Defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter spoke to the media Tuesday.
Here are 10 takeaways from those media sessions:
1. Speed and aggression. Those are the two words Cooter used to describe the Dolphins' defense. They fly around and create turnovers. He said his players will have to be secure with the football this week.
2. Pasqualoni was the defensive coordinator in Miami from 2008-09, so he's very familiar with the environment and the heat. The Dolphins have a good home-field advantage, and are 13-6 in their last 19 games at home. Pasqualoni said the keys this week for his defense, and really for the entire team, are making sure they hydrate well all week and get plenty of rest.
3. Former Lions defensive line coach Kris Kocurek is the defensive line coach for the Dolphins now. There's obviously some familiarity there for Cooter on the techniques and schemes being taught upfront in Miami, but Cooter said it's a two-way street. Kocurek is also very familiar with his offense. In the end, Sunday's result will depend on the players and not the coaches, according to Cooter.
4. The Dolphins don't have a true No. 1 receiver, but rather five players who can all be game breakers. Five different players have at least 20 targets, but none have more than 32. That can make it tough on a defense, Pasqualoni said, because they spread teams out and attack them all over.
5. If the Lions call upon wide receiver Brandon Powell for a role on special teams or possibly even on offense, Cooter is confident the undrafted rookie, who hasn't been active for a game yet this season, will be ready to go. Cooter said Powell has been impressive in the way he prepares and goes about his business throughout the week.
6. The Lions will talk about, watch film on and prepare for both Miami quarterbacks this week – Ryan Tannehill and Brock Osweiler – not knowing which one will play Sunday.
7. Miami leads the NFL with 11 interceptions, which is more than they had all of last year (9). The Dolphins do a nice job with their pressures upfront, and they have some guys in the backend that really have terrific ball skills. The Dolphins mirror pressure and coverage as good as anyone in the league.
8. What will be a big factor in the game, according to Pasqualoni? Detroit's ability to tackle and be athletic in space. Miami has a number of very good run-after-the-catch players on offense, so tackling and taking good angles will be key for the Lions Sunday.
9. One defender in particular Cooter talked about was cornerback Xavien Howard, who leads Miami with three interceptions on the year. Cooter says the Dolphins do a good job moving him around. He's someone they have to do a good job of knowing where he is.
10. The Lions like what their seeing in the development of former second-round pick cornerback Teez Tabor. Pasqualoni said Tabor is smart and works hard. He's excited about his development.
