Defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell spoke to the media Tuesday following Monday's loss in Green Bay and ahead of Sunday's matchup at Ford Field vs. the Minnesota Vikings.
Here are 10 takeaways from those media sessions:
1. The Lions have started fast on offense in their last two games, but haven't been able to sustain that success through the entire game. Bevell admitted that's one of the problems facing his offense right now.
"We're talking a lot about finish right now," he said. "It doesn't usually matter how you start, it obviously matters how you finish. That's just something we can definitely do better at."
2. "We're moving on." That was the message Pasqualoni had for reporters when the subject of Monday's officiating was broached.
3. Bevell was asked about pass interference penalties this season, and was very honest in his assessment that he thinks pass interference penalties aren't being called as much as they should.
4. It was only fitting that when Pasqualoni was asked about pass interference, and the idea that defensive players are getting away with it more this season, he wasn't on board.
"As a defensive coach, I don't think defensive players get away with anything," he said. "That's just me. That's just my sense of it."
5. Asked about the Vikings' defense that comes to Ford Field Sunday, Bevell said defensive end Everson Griffen has really stood out to him on tape. He and fellow defensive end Danielle Hunter are doing a nice job complementing one another on the edges.
6. The one thing Pasqualoni will be very wary of preparing for the Vikings' offense this week is their play-action game. The fact that Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is playing lights out right now – throwing for 639 yards and six touchdowns his last two games – plus having the league's third best rushing offense, makes for play action to be a real weapon.
He said his guys will have to be very disciplined this weekend against it.
7. Detroit's offense hit on a couple deep shots early Monday night, and Bevell said that is "who we are" as a passing offense. They want to get the play-action game going and continue to take those deep shots. Bevell said he'll never stop being aggressive in that regard.
8. Minnesota has a pretty good receiving tandem in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. Pasqualoni called then a nice one-two punch, but joked that he didn't know who was No. 1 and who was No. 2, because they both play like a No. 1.
9. Running back Kerryon Johnson blamed himself after Monday's game for the Lions struggling to run the football with any real consistency (56 total yards) in Green Bay. After watching the tape, Bevell said the entire offense was to blame, not just Johnson.
The inconsistencies in that department on offense is something Bevell and Co. certainly need to continue to try and clean up. Detroit's been very inconsistent running the football this season. They're 16th in the NFL in rushing (107.6), but are 23rd with just a 3.8 yard average per rush.
10. What's been Justin Coleman's secret to success this year for the Lions? The Lions' nickel cornerback has arguably been Detroit's defensive MVP early this season, and he was big again Monday night with an interception and three passes defended. Pasqualoni said Coleman does every drill and every rep 100 percent in practice, and "competes his butt off." He said that translates to gameday.
