and expedite it, I guess. “And I think we do so many things uh schematic wise on defense. Shep does a phenomenal job with that where you know we've had some new guys that we have signed in free agency drafted as well and I know going into the week we'll see okay do we want to be more base or do we want to be more nickel I think that is more of a great thing or great problem that we have you know where you have the luxury of okay we play base verse 11 okay now with personnel based okay we can play nickel as well you know just could put more stress on the offense as far as in preparing for us.”

• You expect that to be more of a week to week shift this year than maybe last year? “Um, I think give or take it probably will be based off of personnel and what we have available, things like that.”

• In what ways have you seen Shep evolve from year one, tier two as defensive coordinator? “Oh man, you know, I've seen Shep, man. I think it's a beauty seeing him evolve from a linebacker coach all the way to a coordinator. You know, he's grown tremendously. Um, I think he's a phenomenal teacher. Um, you know, he can see things like light years before, you know, that sometimes that coaches may not be able to see. You know, I think uh even un understanding like even better, you know, how the offenses are trying to attack us, what's the weaknesses in defense and things like that, you know, I think he's a big problem solver and a big firefighter or he's able to put out fires before they even start.”

• Jack played I think all eight snaps last season. I mean, uh do you envision his workload kind of doing the same where he's on the field? I guess 98%. “I think one thing about Jack where I got to make sure I'm always telling him like, "Hey, bro, you know, like just trust me as a coach, you know, if I'm pulling snaps off of you, uh, just practice walk through, just trust me. You know, I think he does a freaking I've never seen anybody take care of his body the way that he does. You know, he's first one in, last one out in the weight room. You know, during the season, offseason, stuff like that. So, it's a reason why he's able to play that many snaps.”

• Can you speak to how hard that is? I mean, as a one. “Oh, yeah. It's I mean it's tremendously hard you know and I think you can't make the club in the tub and in this league your best availability is your availability you know so being able to do that I mean like I just keep on saying that's the reason why the guy's all pro that's the reason why he got the contract like he did because of the work he puts in.”

• What were your first words after got the extension and how cool to see that? “Um I think my first words you know um like coming from Saban and Kirby you know one thing those guys have been at the mountain top for so long you know and one thing they always do they regroup reload and they reset you know so just telling that okay that was great now it's more meat on the bone that we got to accomplish more goals and stuff like that you know that guy is going to respond every time like he does.”

• With Derek we've seen the line of scrimmage off the ball how do you see this scheme benefiting him the most in terms of maximizing what he can do for the defensive? “Oh it's going to be great this year I mean you know like guys have talked like I mentioned, you know, Anzo's no longer here. Now we get a chance to really see D Barnes uh take off into his uh level to be unlocked like maybe never before. You know what I mean? Where he can I think Deb Barnes is such a Swiss army and I not many guys in the league can play on the ball, off the ball, can cover tight end, can cover running back, but also they can get at a three technique and rush your guard or line up at defensive end and stuff like that. So I can't wait to see him just tap into a level that we've never seen this year.”

The Lions will report to training camp in late July, dates unknown at this time.