Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard had an informative and entertaining press conference. Here are the most important takeaways from Thursday.
Kelvin Sheppard took the podium Thursday morning prior to the Detroit Lions ’ fourth training camp practice. As always, Sheppard was fantastic—both informative and entertaining. Now the team’s defensive coordinator, Sheppard will have weekly media sessions, and we’re lucky for it.
Thursday’s session was chock-full of information, so I opted to a write an entire recap on the press conference. Here are my seven biggest takeaways.
Terrion Arnold has taken “a huge leap”
Arnold has been a standout in training camp through four practices, and it’s clear Sheppard sees the same thing. The Lions defensive coordinator called the secondary the deepest room on the team, and pointed to Arnold’s Year 2 growth as a big reason for it.
“Terrion Arnold took a huge leap, in my opinion, this offseason,” Sheppard said. “He progressed during his rookie year, but he’s come in, not only this offseason but this training camp, looking like a different guy. His body’s more developed, but also from the neck up, the mental aspect of the game. He’s seeing it faster. He’s feeling the routes faster.”
Arnold did leave Thursday’s practice with a leg injury, but the severity is unknown at this time.
It’s Jack Campbell’s defense now
Echoing some comments from Dan Campbell on SiriusXM, Sheppard mentioned how Jack Campbell has taken full ownership and command of the defense—something he noticed late last season after Alex Anzalone broke his forearm.
“Jack’s a big physical presence in the huddle and on the field, and guys feel him,” Sheppard said. “I think he started to take over that level of accountability this spring with Alex being out of the way with his family or what-not, dealing with his deal. I think you saw Jack step forward.
“I’ve had the honor of coaching Jack since he was drafted. Jack’s a player, out of everybody, he’s never had any other voice in his head. He knows what I’m thinking, we’re in lock-step with one another, and we spend a lot of time together, quite frankly.”
Everything looks like it’s coming easier and quicker for Jack Campbell on the field, and it certainly seems like he has mastered Sheppard’s defense already.
Trust, honesty, accountability
Sheppard used these three words as the “pillars” to his coaching philosophy. This not only reflects his relationship with the players, but his fellow coaches as well.
“I tell these guys my three pillars, honesty, trust, accountability. Can’t have one without the other. I think it starts with being honest, having open dialogue within the room. That’s not calling people out to pick on somebody or somebody laughing, making fun of. It’s a learning environment, it’s healthy when you’re honest, open, everybody can walk in their own shoes, be exactly who they are. You see growth and development,” Sheppard said.
It’s a peek into Sheppard’s coaching style, which is in line with the entire Lions’ culture. Allowing everyone to speak their mind clearly empowers coaches and players alike, and it lends itself to helpful, honest criticism.
LB coach Shaun Dion Hamilton is a ‘freaking genius’
Sheppard admits it’s hard to not get super involved in the linebacking room he coached last year, but what is helping him transition away from that room is the fantastic job that his replacement, Shaun Dion Hamilton, is doing.
“He is a freaking genius. When I coached him as a player, he knew every spot. He literally reminds me of myself, and I say that all the time,” Sheppard said. “It’s not a cliché or anything, but it’s like I’m watching myself all over again. Like when I coached him as a player, I’m like, ‘You should coach.’ It’s hard for you to get to that outside zone there, come on over here on my side. He took that advice, and I mean, he’s running with it. He’s off to a fast start.”
Ahmed Hassanein is still new to the game, but already seeing early gains
In very Aaron Glenn fashion, Sheppard wanted to make sure we aren’t inducting Hassanein into the Hall of Fame quite yet.
“Guys, this guy is a rookie. He just started playing football six years ago, he just learned the English language six, seven years ago,” Sheppard said. “So let’s not turn this guy into Lawrence Taylor or something like that.”
That said, the Lions defensive coordinator has been impressed by the sixth-round rookie’s passion and dedication, noting that wherever his ceiling is, he’s going to find it—with the help of a great positional coach.
“He’s on the developmental swing, but he’s been afforded the opportunity to work with one of the best, if not the best in the league, in my opinion, in (defensive line coach) Kacy Rodgers and I’m already seeing it. I saw it in the spring, but that guy’s all in. Whatever his potential is, I’m able to reach it because he’s going to work at it that way.”
Aidan Hutchinson already looking better than last year
Sheppard knows it sounds crazy considering the year Hutchinson was having and the brutal injury he suffered last year, but Aidan Hutchinson is already looking like he’s taking a step forward from 2024.
“I see a better player than we had last year,” Sheppard said. “You might be like, ‘Woah.’ That’s the same thing I said when I saw him out there. I’m like, ‘Woah.’ But if you know Hutch, which all of you do, and the way he works, the way he attacked his rehab, a week after the surgery he’s in here trying to work out and things like that. It’s no surprise.”
Lions looking more violent than ever on defense
We’ve noted a few times in our observations how much more physical, fast, and ball-hawking the defense has been so far. We aren’t the only ones: team special assistant Chris Spielman pulled Sheppard aside this week and noted how attacking this defense is right now.
“Spielman came up to me and said, ‘I haven’t seen that violent intent on the football around here in four years,’” Sheppard said.
There has been a noticeable focus on attacking the football and forcing fumbles. When asked about it, Sheppard said when watching the tape from last year, there were a few outliers who were doing a good job of it, but not enough. He wants that dynamic flipped in 2025.
“I told the defense, guys shouldn’t stick out (for attacking the ball). It should be the opposite,” Sheppard said. “You should be the anomaly if you’re not touching the ball, if you’re not finishing on the ball. I call it biting the football every play. That guy should stick out. It shouldn’t be three guys sticking out because they’re finishing on the ball.”