ALLEN PARK >> It seems like every week Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn meets with the media and is asked a question about the difficulty of stopping a star-studded receiving corps.
There’s another one on tap for Detroit in Week 4, as the Lions welcome in the Seattle Seahawks for “Monday Night Football” at Ford Field.
The trio of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba make up the top pass-catchers of a Seattle air attack that’s ranked third in the NFL (246.7 yards per game) through three games. Metcalf leads the way with 262 yards and two touchdowns on 17 catches, but Smith-Njigba, the second-year man who was a first-round pick out of Ohio State in 2023, is not far behind with 175 yards on 17 catches.
But really, the task in front of Detroit’s passing defense has become the norm in a pass-happy NFL.
“If I was an offensive coach, I would definitely go in that direction because of the advantages that we give the offense right now,” Glenn said Friday. “And that’s OK and we understand that. So, I don’t think it’s going to be anything different week-to-week as far as going against stud receivers because there’s so many coming out of college.”
Last week, the Lions faced the first receiver to come off the board in the 2024 draft, Marvin Harrison Jr. Before that, it was Mike Evans and Chris Godwin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Then in Week 1, the Lions’ defensive backs had the tall task of slowing down Los Angeles Rams receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp.
The competition doesn’t slow down when they return from the bye week. In Week 6, the Lions visit Dallas to face CeeDee Lamb, who led the NFL in catches and was second in yards last season. Then they go to Minnesota, where the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year, Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson, awaits.
It seems easier to find studs in the draft at receiver than really any other position.
“You draft these guys in the second, third round and they come in our league and end up being a damn good player,” Glenn said.
The Lions’ passing defense, however, has improved from last season, when they owned the 27th-ranked unit at 247.4 yards per game. Entering Week 3, Detroit’s passing defense ranks 19th (216.7 yards per game), although some of the production can be attributed to teams knowing they can’t run the ball on the Lions. Detroit ranks fourth in rushing defense (76.7 yards), 10th in total defense (293.3 yards) and ninth in points per game (17.7).
While an improved pass rush has contributed to the Lions’ success in pass defense, so has their revamped cornerback room. Carlton Davis III and Terrion Arnold have done everything the Lions have asked of them so far.
Davis made a few critical plays as a tackler in the win over Arizona. He stopped receiver Michael Wilson short of the first-down marker to end the Cardinals’ second drive and later brought down quarterback Kyler Murray short of the marker on fourth-and-short following an interception by Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
“He’s a silent operator for the most part,” Glenn said of Davis. “He doesn’t say much but he’s always locked in on what his job is. He came here for us for a number of purposes, but he wanted to play man coverage. He wanted to go one-on-one with his guy for the most part, and…that’s a lot of what we do and he’s doing a damn good job for us.”
Turning the attention to Seattle, slowing down Metcalf, Smith-Njigba and Lockett won’t be an easy task. But then again, that’s true pretty much every week in today’s NFL.