Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said last week that at the conclusion of the team's offseason training program and OTA portion of the schedule, the defense was a little bit ahead of the offense in the implementation of new offensive and defensive schemes under new coordinators John Morton and Kelvin Sheppard.
That's to be expected with the continuity on defense as Sheppard has been in the building the last four years as the linebackers coach.
One area where Detroit's defense could really take strides forward in 2025 is in the play of a veteran-laden secondary.
View behind-the-scenes photos from 2025 Detroit Lions media day on Monday, June 2, 2025.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) posing with a Ford truck on the Ford set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) and Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) posing on the Ford set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) laughing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Team Photographer and Assistant Creative Director Jeff Nguyen taking a photo during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) and Detroit Lions cornerback Morice Norris (26) posing together on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (12) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker DaRon Gilbert (43) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) speaking to the camera during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (9) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) and Detroit Lions cornerback Morice Norris (26) doing a handshake on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) on screen during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) speaking to the camera during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) and Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) posing on the Ford set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) posing for a photo during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions long snapper Hogan Hatten (49) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) posing for a photo during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) posing for a photo during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
The main studio set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) smiling ons set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) signing his signature during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) taking a selfie on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (12) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Giovanni Manu (59) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) posing with a Ford truck during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Isaac Ukwu (45) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Isaac Ukwu (45) posing on set during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Erick Hallett (36) posing during the 2025 media day at the Meijer Performance Center on June 2, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Katie Quinlan/Detroit Lions)
The Lions return arguably the best safety tandem in the NFL in Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. Those two combined for 13 interceptions and 28 passes defended last season.
Veteran cornerback D.J. Reed, who was Detroit's top target in free agency, is a proven corner with terrific man-cover skills. Veteran Amik Robertson was really good in the slot for Detroit last season, and Terrion Arnold is expected to take a big leap in production heading into his second season after being a Day 1 starter as a rookie.
Detroit also has good depth in the secondary with a mix of young and veteran talent behind the five starters.
"We have our goals that we want to achieve," Robertson said of the returning veteran secondary. "We know it's going to be about us, man. We have to go out there and be the best secondary in the league. There's no other way."
Detroit ranked 30th against the pass last year, but they were fifth against the run and the secondary certainly played their part in that number.
The Lions ranked No. 1 in passer rating allowed (82.0), were second in completion percentage allowed (61.1) and second in touchdown-to-interception ratio (1.13). Detroit's 18 passing touchdowns allowed were also the second fewest.
Having a healthy defensive line anchored by the return of Aidan Hutchinson, who missed 12 games last season with a broken leg, should go a long way in helping marry the pass rush and cover behind it and be a big boost for the secondary and defense overall.
"We know what we want to be, man," Robertson said. "We want to go out there and prove not only to ourselves but to these fans. We continue to trust one another, continue to build and become one of the best defenses in the league. It has to start now when we come back from camp."
Camp is when the competition and preparation for the regular season really ramps up. Based off the spring the defense had and the continuity they have with 10 returning starters, don't be surprised if that side of the ball — particularly the secondary — make this training camp one of the more competitive between the offense and defense in Campbell's tenure in Detroit.
