Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp spoke to the media Thursday. Here are my 10 biggest takeaways from those media sessions:
1. One assistant coach Glenn has really leaned on over the years in Detroit is linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard. Glenn said he's been preparing Sheppard to be a defensive coordinator and thinks he's ready for that opportunity.
2. Ben Johnson started his press conference with a big smile and the proclamation that his alma mater, the University of North Carolina, is no longer a basketball school after the hiring of Bill Belichick as their head football coach. Johnson put the over/under on wins for the Tar Heels at 9.5 games next season. He's certainly excited about the hire.
3. Head coach Dan Campbell said earlier this week special teams will play a big role Sunday, and he'll need a big play from those units. Asked about that Thursday, Fipp said it's important not to chase plays. The goal is for all 11 players to execute on every play and if they do that, big plays will come to them.
4. Glenn has really liked the growth he's seen from rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold. He loves the fact that Arnold has 'ice water in his veins,' and projects that Arnold will be one of the best cornerbacks in the league in the coming years. Certainly high praise from Glenn, a former Pro Bowler at cornerback himself.
5. After watching Buffalo's defense and creating the game plan for this week, Johnson said two things jumped out about the Bills' defense that could give them issues. The first was the way Buffalo limits explosive plays. Buffalo has allowed the second fewest 20-plus yard completions (28) in the league this season. The second was how difficult the Bills can make things in the red zone. Buffalo ranks 16th in the NFL in red-zone defense (54.2 percent).
6. We've seen an increased number of blocked field goals at the end of games this year. Fipp said it's because officials are allowing more contact to the snapper in the A-gap as long as it's not to head or neck. He made the point that we rarely see flags on Hail Mary plays at the end of games and officials seem to be treating the A-Gap and contact to long snapper the same way on game-ending field goal tries. Teams have adjusted accordingly.
7. One of the things Glenn said has been a point of emphasis for his defense this week has been limiting the off-schedule plays Bills quarterback Josh Allen is so good at creating. Some of them are inevitable from the MVP favorite, and when they do happen, Glenn said his defenders have to be really good about rallying to the football. He said his players are really looking forward to this matchup.
8. Third down is going to be huge for Johnson and the Lions' offense this week. He noted Buffalo's struggles on third down in a loss to the Rams last week as Los Angeles went 11-for-15 on third down to extend drives and score 44 points on the Bills. Buffalo ranks 25th in third-down defense on the year at 43.2 percent.
9. Buffalo ranks in the top half of the league in the number of kickoff returns they've allowed (20). The Rams returned three last week against Buffalo. Fipp said he hopes they get an opportunity to return a couple and create a big play there.
10. Johnson said one thing quarterback Jared Goff doesn't get enough credit for is his ability to move on from a bad play. He'll just throw the ball at a receiver's feet and live to play the next down, knowing they have so many weapons. It's better to just move on to the next down and not force a bad play or play call.
