#Lions practice absences: CB Rock Ya-Sin, OL Ben Bartch

To clarify, since this is making the rounds, this was in reference to a question about the players, not defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard

"Talent's got nothing to do with our issues" on defense, and particularly in the secondary, #Lions coach Dan Campbell says.

What Dan Campbell wants to see from the defense vs. Arizona going into the bye: multiple takeaways, numerous punch-outs on the tape, disruption on the QB, and fewer missed assignments and dumb penalties.

#Lions coach Dan Campbell said it'd be a "tall order" for Brian Branch to play vs. the #Cardinals. They want to continue to be smart with it, but they "love where he's at right now."

#Lions OC Drew Petzing said there are two areas where the run game needs to be better. 1. Explosiveness: "We need to find some big ones...those can change games." 2. Consistency: "We need to make sure the run game is there every week regardless of opponent."

#Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard: "We did not play well enough defensively to help this team win that football game Sunday night in Carolina." "There has to be real change...real evidence of change." Said D is nothing close to what he thought it would look like coming out of camp

#Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard said the back seven have been doing a disservice to the D-line. Adds the D-line is the best it's been in his six years here. "They assaulted the pocket" against Carolina, he said.