If there was an enduring image of Detroit's defense under Matt Patricia -- other than 10 players on the field -- it was blown assignments leading to walk-in touchdowns. Dan Campbell said it first: the Lions looked 'disheveled' on defense last season, "almost like they were trying to figure out, what world are we in right now?"
Campbell hired Aaron Glenn as his defensive coordinator to help change that. And Glenn said Wednesday eliminating confusion is his first order of business.
"When you look at the players, I think Dan said it, the players looked confused, with no confidence. The one thing we have to do is change their thinking so they can go out and play with confidence and play fast," Glenn said. "As a staff, that’s our No. 1 job, get the players playing fast, get them playing confident and let those guys let it loose.
"We don’t need a lot of thinking out there. We just want the guys to understand, 'What’s my job? Where my eyes gotta be, coach? And what do I gotta do?"
That's easier said than done, especially ahead of another uncertain offseason. The Lions don't just need more cohesion on defense. They need more talent. But the way Glenn sees it, that's for Campbell and new GM Brad Holmes to figure out. He's focused on creating a defense his players can execute.
"You look at the tape, you see guys in stacks and bunches and they don’t know what they do. We want to make sure that’s not happening with our guys," Glenn said. "That takes a lot of confusion out, and when you’re not confused you’re able to play fast, you know what you’re doing and you can go make plays. We want these guys to be able to do that as much as they can.
"I’m not saying we’re going to be simple to target. We’re going to be simple enough for our guys to know exactly what they’re doing so they can go out there and perform their duties."
Glenn and Campbell think the game the same way. They spent five years together in New Orleans, Glenn as defensive backs coach, Campbell as assistant head coach and tight ends coach. When it comes to player acquisition, they both prioritize toughness. Because talent is wasted without it.
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"You don’t win in this game without toughness," said Glenn. "You saw our head coach, you saw his press conference, that’s what we’re all about. That’s what we’ve been about in New Orleans, a tough-minded team. We’re gonna make sure we instill that in the players so they understand what wins in this league: tough, smart, confident and athletic players. That’s what we’re looking for out there."
One of Glenn's biggest challenges will be fixing a secondary that just allowed the most passing touchdowns in the NFL. His experience as a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback should help. So will his track record as a coach. The Saints ranked last in the NFL in passing defense the year Glenn took over as defensive backs coach. This year they ranked first.
He said the secondary he's inheriting in Detroit reminds him of the one he took over in New Orleans, including a first-round cornerback in Marshon Lattimore.
"I see athletes. And when you have a group of athletes, you coach them and tell them exactly what they have to do and you get a chance to see a secondary that’s going to make plays for you," Glenn said. "Kind of reminds me of my first year in New Orleans when I had a young secondary with Marshon Lattimore, Vonn Bell, Marcus Williams.
"You get to grow these guys as pups. I’m excited about that. Jeff Okudah, first-year player. Amani (Oruwariye), young player. Even our two safeties, young players. I get a chance to mold those guys to exactly how I want them to play."
For Lattimore, the 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year, things clicked right away. Not so much for Okudah, who referenced internal 'dysfunction' after his first season in Detroit. He said he was hopeful the next coaching staff would be able to connect with the players. In Glenn and Campbell, it looks like he got his wish.
Glenn's message to Okudah?
"Let your best be good enough for us," he said. "Don’t try to level up to be the third pick in the draft. We don’t need you to do that. We just need you to be the best Okudah you can be, and that will be good enough for us."
It comes back to putting players in the right spots. Too often under Patricia, it seemed like the players were being forced into a specific scheme. Hence the disarray, hence the results. That won't be the case under Glenn.
"We're going to make sure that it’s not, scheme then players. It's players and making sure we fit them to a scheme," he said. "That's our No. 1 goal: put the players in position to be successful."