If there was one downside to the Detroit Lions’ 38-30 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, it was the ongoing struggles of second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold. The defender gave up a couple of big plays early in the game, and was called for a critical pass interference that led to a Ravens touchdown. Through three weeks, Arnold has PFF’s 77th ranked coverage grade (44.0) out of 83 qualifying cornerbacks (min. 100 snaps).
On 97.1 The Ticket’s “Costa & Jansen with Heather” radio show on Wednesday, Lions coach Dan Campbell preached confidence and patience with Arnold, but he also made a not-so-subtle hint that they may cut into his playing time.
“He’s a young player and he’s working at it and he’s going to get better,” Campbell said. “He’s going to get better, it’s just going to take a little bit of time here. We’re going to work through a few of these things, but, look, every young player, they have these ebbs and flows of their career or of a second year, things of that nature. He’s going to be alright, man, we’re just going to keep working through it.
“And, look, we’ll probably use Amik (Robertson) on some stuff, too. Amik’s a good player. So we’re going to mix it up a little bit.”
The message seems pretty clear here. Amik Robertson, the team’s starting nickel corner and a six-year veteran, is going to get some playing time on the outside, presumably in favor of Arnold. What that percentage looks like, we’ll have to wait and see. Is it a full benching, a part-time benching, just a certain subpackage look? That’s to be determined.
It’s worth pointing out that the Lions play in their base defense quite a bit, which often leaves Robertson off the field. Through three games, the veteran cornerback has played in just 51 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. So if they believe in Robertson’s talent, it would also make sense to get him on the field more, be it at nickel or on the outside. Last year, Robertson filled in late in the season at outside cornerback and looked the part. Most notably, in the team’s regular season finale against the Vikings, he was critical in holding Justin Jefferson to just three catches for 54 yards.
As for Arnold’s struggles, Campbell continued to reiterate that their defensive scheme asks a lot of their outside cornerbacks, and that he’ll get better with time.
“What we ask of these corners is not easy, but it’s also why you’re here,” Campbell said. “It’s why we acquire you, whether it’s the draft or it’s free agency. It’s because we are going to put you on an island, and it’s not going to be easy, but that’s the task you’re given.”
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