Lake Ready to Get to Work

On the defensive side of the ball, Jimmy Lake has quietly entered the role of defensive backs coach.

This may be a more significant move than fans realize as Lake has spent the past two seasons in Tampa Bay as the assistant defensive backs coach. Lake brings something to the staff in much the same way Joe Barry did in 2007. He has a vast knowledge and passion for the Tampa 2 system and is looking forward to getting his new crop of players on the field.

“The first thing you will see – especially on the practice field – is he brings energy,” said Barry. “He’s a ball of fire. I’d say that’s the first thing he brings. The second thing he brings is knowledge in the system. I think those two things are invaluable, especially when you teach and preach and believe in a system.

“I think this guy is a future star in this league as a coach. He’ll be a great position coach (and) he’ll be a coordinator down the road.”

Since Marinelli’s hiring in 2006, the Lions’ secondary – particularly the cornerbacks – has been openly ridiculed as not having enough talent to help this team to a playoff berth. Fans have scoffed at the idea of “non-talented issues” as the local media has screamed for more “raw talent.”

A lot of time it’s technique and that’s what we’re really going to focus on in the offseason,” said Lake of his new crop of players in Detroit. (Photo by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

But Lake believes that he can garner increasingly better performances out of the players the Lions currently have on their roster without adding any additional talent.

Full Story: Fine-Tuning with Technique - [DetroitLions.com]