Detroit Lions DC Sheppard on mission to slow big plays through the air while downplaying season's worst showing against the run
Allen Park — For the past month, the Detroit Lions defense hasn’t held up its end of the bargain. You know it, they know it, and coordinator Kelvin Sheppard isn’t shying away from it.
Over the past four games, the Lions have surrendered an average of 32.2 points, 453 yards, at an unsightly 6.4 yards-per-play clip. Last Sunday, in a measuring-stick matchup against the NFC-leading Rams, things bottomed out, with the Lions allowing a season-high 41 points in the loss.
“The elephant in the room, let’s go ahead and get it out there — whenever your offense scores over 30 points, you have to win those football games,” Sheppard said during a lengthy opening statement to his weekly media session.
Early in the season, after a string of strong defensive performances, Sheppard was being hailed as an unlikely upgrade over his predecessor and mentor, Aaron Glenn. But during a time of the season when coach Dan Campbell said the cream of the league rises to the top, Detroit’s defense has sunk like it was dropped into the middle of Lake Erie with rocks in its pockets.