The Detroit Lions have started the season with a strong 3-1 record, following their victory over the Green Bay Packers on national television. This has led to fans and media taking the Lions seriously, but the players and coaches are not complacent. They know that they need to continue to improve as the season progresses, even with their impressive record.
The Lions organization has worked hard to establish a culture that can be emulated by other teams, and this has been embraced by everyone, from the players to the coaches. Each member of the team understands that there is always room for improvement to elevate both themselves and the team to the next level.
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During the Lions press conference today, the assistant coaches identified areas in their respective domains that require improvement. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was asked to address the offense’s slow start into the second half, which was evident during the game against the Packers, following a strong first half.
“We’re certainly aware of it as a coaching staff. The players are aware of it and so, it’s something that we’re looking to improve. There’s a number of ways we’re tackling that right now.”
Last year, the team had a problem with turnovers which was highlighted as an area for improvement by Johnson. With awareness of the issue, they were able to rectify it. This season, the trend of improvement continues as players are now able to identify areas that require further development.
“As long as they are understanding what we’re trying to get done, I think we’ll see improvement and then there are some things that as a coaching staff we can do a little better as well.”
After the Seattle Seahawks game, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn faced criticism. However, since then, the Lions have shown a significant improvement in their defensive performance, almost shutting down their opponents. Glenn acknowledges that there are still areas that need to be improved, but he believes that everyone on the team has a role to play in the process.
“Every time they go out to practice, that’s their motivation and we’re in the improvement mentality and mindset for our guys and that’s every time we step on the field, so obviously they’ve improved and they’re going to continue to improve because that’s their mindset.”
The Detroit Lions have an outstanding run defense, allowing only 60.8 yards per game, which is currently the best in the NFL. The team has worked together as one cohesive defensive unit to achieve this success. Glenn, the coach, is pleased with the defense’s performance and gives credit to the players for their hard work and continued improvement within the organization.
“Every time they go out to practice, that’s their motivation and we’re in the improvement mentality and mindset for our guys and that’s every time we step on the field, so obviously they’ve improved and they’re going to continue to improve because that’s their mindset.”
The Lions organization has a work mindset that focuses on continuous improvement rather than stagnation. The coaches and players seem to be in sync with each other and are open to exploring all possibilities to bring out the best in the team every week. They are committed to building on their success and constantly improving.
“We’re in an improvement business, so every time we hit the field, game or practice, we’re trying to improve.” Glenn said. “So listen, I wish this was a business where everybody’s going to be perfect and you can do everything right, but it just doesn’t happen that way. But you coach your (expletive) off and you play your (expletive) off to do things the right way and our guys are doing that.”