Hear me out. The difference between what Dan was saying yesterday (there are things we haven’t tried) and what Shep was saying today (we are sticking to the plan) is understandable. If Shep is going down, he deserves to go down doing what he believes is right. Dan will give him this week to do what he believes in, but if it’s an abject failure, coaching changes will be made before we play Green Bay.
He’s right there is no benefit in switching the playbook mid season, but can we patch it up enough. We miss Anzo and Amik in coverage along with Branch. It was always patchwork but now a bigger patch
The questions for Shep were "spot on". Too bad he never answered them. I don't think any of us wanted to hear that he's gonna have the same plan. Excellent questions JRod, and Burchfield. I'm literally sick.
I get that the secondary has been beset with some terrible circumstances in the last calendar year (Branch = Achilles, Kerby = chronic knee issue, Arnold = kidnapping!) and it was going to be impossible to replace those 3, but they look so unprepared and clueless at times. They couldn't stop, or adjust to, a simple RPO concept last Sunday. And I swear to whatever bearded entity in the sky, if Arizona runs that simple bootleg to a **wide open** Trey McBride more than 1x, I'm going to lose it.
And get Abney in there. What have you got to lose at this point.
I recall after the season ended last year that one of the big things people were concerned with were sacks. We gotta get a bookend for Hutch. The Lions finished 4th in sacks. The Lions are number 2 in sacks thus far in 2026 and one sack behind the leader, Minny. What has it meant? Nada. The difference in defenses is astounding.
However, for as terrible a they played overall against the Panthers, they could have won that game even though they didn't deserve to win. This week we go against McBride and the Lions have a lousy history defending against TE's. Does Jaco Briskets light 'em up this Sunday? Hard to bet against it.
This is so disappointing. Success in life is about adapting. You may have what you think is the best plan but when it is proven to not work, you need to adapt and modify that plan or come up with a new one.
There's a big difference between conviction and stubbornness. Being unable to adapt and pivot from your plan that's clearly not working is the definition of stubbornness.
But Dan Campbell shares in this responsibility as well. He could force change and yet he seems aligned on their "conviction".
I think you all hit it in the podcast. I’m not sure where an answer like “takeaways” came from when Dan responded about the identity of the defense. Where did knee biting, clawing, taking hunks outta people go? Dan seems lost.
Ultimately, I want to give Shepp credit where he deserves it, he has produced a great pass rush even without blitz and gotten a lot out of the d line. It just isn’t a good fit for where Shepp is, and where the Lions are. Shepp would be better somewhere like the Jets or Raiders, where the team expectations weren’t high and there would be runway for him to develop, and with the jets, the ability to lean on an experienced defensive mind like AG. The Lions have struggled with the secondary for so long, what they need is an experienced DC who has a prior track record of building good secondaries, trying to develop a coordinator doesn’t match with the current timeline.
Full credit for his fire. Zero credit for his analysis and problem solving ability. If he cannot articulate what's really wrong here, he obviously can't fix it.
Hear me out. The difference between what Dan was saying yesterday (there are things we haven’t tried) and what Shep was saying today (we are sticking to the plan) is understandable. If Shep is going down, he deserves to go down doing what he believes is right. Dan will give him this week to do what he believes in, but if it’s an abject failure, coaching changes will be made before we play Green Bay.
I am rooting for him to succeed. I am just not sure it will be here with this group of players.
He’s right there is no benefit in switching the playbook mid season, but can we patch it up enough. We miss Anzo and Amik in coverage along with Branch. It was always patchwork but now a bigger patch
I could be wrong (and hope I am) but, if we don't win this next one because of the same problems, someone will be cleaning out their office(s).
The questions for Shep were "spot on". Too bad he never answered them. I don't think any of us wanted to hear that he's gonna have the same plan. Excellent questions JRod, and Burchfield. I'm literally sick.
Wow. That was not pretty. I'm reading "lol" emojis all through your report.
I get that the secondary has been beset with some terrible circumstances in the last calendar year (Branch = Achilles, Kerby = chronic knee issue, Arnold = kidnapping!) and it was going to be impossible to replace those 3, but they look so unprepared and clueless at times. They couldn't stop, or adjust to, a simple RPO concept last Sunday. And I swear to whatever bearded entity in the sky, if Arizona runs that simple bootleg to a **wide open** Trey McBride more than 1x, I'm going to lose it.
And get Abney in there. What have you got to lose at this point.
I recall after the season ended last year that one of the big things people were concerned with were sacks. We gotta get a bookend for Hutch. The Lions finished 4th in sacks. The Lions are number 2 in sacks thus far in 2026 and one sack behind the leader, Minny. What has it meant? Nada. The difference in defenses is astounding.
However, for as terrible a they played overall against the Panthers, they could have won that game even though they didn't deserve to win. This week we go against McBride and the Lions have a lousy history defending against TE's. Does Jaco Briskets light 'em up this Sunday? Hard to bet against it.
This is so disappointing. Success in life is about adapting. You may have what you think is the best plan but when it is proven to not work, you need to adapt and modify that plan or come up with a new one.
There's a big difference between conviction and stubbornness. Being unable to adapt and pivot from your plan that's clearly not working is the definition of stubbornness.
But Dan Campbell shares in this responsibility as well. He could force change and yet he seems aligned on their "conviction".
I think you all hit it in the podcast. I’m not sure where an answer like “takeaways” came from when Dan responded about the identity of the defense. Where did knee biting, clawing, taking hunks outta people go? Dan seems lost.
I keep thinking that the Seahawks Super Bowl defense really did a number on this staff.
Ultimately, I want to give Shepp credit where he deserves it, he has produced a great pass rush even without blitz and gotten a lot out of the d line. It just isn’t a good fit for where Shepp is, and where the Lions are. Shepp would be better somewhere like the Jets or Raiders, where the team expectations weren’t high and there would be runway for him to develop, and with the jets, the ability to lean on an experienced defensive mind like AG. The Lions have struggled with the secondary for so long, what they need is an experienced DC who has a prior track record of building good secondaries, trying to develop a coordinator doesn’t match with the current timeline.
I will say this. Nobody is pointing fingers at each other.
Thought I saw elsewhere that he said he was making the right calls, which is like posting the finger at players
To me, that is directed at himself. Self-denial.
All I can say, is Sheppard better hope his defensive back 7 does something for a win.
Full credit for his fire. Zero credit for his analysis and problem solving ability. If he cannot articulate what's really wrong here, he obviously can't fix it.
Barring a miracle, he's toast. That presser performance gave management reason enough to fire him.
He has no answers.
In all fairness, the Lions have had few answers since 1957.
Found his presser really disappointing….. I hope he pulls it together, but doesn’t feel like Shep has a grip on things