Predicting the Detroit Lions defensive scheme under Aaron Glenn

Prediction

As a former defensive backs coach, the proof is in the pudding where Glenn stands on his coverage philosophy, in both his actions and words. He loves himself some 2-man. It’s his plans upfront that had me wondering the most and after diving in, it didn’t take long to come to a prediction.

I think it’s pretty clear Glenn sees himself as a student of the Bill Parcells and Vic Fangio philosophies. Both are in the 3-4 – one gapping – reactive – base systems upfront tribes. As noted previously, Parcells is the grandfather to the Patricia defense, as Parcells was Belichick’s mentor.

Even though New Orleans ran a four-down lineman – one-gapping – penetrating base defense … Glenn was only the defensive backs coach.

Every sign, down to the hiring of Dom Capers as senior defensive assistant, points to Glenn preferring the Parcells/Belichick/Patricia philosophy upfront. A philosophy he already has the personnel to run in Detroit. Albeit, they might not be the players he would have handpicked, but they still are best utilized in that system anyway.

Aaron Glenn will obviously bring tweaks of his own, as every limb of every coaching tree does. But the core philosophy, that ugly two-gapping, reactive, style defense upfront looks like it’s here to stay. Let’s hope it looks a little more like Parcells than Patricia.