One of the biggest complaints about the Matt Patricia-era Detroit Lions, specifically on defense, was that the scheme mattered a lot more than the players. Patricia was a rigid believer in his “multiple” scheme and having players execute within the structure of the schematic design.
That approach took away from the aggressiveness and individuality of the players. Talented defenders (Darius Slay, Quandre Diggs, Damon Harrison) who sometimes did their own thing — often to the benefit of the defense — were sent packing. It led to a league-worst defensive unit that was barely a speed bump to opposing offenses in 2020 with the passive, reactive style of play Patricia favored.
New defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn made it clear in his first Lions press conference that things will be different in his defense. He’s an advocate for players over scheme and letting the talented players do what they do best.
“The No. 1 thing we’re going to do that we’re going to do as a staff, we’re going to make sure that it’s not scheme then players,” Glenn said last week. “It’s players and making sure we fit them to a scheme. And that’s our No. 1 goal, that you put the players in position to be successful.”
Glenn has roots in the same basic defensive scheme as Patricia, which leans heavily upon the Bill Parcells concepts from the 1980s and 1990s. Glenn played cornerback under Parcells with the New York Jets.
But Glenn has also played under Dom Capers, who is now on the Lions coaching staff as a senior assistant. Capers is all about the zone blitz and pressuring the quarterback, creating opportunities for takeaways. That’s more of what the defense was like in New Orleans, where Glenn has spent the last several seasons on the defensive staff. The base alignment might be the same, but the execution and fundamental principle of the defense is vastly divergent.
Glenn refused to commit to a base front this early, preferring to see what his players can do best instead.
“The good thing about the systems that I’ve been in, last year I was in 4-3 for five years. Before that, with Cleveland and the Jets, I was in 3-4,” Glenn said. “So I’m well versed on both of those systems. Again, that helps me as far as who do we have and we make sure we put those guys in positions. So again, I’ve been part of both systems, well versed on both systems, and I’m going to make sure we’ve got the players for them to fit exactly how we need them to play.”