Tag: Cory Undlin

Lions DC Cory Undlin on Jeff Okudah: ‘driven like few men I’ve been around’

Lions defensive coordinator Cory Undlin on rookie CB Jeff Okudah: ‘driven like few men I’ve been around’

New Lions defensive coordinator Cory Undlin got a gleam in his eye during Wednesday’s Zoom session with reporters when he was asked about prized rookie CB, Jeff Okudah. There was no hiding his infatuation with the No. 3 overall pick.

“With this Zoom thing, I’ve spent a lot of time with Jeff and I think the people in Detroit and Lions fans are going to really, really like him, not only as a player, but as a person,” Undlin gushed.

He continued to praise his young cornerback, noting his driven personality and work ethic.

“Jeff is driven like few men I’ve been around in this profession and I know that and I can tell that albeit a Zoom call. The guy is nonstop. To the point where it’s like, ‘Jeff, can we talk about something, like can we not talk about football for like five minutes? Can we talk about something else? Do you do anything else?’ That’s how he’s wired.”

Trey Flowers is ‘very excited’ to work with Lions’ DC Cory Undlin

The Detroit Lions hired Cory Undlin as their new defensive coordinator this offseason and Trey Flowers is “very excited” to work with him.

The Detroit Lions hired Cory Undlin as their new defensive coordinator this offseason and Lions’ prized defensive end Trey Flowers is “very excited” to work with him.

“He’s a fiery guy,” Flowers said about Undlin. “He worked well with coach Patricia at the (New England) Patriots and I can tell that he’s about the same principals, he’s about winning, he’s about getting the job done, and he’s about it being about the players going out there making plays, regardless of the scheme.”

The Lions scheme is expected to go through some minor changes during training camp — we at Lions Wire have theorized the addition of Jamie Collins points to more positional fluidity at linebacker — and general manager Bob Quinn has pointed to Undlin’s “blend of systems” experience as a way of helping the Lions’ “make improvements in their defense”.

For the time being, the Lions are in phase two of their virtual Spring camp and aren’t diving too deep into scheme — only working on the basics per Flowers — but when they do get back out on the field, Flowers is looking forward to working more with Undlin.

“I’m very excited,” Flowers said about working with Undlin, “looking forward to it. I know he’s got high expectations, he sets a high standard, and anytime you got a coach like that — that gets the most out of guys, demands highly if guys — it’s always good to work with (coaches like him).”

Lions once again linked to free agent CB Chris Harris

Harris rose to greatness playing under Lions DC Cory Undlin

Veteran slot corner Chris Harris is one of the most coveted free agents in the NFL in 2020. The longtime Bronco has proven himself to be among the best at his position for years, and now he’ll hit the open market when free agency fires up later in March.

Harris has ties to new Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Cory Undlin, who worked with him in Denver as his position coach in 2013-2014. Those were the years where Harris’ career really took off, going from a good player to a Pro Bowler. That connection has been cited several times as the Lions approach free agency.

Pro Football Talk is the latest outlet to note the Lions are expected to pursue Harris in free agency. Detroit is among several teams listed with potential interest in Harris, along with the Texans, Cowboys, Raiders and Jets.

Harris is a very talented player, but at 31 years old (in June) he’s likely a short-term solution. He’s also exclusively a slot cornerback, which is also true of current Lions CB Justin Coleman, the team’s big splash in the secondary in free agency last year.

6 free agent CBs the Lions should explore signing in 2020

It’s a great FA cornerback class with players available at all levels of the price range

The Detroit Lions have a pretty solid track record of finding free agent cornerbacks who provide an immediate boost to the defense. From Rashean Mathis to Johnson Bademosi, DeShawn Shead to Rashaan Melvin, the Lions have found several capable short-term answers at cornerback on the free agent market in recent years.

The 2020 CB market offers the chance to do even more. Several potential long-term fixtures at corner are hitting free agency. There are some veteran stopgaps available too. Here are some the Lions should look at signing if the price is right, presented in alphabetical order…

Ronald Darby, Eagles

Darby makes sense for Detroit on a couple of levels. Foremost is his direct experience playing under new Lions defensive coordinator Cory Undlin. Darby spent the last three seasons in Philadelphia with Undlin as his position coach.

The 26-year-old is coming off his worst season as a pro, a season where he battled through a hip flexor injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve. In other words, he’s affordable and has something to prove.

Prior to the bad 2019, and pretty much every CB in Philadelphia had a bad 2019 campaign, Darby was an above-average starter for both the Eagles and Bills. He’s at his best in press-man coverage on the outside and aggressively attacks the run — the two biggest requirements to play in Matt Patricia’s defense. Give him a one-year prove-it deal and hope Darby does indeed prove he’s back to his prime form from 2016-2018.

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Eagles to interview Browns’ assistant DeWayne Walker for coaching position

Eagles to interview Browns’ assistant DeWayne Walker for coaching job

The Philadelphia Eagles are in need of a defensive backs coach and according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, a former NFL defensive back is on the agenda.

DeWayne Walker is currently having his job status evaluated by the Browns and new head coach Kevin Stefanski, but will reportedly interview with Doug Pederson and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cory Undlin left the Eagles to join Matt Patricia and the Detroit Lions as the teams’ new defensive coordinator.

Walker played 14 years in the NFL at defensive back and has accrued 14 years of coaching experience, as he’s spent time with the Patriots, Giants, Redskins, Jaguars and most recently the Browns.

Lions to hire Eagles DB coach Cory Undlin as defensive coordinator

Cory Undlin hired as Lions defensive coordinator

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The Detroit Lions and head coach Matt Patricia have a new defensive coordinator, hiring defensive backs coach, Cory Undlin away from the Eagles according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

Undlin and Lions head coach Matt Patricia started their NFL careers out together as coaching assistants with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots in 2004.

Undlin was hired by former Eagles head coach Chip Kelly in 2015 and then retained by current head coach, Doug Pederson.

Undlin being such a hot coach name may cause confusion for some Eagles fans who may correlate the team’s cornerback play with his coaching.

Undlin gets credit for helping the Eagles secondary overcome some serious and significant injuries over the past two seasons.