Lions DC Defends Roster, Finds Trade Deadline Talk 'Disrespectful'
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has enjoyed the echosystem created by the team's front office and coaching staff.
He is able to focus every week on creating game plans and putting his defense in the best position to succeed.
With the trade deadline looming, a new player added on defense could alter, enhance plans moving forward.
For Sheppard, who understands the stress players experience during this period of the season, discussing the trade deadline is considered "very disrespectful."
For the past several months, players have put in the work and practiced hard every week. As a new coordinator, any talk of a player outside of the organization can be viewed in the locker room as a slight against those who have been grinding for months.
A few days before the deadline, Sheppard was asked how quickly he thinks a new player could acclimate to the team, if they join by the trade deadline.
“It depends on who the player is, the position of the player. Obviously some positions are more complex than others - you try to plug-and-play a middle linebacker, that’s impossible to do in this system where we’re at in the year and where we’re at schematically," said Sheppard. "But obviously, I mean, those positions vary. You get a D-lineman, you could plug-and-play and tell them to get off the ball and go.
"But, I don’t see a need or necessity to go and reach for anything or anyone. I think that’s very disrespectful to talk about that with the guys that we have, and I feel like the respect that they’ve garnered by the work they’ve put in through seven weeks."
Having a general manager who has been able to stock the roster with young, hungry players has produced a level of consistency and elevated expectations.
Even when injuries have hit the team hard, those
"I leave all that up to Brad (Holmes). They do a tremendous job," said Sheppard. "That’s what I have a luxury of doing here. I get the luxury of just being a defensive coordinator. I don’t have to try to be the GM. I don’t have to try to be the head coach, I don’t have to try to be the linebacker coach because I’m surrounded by an ecosystem of elite guys in their kind of respective groups.
"So, I’m able to just go up to my office and focus on calling the game on Sunday, Monday, Thursday night. Whatever day that may be that week. And I’m very thankful for that opportunity here.”
Cubs Favored To Replace Kyle Tucker With $182 Million Red Sox Superstar
The Chicago Cubs took a risk and acquired Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster trade last winter, but the superstar is now a free agent. It seems like he’s going to leave town in free agency, as he’s projected to sign for north of $400 million, so the Cubs will need to do their best to replace his production.
Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib recently suggested the Cubs could replace Tucker’s production by signing Boston Red Sox infielder Alex Bregman. Bregman was recently projected to sign a massive $182 million contract in free agency, according to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden.
“The guess here is that the Cubs make a strong push for Alex Bregman. The Cubs identified Bregman as the piece last offseason that could transition them from being a good team into a great team,” Campbell wrote. “They weren’t wrong, but the problem was that the Cubs made a pursuit of Bregman a priority far too late in the offseason. The Boston Red Sox likely will make a strong push to bring Bregman back, but the Cubs being involved shouldn’t be that surprising.”
Bregman has been a solid fit for the Cubs for the last year, and they seemingly took a shot on him last free agency, but he opted to sign with the Red Sox.
This offseason, the Cubs need to prioritize landing an impact bat, whether it’s Tucker or a replacement. Bregman would fit that mold, especially considering the fact that he’s projected to sign for half the money.
It won’t be a cake walk for the Cubs to sign Bregman, but it’s certainly a possibility.
