Coordinator recap: Opponents adjusting to Jamo, punt return close to breaking out and ongoing search for an identity

Jameson Williams caught just one pass against the Cardinals after they made a concerted effort to take away the deep ball. (Getty Images)

Allen Park — Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson didn’t want to make any bold proclamations based on a small sample size, especially after the team has seen three vastly different defensive game plans from its early-season opponents, but he felt last Sunday’s game marked a possible change in how opponents will try to take away speedy receiver Jameson Williams.

“I don’t want to go too far down that road, but I will say the Jameson effect is kind of starting to play out already,” Johnson said. “We hit a big play in the first game and a big play to him in the second game and last week. You could tell early in that game they weren’t going to allow him to get over the top. We’ll see if that trend continues.”

After popping off for 10 catches and 200 yards the first two weeks, Williams was limited to one grab for 9 yards against the Cardinals as they smothered longer routes with deep zone drops.

Detroit countered with efficient check-downs and leaned heavily on their ground game in the victory.

That’s just fine with Johnson.

“I think our combination of run game/vertical threats is a little bit unique,” Johnson said. “If we can run the ball versus two high (safeties) like we have done the first three games, it’s going to be challenging for teams to be patient enough. They’ll be death by paper cuts and we’re willing to play that game if need be."

Mounting expectations

Following a season-ending injury for defensive end Marcus Davenport, the expectation is former second-round pick Josh Paschal will be picking up a healthy chunk of playing time as part of the replacement plan.

Despite having some similarities with their playing style, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said the players are notably different.

“They’re two totally different people and body types,” Glenn said. “But the one thing that I do think that they’re similar, they are both able to rush with power. Obviously, Davenport’s the longer guy so he has a couple more moves that he can use than Paschal. Paschal is more squatty to the ground, so he’s able to use his spin moves and things like that to win. But they both have advantages between each other that they can go out there and be successful.”

Through his first two seasons, Paschal has been unable to tap into his potential, particularly as a pass-rusher, but he's committed to leaning into his physicality in 2024. Earlier this week, he drew praise earlier this week from coach Dan Campbell for his performance in last Sunday’s victory over Arizona.

“He’s going to take a load over there now, and he played an outstanding game, by the way,” Campbell said. “…He was physical (and) continues to grow. We’re going to need him to step up and I have all the faith in the world that he will.”

Schematic adjustment

The Lions are looking for someone from the linebacker room to step up and help replace Derrick Barnes, who will miss extended time with a knee injury.

But what about nickel cornerback Amik Robertson?

Bucking league-wide trends to start the season, the Lions have played nickel defense less frequently than all but three teams. That said, they’re getting prepared to face a team in the Seattle Seahawks who lean heavily on three wide receivers.

Glenn wasn’t interested in talking about the specifics of his scheme, or the plan for the upcoming opponent, but praised Robertson’s early work in a Lions uniform.

“Amik’s been playing outstanding,” Glenn said. “That’s why he’s out there in certain packages.”

Keep swinging

Teams made it tough for former All-Pro Kalif Raymond to return kicks and punts last season, with more than 44% of his punt returns resulting in a fair catch in 2023.

That hasn’t been the case to start the 2024 campaign. Raymond has had an opportunity to return 10 of 12 punts, averaging 9.0 yards per try.

I asked special teams coordinator Dave Fipp how much the return unit’s blocking in the early stages of those plays have been creating the opportunities.

"I’ve thought (Kindle) Vildor and (Khalil) Dorsey (as jammers) on the outside for us have both done a really good job of competing with the other team’s gunners on the outside and slowing down that primary phase or the initial phase of coverage,” Fipp said.

Fipp also noted opponents have been punting more low and long, contributing to Raymond’s chances. And even though the return man has yet to break through for a long return, Fipp is optimistic it’s coming.

“I feel like he’s been really close,” Fipp said. “I think I relate that to just swinging the bat. I mean, when you’re a home-run hitter, man, you come close and you don’t quite get it, just keep swinging. So we’ll just keep swinging the bat at it and I think the more chances you get, the more swings you take, the better your odds of hitting that home run.”

Thinking outside the box

The Lions have had success the couple of times they’ve messed around with hook-and-ladder plays in recent years. Given the value of misdirection in offensive strategy, it begs the question, why don’t teams use them more?

Johnson has wondered the same thing.

“We throw a lot of those 5-yard in-routes, whether it’s to (Amon-Ra) St. Brown or (Sam) LaPorta and you just notice the coverage collapsing time and time again whenever we do that,” Johnson said. “So we were just looking for something that would hit through the back door and it worked out like we wanted to.

“Kansas City, I think they ad-lib and do that, just the faith within the players being able to secure the ball well enough. This one was a little bit more choreographed on our end just to make sure it was sound, but I think, to your point, there’s probably some merit to that. It’s untouched territory. I think when things haven’t been done before, people kind of get on edge a little bit because they’re not sure how it will unfold, but we felt really good about how that one would play out and maybe opportunities for more down the road.”

Don’t lose focus

Most pass-rushers have a go-to move. That’s something the Lions have tried to harness while continuing to work on a player’s larger toolset.

Specifically, with Aidan Hutchinson, the team has tweaked and expanded his spin move usage to maximize its effectiveness.

“Aidan’s first year, he had this spin move where he’d always spin outside," Glenn said. "(Defensive line coach Terrell Williams) T gets here and T is teaching him to spin inside. That move has worked well for him. It’s just really (about) opening up the toolbox of each player on what their body type, what their talent, athletic skillset is and being able to say, ‘Man, I think you have a chance to use this.’

But Glenn and the coaching staff never want a player to stray too far from what they do best.

“The thing you have to make sure you don’t do is give a guy such a vast amount of moves that they don’t perfect one or two,” Glenn said. “We try to do it with all of our players. We try to do it with defensive backs, too, like 'What’s your baby?'”

Search for an identity ongoing

The Lions utilized significantly more zone than gap runs against Arizona, contrasted against their typical schematic balance on the ground.

I asked Johnson if that was an opponent-specific strategy or something he felt the Lions do particularly well, which could help the entire operation get on track after a disappointing performance the previous week.

As it turns out, a little from column A and a little from column B.

“I would say, probably a year ago, the group that we had, our zone scheme was probably our most consistent,” Johnson explained. “It’s hard to say right now, three games in, who we are. …Last week, we felt really good with what we saw on tape and just our execution in training camp of what that wide zone scheme is going to look like. Our backs are getting a great feel for the stretch and the cut-ups and when to balance it. So, that was probably more of a game plan thing, just the amount that we did that week.”

Dipping back to unearthing an identity, the Lions are still trying to figure out what they do best on offense. Johnson intends to use the downtime provided by the bye to dig deeper into that topic.

"I think the bye week coming early, that’s one of the benefits is we’ll be able to sit down, and at least for four games, really determine what direction we want to go because we are a different team," Johnson said. "We’re a different offense and we’re going to have to decide what fits us best at this point."

Fringe improvement

Jack Fox is off to a strong start to the season, earning the NFC’s special teams player of the week after pinning the Cardinals deep inside their own territory throughout last Sunday’s game, including three times in the fourth quarter.

Fipp said Fox’s most notable improvement has come in the “fringes,” between midfield and the Lions’ 40-yard line, where a punter is trapped between kicking it as far as they can or kicking a nose-down ball designed to travel shorter distances.