Detroit Lions Defensive Star Slams Fans Who Question The Talent Of The New Coordinators
The Detroit Lions entered the 2025 season with sky-high expectations, making their disappointing 27-13 Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers a particularly tough pill for the fanbase to swallow. In the immediate aftermath, frustrated fans were quick to point fingers, with much of the criticism directed at new offensive coordinator John Morton and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
However, inside the locker room, the sentiment is one of patience and defiance. Veteran linebacker and team captain Alex Anzalone was quick to shut down the premature criticism, offering a fiery defense of the new coaching staff and a reality check for the fanbase. His comments highlight the internal belief that one bad game does not define a season, especially when integrating new leadership.
Alex Anzalone Defends Detroit Lions’ New Coordinators
The transition from highly successful coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn was always going to be a major storyline for the 2025 Lions. After a single loss, some fans were already questioning if their replacements were up to the task. When asked about this external noise, Anzalone didn’t hold back.
“After Week 1?” Anzalone asked with a look of surprise. “Well the fans are not — whoever is saying that is not highly intelligent.”
The blunt assessment made it clear that the players are not hitting the panic button. Anzalone acknowledged the team’s poor performance but framed it with important context. He noted that the Packers came out with a well-designed opening script and that the Lions were on the road in a notoriously difficult environment.
“This isn’t a situation where anyone is panicking or whatnot,” he continued. “We’re on the road, we got our ass beat and we have to move on.”
Anzalone’s defense of Sheppard and Morton underscores a crucial point: coaching adjustments and player execution are a two-way street. A game plan can be perfect on paper, but if the players fail to execute, the results will be poor. The linebacker’s comments serve as a call for unity and a reminder that building chemistry with new coordinators is a process.
Why Fans Should Be Patient with a New-Look Staff
It’s easy to forget the immense challenge of replacing two coordinators who were instrumental in changing the franchise’s culture and success. Ben Johnson’s innovative offense made him one of the hottest head coaching candidates in the league, while Aaron Glenn’s passionate leadership molded the defense into a formidable unit. Their departures created a significant void.
1. Building New Chemistry Takes Time
Kelvin Sheppard and John Morton are not simply plugging into a pre-existing system. They bring their own philosophies, play-calling tendencies, and communication styles. It takes time for players to get a feel for how their new coordinators will call a game in live situations. The flow, rhythm, and in-game adjustments that felt second nature under Johnson and Glenn need to be rebuilt. One game—especially a road game against a divisional rival—is not nearly enough time to fairly evaluate that process.
2. The NFL is a League of Adjustments
The Packers came into Week 1 with a game plan designed to exploit the Lions’ new schemes. They used motion and creative formations to confuse the defense early on. Now, Sheppard and Morton have game film to study. They can see what worked, what didn’t, and how opponents will try to attack them. The mark of a good coaching staff is not being perfect from the start, but learning and adapting. The coming weeks will be a truer test of their ability to make those critical adjustments.
The Talent is There for Detroit to Succeed
While the coaching transition is significant, it’s important to remember that this Lions roster is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. This is not a team that needs to be carried by its coaching staff.
The offense still features quarterback Jared Goff, who is protected by one of the league’s best offensive lines. His arsenal of weapons includes superstar receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, explosive running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and elite tight end Sam LaPorta. The subpar performance in Week 1, particularly from the offensive line, was an anomaly, not the new standard. A group this talented is bound to bounce back.
Defensively, the Lions are anchored by All-Pro pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson. The secondary has been bolstered with young talent like Terrion Arnold, and the linebacker corps, led by Anzalone himself, provides veteran stability. This unit has the pieces to be a top-tier defense, but they need time to gel under Sheppard’s leadership.
Anzalone’s message is clear: the sky is not falling in Detroit. The team has the leadership, culture, and talent to overcome a slow start. Panic is a luxury the players in the locker room cannot afford. As they prepare for Week 2, their focus is on correcting mistakes and proving that one loss does not define their season.
