While the Lions remain confident in Terrion Arnold, the former first-round pick has had a rocky start to his second season. He's been picked on in coverage in each of the first three games, including Detroit's 38-30 win over the Ravens on Monday.
"Look, there’s some things that I know he wants back from that game, that he knows he can do better, that we know he can do better," Dan Campbell said Wednesday on 97.1 The Ticket. "Man, it’s just honing your craft in a couple areas."
Arnold was especially complicit on consecutive drives in the second quarter. On the first, he allowed a 10-yard completion to Rashod Bateman on an out route and a 34-yard pass to Devontez Walker on a deep corner route on back-to-back plays. On the second, he was flagged for pass interference on a go ball down the sideline to D'Andre Hopkins where Arnold had both arms around Hopkins as the receiver was trying to make a play.
The penalty moved the Ravens to the Lions' three-yard line. Lamar Jackson hit Bateman for a touchdown on the next play with Arnold as the nearest defender.
Last season, Arnold played more snaps in man coverage than any corner in the NFL. He was thrown at in man coverage 20 more times than any corner. It was baptism by fire for a rookie. The Lions aren't playing quite as much man coverage this season under new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, but Arnold and D.J. Reed are still being left on islands a lot.
"What we ask of these corners is not easy, but it’s also why you’re here," said Campbell. "It’s why we acquire you, whether it’s the draft or it’s free agency, because we’re going to put you on an island. And it’s not going to be easy, but that’s the task you’re given. He’s a young player, he’s working at it, and he’s going to get better, alright? He’s going to get better. It’s just going to take a little bit of time here."
Reed, the veteran free agent signing, has improved with each game. He was especially sharp in Baltimore in a difficult matchup with Zay Flowers. Arnold, meanwhile, has allowed 223 yards in coverage, per PFF, most in the NFL so far among corners.
Aside from a strong first quarter in the season-opener against the Packers, Arnold has not looked like the player who shined in training camp and, in the words of Sheppard, was "looking like a CB1 that can go follow people and do it on a consistent basis."
Again, the Lions haven't lost faith in Arnold, who did tighten up in the second half Monday to help the defense get home for several sacks. The throws that don't come his way can be just as telling as those that do. But the Lions do need more consistent coverage from one of their top corners in a defense that wants to play aggressive, attacking football up front.
While they "work through a few of these things" with Arnold, Campbell said the Lions could give nickel Amik Robertson more looks on the outside: "Look, we’ll probably use Amik on some stuff, too. Amik’s a good player, so we’re going to mix it up a little bit."
Robertson plays the vast majority of his snaps in the slot, but proved his worth on the perimeter last season when the Lions bounced him outside after an injury to No. 1 corner Carlton Davis III. He also got a chance on the outside in Week 1 after Arnold left the game with a groin injury, but has played 51 of his 55 snaps in the slot the last two games.
As for Arnold, "look, every young player has these ebbs and flows of their career or of a second year, things of that nature, so he’s going to be aright, man," said Campbell. "We’re just going to keep working through it."