Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold revealed advice he got from unexpected source

Early this season, the volume of penalties Lions rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold was drawing was a significant storyline. One analyst even suggested taking him out of the starting lineup while he figured things out.

Penalties were an undeniable issue for Arnold, with eight over the first four games this season (five pass interferences). He has also been thrown into a tough fire as a rookie, with Lions cornerbacks playing man coverage more than any group in the league-and mostly excelling. Arnold himself has played the most man coverage snaps among cornerbacks in the league entering Week 12.

Arnold posted his second-best overall and coverage grades of the season from Pro Football Focus in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has allowed less than 35 yards in his coverage in three straight games.

Entering Week 11, Arnold has the seventh-best Catch Rate Over Expectation on third down among all cornerbacks (negative is of course better).

Arnold is still tied for the seventh-most penalties in the league (10). But since that penalty-marred start to the season, he has been flagged just twice over the last six games. Coincidentally or not, the last six games are since the Lions' Week 5 bye.

Terrion Arnold reveals advice from unexpected source

With his penalties being so much less of a thing, Arnold has been a little bit out of sight, out of mind. But he talked to reporters after Thursday's practice, after he popped up on the injury report with a groin issue. By al accounts he was in good spirits, and quite talkative.

As a rookie cornerback, Arnold is an easy target for opposing offenses and officials. Opponents have had less success against him lately as he starts to gain what he called "my NFL clout".

Before a recent game, Arnold said a referee approached him and said:

"Hey, we watched the tape on you, you were very sticky in coverage. We see it, we broke it down. At the top of the route, just make sure you’re looking back for the ball."

Officials often need time to understand the style of cornerbacks who push the envelop in terms of physical play, and there are nuances to be learned on the player's end. Arnold got simple, direct advice from an official, beyond the coaching he has gotten, and a reduction in penalties has naturally followed.