When the Detroit Lions welcome Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears into Ford Field this weekend, there’s more at play than just a divisional showdown. For defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, it feels almost like a throwback.
Turning the Page After Week 1
Sheppard didn’t mince words about the Lions’ defensive struggles against the Packers in Week 1. But when asked about preparing for Johnson, Detroit’s former offensive coordinator turned Bears head coach, Sheppard wanted to make one thing clear: this matchup is about execution, not ghosts.
“First thing I told the guys, ‘It’s going to be training camp practice, guys. It’s training camp day.’ D.A. (Dennis Allen) I know them a while. A.G. came from that system. So, it’s all the same, not only offensively, but defensively,” Sheppard explained via Lions OnSI. “You turn the tape over and look at it deeper. It’s a lot of the same. I told the guys, ‘This is training camp.’”
Respect for Johnson, Focus on the Lions
Johnson’s rise as a coach is no secret. His offensive creativity in Detroit made him one of the league’s hottest names before Chicago snapped him up. Sheppard, though, isn’t getting caught up in the reunion storyline.
“Don’t go chasing ghosts. Don’t go worrying about if he brings in an eligible, and he’s at receiver. And listen, we all understand and respect Ben Johnson as a person, more importantly. But also as a play-caller. It’s why he got afforded the opportunity he’s in, and we all understand this,” Sheppard said. “But I clearly want to make this about the players. They’re the ones going to play. Ben will tell you the same thing. They’re the ones going to play and executing all these things we’re drawing up.”
The One-Game Sample Size
So, what should Lions fans expect Sunday when Johnson calls plays against his former team? If you ask Sheppard, it’s still a mystery.
“So, I want to keep this about them, and they just need to understand, you only got a one game sample size of Ben being a new play-caller. Is that enough to say, ‘Oh they’re going to do this, they’re going to do that?’ No it’s not. So we are going in with a tight wound plan, where these guys understand we have adjustments, we have certain things we’re going to do.
“It’s about us. And understanding that stuff and making sure, as long as we go out and execute, not say, ‘Well, if you take out that play, you take out that play, we would have played dominant.’ No, let’s put in all the plays and play a dominant brand of football, like I believe we’re capable of doing as a defense.”
Bottom Line
For Sheppard, the talk about Ben Johnson’s playbook and creativity is just noise. What matters most is whether the Lions’ defense can play clean, physical football and bounce back from last week’s loss. And as far as he’s concerned, this matchup with Chicago is nothing more than another tough practice day at camp, except this one counts in the standings.
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