ALLEN PARK — If Dan Campbell were to dial up a call for the Detroit Lions to go for it on every fourth down moving forward, regardless of the position it puts the defense in, Kelvin Sheppard would welcome the challenge.
The Lions’ defensive coordinator backed Campbell’s aggressive playcalling, which has come under question in recent days after it played a part in the team’s 16-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Because of how well Detroit’s defense has played under Sheppard this season, he was asked Thursday whether their performance should be a reason the offense doesn’t have to take the risks it did on fourth down in the loss to Philadelphia.
“I love it. I absolutely love it, because that speaks volumes to me directly,” Sheppard said regarding the aggression. “Because our head coach believes no matter where I put this defense, they’re going to put the fire out. So I don’t care if Dan goes for it on every fourth down. It’s our job as defense to go out there and stand tall in that test. We’re the firefighters on this team.
“What does that mean? If (Lions punter) Jack Fox, which he rarely does, shanks a punt, we’re not complaining; nobody’s sucking their teeth. We’re running on the field even faster to make sure we’re able to go put out that fire. That’s the mentality you’ve got to have as a defensive player.”
Detroit’s defense was stellar, limiting Philadelphia to just 272 yards of total offense, a 27% conversion rate on third-downs, and a goose egg on the lone fourth-down attempt. Detroit also effectively neutralized a pair of “tush push” attempts and bottled up Saquon Barkley to 3.2 yards per carry.
The Lions’ third-down efficiency on Sunday was poor (3-for-13), a trend that has carried through most of their games this season. But their fourth-down conversion rate was even worse in the Week 11 loss, as they failed on all five attempts.
Three of those came during the third quarter — including a fourth-and-5 at Philadelphia’s 32-yard line and a fourth-and-goal at Philadelphia’s 3-yard line.
Had the Lions opted for field goals in those situations, they would have been 49-yard and 20-yard attempts, respectively, for kicker Jake Bates. With the way Detroit’s defense stifled Philadelphia’s offense for most of the game, it’s fair to ask why Campbell wasn’t more conservative despite his postgame explanation.
Still, Sheppard made it clear he’s standing behind Campbell and the decisions made.
“No pointing the fingers, no ‘what if’ this, no ‘what if’ that,” Sheppard said. “Always take the field like this unit did for the most part of that Philadelphia game. Understanding, no matter the situation, we are able to go in and control the elements to our liking, up and down. So yeah. The guys did a great job with that.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our [User Agreement](https://www.advancelocal.com/advancelocalUserAgreement/user-agreement.html) and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our [Privacy Policy.](https://www.advancelocal.com/advancelocalUserAgreement/privacy-policy.html)