Why 2026 Could Be a Breakout Year for Kelvin Sheppard’s Defense

Year two should prove to be a better year for defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. Sheppard had the Lions’ defense in the middle of the pack for most of last season, allowing the 16th-most total yards per game and the 11th-most points per game.

What Sheppard and the Lions will have going for them this season is a complete 180 when it comes to the opponents they’ll face. Last season, Detroit had to play a first-place schedule and faced teams such as the Eagles, Rams, Chiefs, and Ravens. Finishing near the top of the league in 2024 led to the Lions facing some of the best competition in the NFL.

This year is a whole different story. With the Lions falling to fourth place, they will get one of the easiest schedules they’ve had in years. Not counting teams within the division, Detroit will play just three teams that made the playoffs the year before: the Patriots, Bills, and Panthers. Some might argue the Panthers didn’t even deserve a playoff spot after finishing with an 8-9 record.

Detroit will also get to face bottom dwellers such as the Jets, Cardinals, and Titans. Those three teams had a combined record of 9-42. A challenge for the Lions will come early on, however, as they’ll have to navigate the first few weeks without Brian Branch and potentially Kerby Joseph.

Sheppard took some time to speak with the media and shared several notable updates.

On Alim McNeill’s recovery:

Alim McNeill has closed the mental gap between “I’m not hurt anymore” and “I can cut it loose,” adding:

“We see the Mac that we all know right now out on the grass.”

Sheppard did caution that it’s still only spring and that they’ll need to see what it looks like once training camp begins.

On facing Drew Petzing’s offense in practice:

Sheppard said, “Drew Petzing has come in here this spring and has shown us so many looks.”

Not only is this a good thing for the Lions’ offense, but I believe it will also help Sheppard. It often seemed like former offensive coordinator John Morton ran a bland and predictable offensive system, making things seem easier for Sheppard.

On the Lions’ emphasis on size and length:

Sheppard confirmed what Dan Campbell said earlier about aggressively targeting length on defense.

“The biggest thing in that room that stands out is the size,” Detroit’s defensive coordinator said. “The length: it’s what you look for these days. What complements the werewolf we have?”

On the team’s depth:

Sheppard also spoke highly of the backups, saying, “There’s no drop-off with the next-man-up mentality.”

He noted the production and improvement he’s seen from players such as Thomas Harper and Avonte Maddox.

On the nickel position:

Sheppard says the Lions plan to use the nickel position more next season. Detroit brought in nickel cornerback Roger McCreary and signed Christian Izien, who can play both nickel and safety.

Overall, these are encouraging signs pointing toward Sheppard’s growth as a defensive coordinator and the confidence he has in both his scheme and his personnel. With a relatively easy start to the season, we should see the Lions’ defense firing on all cylinders and playing much better than it did during the back half of last season.