Going to a message board might not be for you then in fairness:)
Exactly - as you are eluding too… there are always excuses with AG. He seems like a GREAT dude. I’ll happily root for him. But outside a small stretch last season his defense has never been good. And he looks comically underprepared here in NY. Again, reasonable minds can differ.
Sure there are similarities of course, especially in terminology perhaps - but our team clearly didn’t do an overhaul on either side of the ball. This is not Ben Johnson’s offense we’re running anymore than it’s Aaron Glenn’s defense. I’m sure some concept and philosophy have crossover but just saying Shep is regurgitating AG’s defense I think I’d push back on personally
I dont think there should be a debate between them, but I said sure and thats why i’m here to debate. Dont twist it around.
Incorrect. There are no excuses. He did a fantastic job here considering many factors. He dealt with bad talent, and injuries. He was praisd last season by fans, media, and “experts” alike. Players voted him as best coordinator in the entire NFL. Players like Branch and Kerby publically credited him for their development, they good play, and how good they are now.
No, it’s the same defense. Its the same scheme. Its the same philopshy. You say “sure maybe some” doesn’t make sense. Its the same man-to-man, aggressive, play the run defense. Shepp is a student of AG. AG groomed him to become DC.
The owner and players publically support him. His defense is very good. He had no QB. The Fields hire failed. He needs time like any other first year coach going to a bad team. Was it comical for Dan Campbell?
You have a right to your opinion, but when you “debate” you have to speak reasonably not just say whatever you want. Right now, you are a AG hater. Thats how you present yourself.
Some good excerpts without sharing all the free content:
From Weeks 1-6 last year, the Lions ranked eighth in pressure rate at 37.4 percent — 1.3 points below their current figure. The Lions blitzed 28.3 percent of the time, which was the ninth-highest in the league. Again, they’re 18th in blitz rate this year. When the Lions blitzed, their pressure rate was below average at 38.5 percent — 22nd in the NFL. That’s well below their current 49.2 percent.
So, essentially, the Lions blitzed at a high rate through the first six weeks last year and recorded the 11th-worst pressure rate and 10th-worst defensive success rate (50.7). They’re blitzing less this year, and have been a top-10 pressure team when they do
Players have praised the creativity and freedom of Sheppard’s defense. Linebackers are able to call blitzes on their own or kill them based on what the offense is showing. Detroit’s safeties have done an excellent job communicating coverage calls to the rest of the secondary. From what I’ve gathered, that freedom wasn’t necessarily a staple of the defense in past years.
Additionally, Sheppard has been more willing to have his linebackers spy the QB, while dialing up unique pressures when they do to help corral quarterbacks. We saw how well it worked against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens
My view as recorded on here a ton is that the hole in AGs abilities were his game day strategy/management. He didn’t seem to have a feel for calling the defensive structure 60% of the time.
Great leader of men. Great teacher of technique. Guys got better in the system.
Kelvin Shepherd was his right hand and also already there so he would have been right along side doing a lot of these things too.
Who was calling the plays for the defense? AG! Now Kelvin is calling the plays and 7 games in seems to have a better feel for what to call when. That is part of why the defense is better in my opinion. Goff said all through training camp how much harder it was to get the offense rolling as a testament to how the defense was playing.
Health of the front 7 is better this season but much worse on the back 4-5 so that may be a bit of a wash.
If there was one other area where AG may have had a gap it was in his personnel decisions. It’s hard to say how much he played a part compared to Holmes. Obviously it was a problem early but it took a long time to get the talent there is now. Is that because AG was holding onto players too long he thought could get better? Asking for headcases like CD2 he used to coach? Asking for projects like Martin? It feels like the defense was the slowest unit to acquire talent so I have to think that AG was a part of that some how.
You are entitled to your own interpretation of course. I feel like I’ve done a respectable job addressing both sides of the coin. Statistically AG has not been a great DC. In fact one of the worst in the franchises history during the 2021 season. During the small sample size of having both elite talent and total health - he was solid. But that’s a very small sample size. Most of his tenure he was in charge of a bad defense. Additionally, the Lions defense got much better since he’s left, and the Jets defense has gotten worse with AG.
All that is moot tho because most of the refrain from casuals is “AG didn’t have the talent or health in his favor so he couldn’t reasonably be expected to do a good job and if you don’t think that then you don’t know football!” I think the conversation is far more nuanced than that personally and if that nuance qualifies me as a hater then I guess so.
