Tag: Kelvin Shepard

Lions DC Kelvin Shepard pleased with tall group of edge rushers

ALLEN PARK — It’s early in the process and no pads are allowed yet during offseason workouts, but Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Shepard likes what he sees from the edge rusher group.

One of the first things he sees is that they are tall. Tall is good.

“That’s something that we attacked, we saw we needed. Like always, we mentioned it and the front office did a great job and went out and kind of attracted some of it, barring what we could do, some of the guys we were looking for,’’ Shepard said on Thursday before the team’s ninth OTA workout.

Of the seven edge rushers on the current roster four of them are 6-foot-5 or taller. That includes Aidan Hutchinson (6-foot-7), free agent signee Payton Turner (6-foot-6), undrafted free agent Anthony Lucas (6-foot-5) and free agent D.J. Wonnum (6-foot-5).

The EDGE roster fills out with rookie Derrick Moore (6-foot-3), Eric O’Neill (6-foot-2) and second-year Ahmed Hassanein (6-foot-2).

“It is a good mix and blend. We have some long, we have some shorter, powerful, so to say, type players. The first thing I think is there’s going to be a lot of competition come training camp with that unit,’’ Shepard said. “There’s six to seven guys I’m looking at and they all look like they can play and have potential. It’s just a matter of when the pads come on and what that looks like.’’

Shepard said some of the talent is obvious like signing veteran free agent Wonnum and drafting Moore (Michigan) in the second round. 

He also pointed out that Turner, in his sixth NFL season, is a former first-round pick and Hassanein was on the practice squad all last season and is looking to make a push.

Even though undrafted, Lucas was a “game-wrecker” at USC per Shepard.

“We’re very excited for the group. When it comes to the length – it’s what you look for on the edge nowadays, especially what complements the 

werewolf (Hutchinson) we have, what does that look like,’’ said Shepard who is in his second season as defensive coordinator.

“A lot of guys want this juiced up, speedball type player but does that truly complement what that player does well? That’s something that we have to sit back as a staff, as a front office and look at,’’ Shepard added. “We’re all on the same page as far as what we’re looking for to complement that player.’’

What’s next: Veteran minicamp next week and then players are off until training camp.

Lions Dan Campbell cherishes a good challenge; calls schedule the ‘right kind of brutal’

ALLEN PARK — With the OTAs this week, the Detroit Lions are taking the next step toward the start of the season in September.

Coach Dan Campbell sees a few challenges ahead. One of them is the schedule which he calls “the right kind of brutal.”

While outsiders may look at the Lions’ game schedule and think maybe the team is headed for a season of disappointment, that is not the way Campbell sees it at all.

“I love the schedule we have this year, this is the type of schedule that builds you for the postseason. We’re going to get tested early and often and all year long and it’s freakin’ awesome. It’s really how you want it,’’ Campbell said on Friday prior to the on-field work. “We’ll be ready to go when the time is right.’’

That’s because his message, as usual, is there is no room for complacency.

“We’ve gotten to where we’ve gotten because we haven’t been complacent and we have gone and put the work in again and done all the little things you have to do to win games and win the division again. We have to do that all over again,’’ the coach said.

He said the challenge is why he loved this game and why the NFL is the best.
“Not only (games) here at home, our own division, go on the road, it’s awesome. To me, by the end of the year we ought to  be scarred up, scarred up and ready to, hardened for battle and ready for the playoffs,’’ Campbell said. “There’ll be nothing easy about it. Just to get through our own division is going to be brutal, but it’s the right kind of brutal.”

Another challenge is that he is working with two new coordinators – John Morton on offense and Kelvin Sheppard on defense. Plus new personnel and a few in new positions.

“We’ve got offensively and defensively staffwise either new coaches or in new positions or first time having the room — that’s 14 guys, that’s a lot,’’ Campbell said. 

He’s got to get everyone on the same page by making sure the coordinators want what they want and they also know what Campbell wants.

“This is the best time to do that, we’re working through the kinks which is awesome,’’ Campbell  “It’s only been two days but it’s been really good. Guys are in a good spot, good energy, thorough has been awesome.’’