Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes went to work this offseason significantly upgrading the personnel on defense, especially the cornerback position. Wednesday, we got our first chance to talk to defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn since camp and get a feel from him about how all the new parts are coming together.
Here are my five biggest takeaways from that media session:
1. Good coordinators in the NFL are able to adapt their schemes to best fit their personnel. Glenn has had to do that over the last few years as the Lions continued to build up their talent on that side of the ball. After making considerable upgrades this offseason along the defensive line and at the cornerback position, Glenn finally feels like he has the personnel to match the kind of aggressive, man-coverage defensive play caller he is at heart.
"Once you start to inject players that have a certain talent then you continue to evolve and try to make sure you do things that you know that you like to do," Glenn said. "The defensive backs that we brought in really fit my personality on how we want to get ready to play. The defensive linemen that we have, they really fit the personality of how we want to play.
"So, I'm excited to be able to do some things that I think overall as an organization that we want to do because we're an aggressive offense, we're an aggressive special teams and we want to be aggressive on defense also."
2. Fourth-year defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike has been one of the best stories of training camp so far. A back injury nearly ended his career in his second year. He's now completely past that injury, he's gained 20 pounds of muscle this offseason, and is consistently running with the first-team offense both inside at the three technique and on the edge. He's looked disruptive.
The way Onwuzurike has looked dating back to OTAs, Glenn thinks he is ready to take the next step and be a really good player in this league. If Onwuzurike can be that player, their defensive front could be much deeper and more disruptive this season.
3. Players who can rush the passer are at a premium in this league. James Houston has proven to have that ability when healthy.
The Lions have been experimenting with Houston playing some SAM linebacker that requires him to play in space and be a little more versatile. According to Glenn, they are abandoning those plans for now. Glenn said they are moving Houston back to defensive end where he can just focus on rushing the passer and setting an edge in run game.
"Listen, the one thing we know he has a talent at is rushing the quarterback and when you have a good player you try to figure out, 'What else can they do?' Because you want them on the field as much as possible," Glenn said.
"So, we tried him at different positions to see if he can bring value in those aspects but sometimes you've got to sit back and go, 'You know what, just do what you do best.' And that goes to what I was just saying before, man, training camp, that's when you try things out. We're going to let him go play defensive end, we're going to let him go get after the quarterback and let him use those moves that he has that I don't think a lot of people knows that he has."
4. When it comes to the upgrades the Lions have made at cornerback, plus the move from nickel cornerback to safety by Brian Branch, Glenn now has an abundance of good players in the secondary he has to find playing time for.
New cornerbacks Carlton Davis III, Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Amik Robertson have all had good camps. Branch, Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu and Brandon Joseph have shown playmaking ability at safety.
For a pass defense that ranked 27th in the NFL last season and gave up the most 20-plus-yard passes by any defense, it's a good problem to have a bunch of good players that deserve time on the field. It's up to Glenn to find the right packages for players to maximize everyone's talents.
"Listen, you're not going to get every guy on the field at one time, but there are packages you can get guys out there and get ready to play. We've got to take advantage of Ennis (Rakestraw Jr.), we've got to take advantage of (Terrion Arnold) TA, we've got to take advantage of (Brian) Branch and (Ifeatu Melifonwu) Iffy and all those guys that are good players, and we plan on doing that.
"Iffy's been playing some nickel, Branch has been playing more safety, Amik (Robertson) was a guy that we brought in, he's been playing the nickel and playing outside, so we try to figure out those packages that we can have to try to get those guys on the field as much as possible."
View photos from Day 14 of Detroit Lions training camp on Wednesday August 14, 2024.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9), Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31), Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9), Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety C.J. Moore (38), Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malik Jefferson (52) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Daurice Fountain (12) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kaden Davis (88) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9), Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9), Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3), Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (43) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9), Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jake Funk (36) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (6) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31), Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21), Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46), Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (6) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaiah Williams (83) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3), Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (43) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 14, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
5. Asked about Arnold specifically, Glenn said he's known for years Arnold would be a great fit in his defense.
"We know he can go out there and play man coverage. I mean, you go out there and play in any Nick Saban defense, you've got to be able to do that, so it kind of compares to what we do," he said.
Glenn has been impressed with Arnold so far, which is part of the reason he's been running with the first-team defense opposite Davis since he got here, but Glenn also admitted Arnold isn't where he needs to be just yet. Like all rookies, he has a lot of improving to do, and once he comes back from this injury, he's got to get out there and get on the grind and continue to work.