Right on queue
It’s been real brother but I’m moving on, all the best and thanks for the debate
Nothing you’re saying is accurate. And there’s a ton of context missing. There are no excuses for Glenn because he was good. Especially last seaon. Were the Lions defense the best? Of course not. Because of talent and injuries. The best DC of all time wouldn’t have been the best. This falls more on the players. Not him. How good would this offense be without Goff and St? Losing Hutch for basically the entire season is the biggest deal.
2021?! C’mon man.
Believe me, if Hutch goes out for the season, or any major defensive player, Shepp would struggle. Just like anyone else.
I feel bad for AG. Fans never appreciate shit. And yes whoever is hating on AG doesn’t know football.
I view AG as a stepping stone. He made the defense better but there was room to improve and that’s starting to happen. Don’t discount what he has done, glad to have had him but it’s even better now.
There’s alot to fix over there. I hope they give him more than one year. Theyre not as bad as their record, and they remind me of the Lons who went 0-10-1 under Dan. Except the Jets DO NOT have a QB.
You can look at points or yards, but those who know, know. Why do you think he got a chance to be a HC? Glenn knew how to get the best out of people; he showed steady improvement to one of the top defenses even with a myriad of injuries.
Am I glad we got Shep? Hell yes. But AG was a decent DC, and if given a chance, I think he will be a very good HC.
Edit - going back and reading your previous post - I do agree with you that Shep (so far) has been an upgrade over AG.
I don’t like the negative talk about AG - The guy balled out for us and helped us to a 15 win team with a bunch of backups. Love me some AG and will celebrate when he gets that first win in NY.
Glenn was stubborn and steadfast on his philosophy unlike Shep who is willing to do different things. This is why the Jets are losings and we are much better. Campbell never fought with the media which is what Glenn is doing especially in NYC. I predicted he would be fired in 2 seasons. It could be a season and a half though
I like AG more than you clearly…but I agree that arguing and being confrontational with NY media is a terrible idea. They will just double down and come at him harder in the future.
Ultimately AG is now a rich, rich man. Whatever happens he got a fully guaranteed coaching contract. His grandkids are gonna be set for life.
I appreciate what he did for the Lions and wish him well
I would have thought he would have been set for life from his NFL earnings especially if he had invested properly. Sometimes things happen for the best. We have improved defensively and AG is in NYC with his own issues. Speaking on his issues, But starting off on the wrong foot. Both he and the GM signed off on Fields. Did they due their due diligence? Yes, since they booted Rodgers. But now, you’re back tracking. Also, the OC had never called plays and Steve Heiden has never been a full-time oline coach. These are the decisions he has made so he gets no sympathy from me. I wish him well though
The perception is AG was a leader of men. But it take more than that imo. Yes, AG got paid but honestly it doesn’t look like he’s ready for the gig. He’s quick tempered while NYC is a different animal. He would have been better off taking the Saints gig
I remember a game last year where AG’s defense came through in a big way and he went and sat on the player’s bench, legs crossed and arm outstretched down the back, looking like he owned Ford Field. That told me he was thinking I’m no longer the 2nd or 3rd banana around here. I’m my own man and I deserve to run my own team. Well, now he’s learning some hard lessons. Just like MCDC did.
AG deserves credit for the development of the players we know and love today. I also feel that Shepp being in his 30’s compared to Glenn in his 50’s helps him relate to these young guys easier and more naturally. And he hasn’t been out of the game as long as Glenn.
Both coaches have plenty of fire, though. Its the main reason I like both.
This was already mentioned in an article and quoted players as stating this, I think it was Amik would said it.
AG was a good coach, players like him and I actually like his scheme, playing M2M mostly.
The problem I had with him is specific game planning to address an opponents strength, make adjustments within the game and the situational play calling. AG was set on his base defense for the MOST part, not all the time but pretty much I got the sense he felt changes were not necessary.
Shep is running the same scheme, but he is making adjustments and he has shown that already and it has already been noticed. His blitzes are more disguised, the pre-snap alignments are not giving way to the actual coverage, and Shep is allowing the LB’s more freedom to adjust the defense pre-snap
All 3 of these have been verified by the players and analysts have noticed this.
Hell even Shep himself said that Washington knew exactly the coverage/play the defense was calling during the playoff game last year. AG did nothing to disguise any looks.
