Amid the recent struggles of the Detroit Lions' offense, including a switch in play-caller, it can be easy to overlook what the defense is doing under the guidance of first-year coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
Entering Week 12, despite some notable injury absences, the Lions are a top-10 defense in yardage (total, rushing and passing) and points allowed this season. If head coach Dan Campbell could have set aside his aggressive fourth down tendencies against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11, the Lions might have come away with an ugly win.
Like Aaron Glenn before him, it's a matter of time before Sheppard goes from running the Lions' defense to being a head coach.