The Detroit Lions’ secret weapon: Aaron Glenn’s defensive mind

ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Aaron Glenn grew up in Bordersville, a 9.4-square-mile community on the outskirts of Houston. It was built in the 1920s as a settlement of wooden cabins so that African Americans could work at a sawmill in nearby Humble.

The mill eventually closed. The Houston Intercontinental Airport was built next door, sealing off the district from modern development. Yet people remained in these old, dilapidated houses, living in poverty on unpaved roads and without basic services. The area did not have its own plumbing until 1981, the year Glenn turned 9 years old.

“It’s not the best area to grow up in,” Glenn said. “But it was a great field for me because I learned a lot of lessons there about how to act, how to react and how to protect myself. I really love the place where I grew up. It’s me.”

Football brought Glenn out of Bordersville, first as an All-American at Texas A&M, then 15 seasons as a Pro Bowl lockout corner in the NFL. On Sunday, he returns home as the defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, who will face the Houston Texans on Sunday night.

The Lions (7-1) are arguably the best team in the league, in part because Glenn’s defense has begun to match the team’s potent offense despite a series of injuries.

“A tough, physical, violent operation that loves to play man coverage,” Glenn said of his defense. “This is us. This is our identity.”

Glenn said this while sitting in a conference room here at team headquarters, a brief break from the endless hours of work he has become famous for here.

“Nobody works harder or longer than him,” head coach Dan Campbell said.

Part of it is bordersville, says Glenn. Some of it is just him.

Nothing was ever given for free, so he lived his life the way he designs his defense – aggressive and resilient. He was a gamer for a decade and a half before becoming a businessman, running eight restaurants in Houston. He sold those to get into NFL scouting and coaching and slowly rose through the ranks.

Now, at age 52, the league has begun to take notice. The Lions’ defense ranks second in interceptions, third in takeaways and QB pressures, fourth in red zone stops and fifth in points allowed per game.

What was once a team that relied heavily on its offense — to the point that it affected Campbell’s famous fourth-down attempts — is now balanced. The Lions invested in their defense and thrived despite losing three pass rushers to injuries, including star Aidan Hutchinson in a blowout win over Dallas last month.

“Right when it happened, I knew it was a bad blow,” Glenn said of Hutchinson’s broken leg.

He remained confident. It wasn’t a setback, he told the team. It was an opportunity.

“Coach Glenn kept his composure and rallied everyone,” said safety Brian Branch. “An opportunity presents itself. You have to take your chance.”

“That just means someone else has to step in,” added cornerback Terrion Arnold.

Detroit only gave up three points to Dallas after Hutchinson went down. Since then, the Lions have allowed just 19.0 per game in three wins.

“We have some guys on this defense, they’re not big names, but they don’t really care [expletive]said Glenn. “I’m not saying we don’t care about Aidan, but about the ‘next one.’ And that’s a cliché, but we really live by it.

“We don’t have a first and second team,” he continued. “I don’t call her that. We have players. So when a player comes in, I expect them to play like a starter. It’s one thing to teach schemas. It’s different to have an identity. This is how we will play. If you are unable to do this, you will not work in this field.

“You can never replace Aidan, but what you can do is work your ass off and play with the mentality and our identity won’t change at all.”

Glenn seems to thrive amidst the chaos. Against Green Bay, Branch was ejected for targeting and the Lions allowed just 11 points after that while converting a pick 6 the other way. This week, the team added veteran Za’Darius Smith, who it acquired via trade from Cleveland to offset the loss of Hutchinson.

Glenn said Smith will be great because his values ​​align with those of the defense.

“We have a true identity on this football team,” Glenn said. “And it’s not for everyone. Not everyone fits into what we do because not everyone can stand it. It’s for the diehards, it’s for the grinders, it’s for the diehards, it’s for the guys who want to improve day by day. And you’re never satisfied.”

One of the questions surrounding Detroit this season is how long Campbell can keep his two coordinators — Glenn and OC Ben Johnson — both of whom should be coveted head coach candidates and both crediting the other with making them better.

“He keeps me on my toes,” Johnson said. “The following always applies: iron sharpens iron. He really challenged me to stay current and attack. We went back and forth during training camp and the spring. We’ll make some adjustments and he’ll make some adjustments. It’s just a constant competition between the two of us.”

For all of Glenn’s obvious charisma and leadership skills, it’s the plans that stand out inside the building.

“First and foremost, he’s salt of the earth,” Campbell said. “He is an incredible person. He is a man of high character. … The things we go into a game with to attack opponents are, in my opinion, some of the best in the league. And then when you lose a few pieces here or there and you’re still trying to attack them, you have to use what you have in the squad.”

All of this has prepared Glenn for what comes next — a playoff push, a possible Super Bowl berth and perhaps his own opportunities afterward.

“I’m ready to put myself in this seat and take on whatever challenge is in front of me,” Glenn said. “I always wanted to do my best, whether I was a player or a coach. And I think that will be useful to me as a head coach because I don’t want to just be average.”

Average doesn’t take you from preliminary Bordersville to the NFL. Now he comes home with a defense he can present in prime time nationally and up close locally where friends and family will be watching from the stands.

“It’s just a different feeling,” Glenn said, “especially with this team we have now. We have the opportunity for my family to see what we have built since I have been here.

“Now’s your chance to see it live.”