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Aaron Glenn wants 'smothering' defense. Detroit Lions additions could make that reality.
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- Aaron Glenn wants 'smothering' defense. Detroit Lions additions could make that reality.
No one in the Detroit Lions organization walked away happier from this year's draft than defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
After years of making do with mismatched personnel on a defense that continuously struggled to stop the pass, the Lions doubled down on their offseason investment in the secondary by taking cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. with their first two picks .
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Arnold and Rakestraw ranked among the draft's top-seven press coverage cornerback prospects by The 33rd Team , and both have the personality and skill sets that fit Glenn's vision for the type of defense he wants his cornerbacks to play.
Smothering.
Lions CB Carlton Davis III speaks to the media after the organized team activities in Allen Park on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
"That's who I am as a coach," Glenn said Thursday before the Lions' third organized team activity practice of the offseason. "I like to smother the offense. I like to blitz and I like to get after the offense. Listen, I'm not sitting here saying we're going to blitz every time. It's just a part of what we do, it's a part of our personality, and then also it's a part of the guys that we have."
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The Lions reshaped their secondary this offseason by adding four cornerbacks who excel at the physical, in-your-face style Glenn wants.
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They traded for Carlton Davis III and signed Amik Robertson in free agency, effectively replacing last year's starting cornerbacks Cam Sutton and Jerry Jacobs .
Davis, at 6 feet 1 and 206 pounds, did not allow a touchdown in man-to-man coverage last season, according to Pro Football Focus, and should serve as the Lions' No. 1 cornerback this fall. In Thursday's OTA practice, he was aggressive in press man coverage and sticky, even when covering the Lions' fastest receiver, Jameson Williams, downfield .
Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn works with the cornerbacks during the organized team activities in Allen Park on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
Robertson isn't as big as Davis at 5-9, but played just as feisty a brand of football last season with the Las Vegas Raiders . He spent most of his time in the slot Thursday but should compete for the second starting outside cornerback spot with Arnold and Rakestraw this summer.
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Asked about his fit in Glenn's defense Thursday, Davis said, "I mean, I'm about to just lock shit up. Excuse my French, but I'm about to lock No. 1 receivers up, get my hands on some balls, get the ball back to our offense and play physical and bring the energy. And you'll see. You'll see."
Glenn has long desired cornerbacks with that type of confidence and ability, and having more options in the secondary this fall should expand his playbook defensively.
The Lions played man-to-man coverage on about 27% of their defensive snaps last season, according to PFF. That ranked 10th in the league, but was far below the league's most man-heavy defense the Cleveland Browns (42%).
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Glenn said the Lions will deploy "a good variety" of coverage looks this fall, and some of what they do will depend on their pass rush and their opponents' strengths.
But for the first time in his four years as defensive coordinator, Glenn has an abundance of cornerbacks who seem competent at how he wants to play.
"The guys that we have, they match up exactly what my personality is," Glenn said. "And that's the way I was as a player, also, and that's what I believe in, too. I strongly believe in you have to smother the offense and not give them an inch. And our guys believe in that, too. It's good when you have that mesh. This is what I believe in as a coordinator, these are the guys that we have and this is what the guys believe in."
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Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions additions may give them 'smothering' defense they desire
