So I’ve been a little out of touch with the post season blues, just now getting engaged with draft coming up. Anyway, I see a lot of draft talk about whether a defensive prospect is the type that fits our defense. I don’t think we change on our character and grit requirement, but my question is, do we know what kind of defense Kelvin wants to run? Base defense, man vs zone, focus on pressure, blitz…. A lot of questions marks in my head if there will be a change in scheme. As I said, I’ve been out of the loop, maybe this has been answered.
In listening to Dan Campbell, sounds like they still wanna run a heavy man coverage scheme. Shep has played under a lot of different defensive schemes in his playing career so who knows what new wrinkles are brought in.
We also have a new dline coach and run game coordinator with a ton of experience so that may change some defensive front looks too.
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Man ability for sure in coverage. I think it’s a necessary component to being able to mix and disguise.
Our “fronts” are about as “multiple” as you can get, even with us looking so much like a 4-3 team last year.
Our personnel are really 3-4 types, with physical traits that allow them to play 2-gap, with a heavy emphasis on stopping the run.
Honestly, you can think about what Dan Campbell wants and where Brad Holmes is on the same page with him. Or, you can think about what Bill Parcels would want. One of the things Bill Parcels emphasized was being able to match up with each opponent in different ways, taking away their strengths. That’s part of who Dan Campbell is. You can’t be that kind of team with a static defense.
So, personnel types will remain the same. (diverse, ability to mix alignment, 2-gap and pressure)
Plan of attack each week? That’s another story. This is where I expect to see Spagnuolo’s influence on Shep to show itself. Maybe more nickel and more zone. Blitzing a little more sparingly and not just to blitz. Only blitz where you’re good at it, otherwise play the numbers in coverage.
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Nice analysis. Would love to see us get Jihad at LB. Great combo guy who would complement hutch well.
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I wanna see some Cover 6 and more exotic looks presnap. But, get something different post snap. Something to fool the motion pre-snap reads.
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Sign of things to come ?
Quote from Shep
“That guy was having a phenomenal year,” Sheppard said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press . “That guy’s willing to drop into coverage if it deems they’re turning three people in protection to him. He’ll drop out without hesitation and understand the coverage aspect of it, want to pour into that. "
Lets not forget Kacy Rodgers comes from Todd Bowles trees. Quite a bit of mixed front, stunts, and twists, and pressure packages.
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I certainly hope so.
Is he talking about Hutch? Gotta be considering the 3 people in protection part.
This is where a guy like Za’Darius would have a lot better matchups with Hutch getting so much attention.
Za’Darius was playing with a bunch of backups most of his time as a Lion and still had 4 sacks in 8 games.
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Sorry. Yes that is about Hutch.
The 85 Bears would like a word… 
But I agree with you 100%. Your defense has to be able to morph into what is needed to shut down what the other team like to do. This is also the Belichick defense (shocking I know…).
It is funny that the Lions defense looked better and better as they got more and more dudes. It is not really magic. Scheme is important but you need players.
Which is why I love Branch. I do not see how you ever let a guy like him leave. He can play basically any position in the secondary. And also play man or zone in all spots. I still kind of prefer him at slot corner due to his tackling but he then can be taken off the field based on offensive scheme so safety it is.
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Yeah, funny how that works.
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