Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard spoke to the media Thursday as Phase II of the offseason training program is in full swing with full squad OTA practices right around the corner. Here are my 10 biggest takeaways from that media session:

1. What are the non-negotiables to play in Sheppard's defense? What are his core principles? Sheppard said it ultimately comes down to four things — assignment, alignment, attention to detail and execution. A player needs to know his assignment, where he needs to line up, pay attention to the small things that can become big things and make a play when it's there to be made.

2. Sheppard is extremely excited about the progress Aidan Hutchinson has made this offseason, returning from a broken leg that cost him most of the 2024 season.

"There is not a more resilient and mentally tough guy than (Hutch)," Sheppard said. "He's out here, and he's the most energetic guy on the field. He's ready to make the call out the huddle today. I went over to individual, and I said, 'Hutch, you know how I know you're back?' He's like, 'How?' I said, 'Because you're touching that ground when you run that hoop.' That's his little thing he does like he's some supernatural cat, which he is."

Sheppard has to wait until the pads come on in training camp to really see the true progress of all the injured players coming back. But let's just say he's not worried about Hutchinson returning to form, or maybe even returning better than he was before the injury.

3. Speaking of edge rushers, Sheppard is pretty excited about the work veteran Marcus Davenport is putting in right now. Davenport hasn't taken a single day off, according to Sheppard, and sees a very confident player with some of the changes he's made to his body and his approach to the offseason.

With Davenport, it comes down to health and availability. No one doubts the talent when he's on the field. Sheppard said Davenport has changed his offseason approach to make the health and availability questions not part of his story in 2025. Stay tuned.

4. There's been a lot of turnover on Dan Campbell's coaching staff this offseason, including the ascension of Sheppard to defensive coordinator. There's a number of new young coaches on this staff, and Sheppard thinks that's going to raise the energy level come training camp.

These are competitive coaches — a number of them former players — and Sheppard is expecting to go back-and-forth quite a bit with running backs coach and close friend, Tashard Choice. He also said he and assistant head coach and wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery will get into some back-and-forth a little bit, too.

"I know they'll be waiting on me," Sheppard said. "I'll be waiting on them."

5. One of the things Sheppard has loved to see in the meeting room, and something he views as an indication this defense is taking the next step, is the player-to-player accountability. It's one thing for a coach to hold a player accountable, but when the players start doing it themselves, that's when a unit really takes off, according to Sheppard.

6. A young coordinator in his first year on the job doesn't know what he doesn't know. It's important for young coaches to have a good support system. Sheppard obviously has that with Campbell and some of the veteran coaches on the staff. One name a lot of fans might not know is senior defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach David Corrao. The Lions have added a lot of game-planning duties to Corrao's plate this year, and Sheppard said he's a guy behind the scenes that he really trusts and counts on.

7. Sheppard on rookie edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein: "Absolute joy to be around. He's never had a bad day, and he doesn't know what 'slow down' means."

8. Sheppard described his coaching style as taking a more holistic learning and training approach to the job. It's all about player development for him, no matter the level of player. How much better can this player be in our system? That's important to him. Developing and bringing players along and getting them up to the speed of a Hutchinson or Jack Campbell so everyone is moving in one accord.

9. One thing Sheppard said he learned from Campbell early on in his coaching tenure is not to get enamored with players who perform well in the spring. He said Campbell calls them the 'pajama superstars' and the 'PJ All-Americans.' Coaches can never get too enamored with the athlete. That's important to note this time of year. There's something about the pads coming on in training camp that is usually the great equalizer in this game.

10. Show me. Don't tell me. Sheppard is all about competition, and by the end of training camp, the players that showed him consistently over a month and a half that they can be trusted with the assignment, alignment, attention to detail and execution part of his defense are going to be the ones he rolls with Week 1.