Lions Officiating Crew Against Bengals Is Problematic

Versatile Lions defense

Kelvin Sheppard has reiterated on multiple occasions he wants his defense to adapt and be able to play a variety of ways.

With a crew that is prone to call a lot more penalties, Sheppard's defense must be extra careful this week, especially guarding wideouts Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase.

“It’s what I believe in, number one. And when I say what I believe in, I believe in putting players in position to make plays and not just being stuck in your ways," Sheppard said. "These are my three, four defenses, we’re going to do this, and never adjusting. Because that’s when you start to get attacked and schemed up and the players feel hopeless out there. And that’s the worst thing, I know for me as a coach, for my players to ever feel hopeless. I want my players to know we always have answers for you.

"That’s what our job is as a coach, to have direct answers for you and solutions to problems, not only going into a game, but as the game flows. And showing them how I think a team’s going to attack us, and if they attack this coverage this way this is how we’re going to adjust," Sheppard added. "And then those players start to believe in it, man. They’re like, ‘We’re good. I mean, it’s nothing they can do now. It ain’t nothing they can do. It’s almost nothing they could do to make me feel helpless.’ And that’s when you start to build confidence, player to coach."

No trap game

Campbell reiterated this week the team is not likely to succumb to complacency. Even though the Bengals are dealing with significant issues of their own, the Lions coaching staff and roster are not going to take them lightly.

“No, it’s just like we said last week, we’ve got our standards and we don’t sacrifice those for anybody or anything," said Campbell, when asked again about the Bengals game potentially being a trap game. "So, sacrifice and identity, that’s what it’s about. We’ve got to go to work, we’ve got to put in a good day’s work - three good days here, base, third down, red zone - to make sure we’re ready to go out there in Cincinnati. We do that, then we’ll be ready.”