Pleasant Hopes Small Victories for Okudah Lead to Large Goals

Detroit Lions defensive backs coach shares his assessment of Jeff Okudah, Amani Oruwariye and Detroit's other defensive backs.

Aubrey Pleasant was a hot commodity in the offseason, and for a time, it looked as though he wouldn’t be back in Detroit for a second season as the team’s defensive backs coach.

The Minnesota Vikings showed interest when their defensive coordinator position became vacant. 

However, the organization elected to go in a different direction under new head coach Kevin O’Connell. The Vikings hired Ed Donatell as their defensive coordinator, allowing Pleasant to return to the Lions.

Now that he’s back, he has plenty of work to do. The Lions have a very young secondary and plenty of pieces. Throughout this offseason, Pleasant has been sorting through and working to find combinations that will help the team win.

One of the more intriguing options in that secondary is Jeff Okudah. The former first-round pick in 2020 has been hampered by injuries, including a season-ending Achilles' tear suffered in the 2021 season opener.

Heading into Okudah’s third year, Pleasant is committed to getting him back on the field and allowing him to be successful. The coach applauded the player for how he has handled the injury adversity.

“Anybody that’s gone through what Mr. Okudah’s gone through his first couple of years in the NFL, to see the way he’s transitioning, still being endearing to his teammates, listenting, being active,” Pleasant said. “I really believe, as a coach, players can get lost in practice and not learn from other people’s mistakes. Jeff knows specifically that time is of the essence for him, and he’s trying to take full advantage of that.”

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When it comes to on-field expectations, Pleasant is being patient. In his eyes, small victories lead to growth. Those small victories will become, as the coach put it, large goals.

“My biggest fear is us getting past the fact of small victories is everything,” Pleasant said. “Again, his career in college and then being able to have a really huge breakout year. Then, his first two or three years and just kind of watching how these things unfold. It's really small victories day by day, being here on time, making sure you're making sure you're tapped in.”

Oruwariye back and ready for more

Before his season ended with an injury, cornerback Amani Oruwariye was having a breakout season at cornerback for the Lions. He paced the team with six interceptions.

Heading into his fourth season, it’s about continuing to improve. Last season gave Oruwariye a solid foundation for his growth.

Pleasant is very detail-oriented. Because of this, the little areas are important. With Oruwariye, there’s been one specific area of improvement, while the focus remains on generating takeaways.

“I’m really pleased with his progression that I've seen since I've been here,” Pleasant said. “I want him to continue to keep getting that ball back. The only small thing that we've talked about is being a more efficient tackler in the open field. I think he's been more aggressive. And, I like that side of him, and I'm just really looking forward to seeing Amani grow as a professional. And, that's just more on the student side. He has been a phenomenal student, but as a corner in this league, you can never not learn.”

The emerging defensive back led the Lions in takeaways last season, but some were the result of being in the right place at the right time. Pleasant pointed out that as the season progressed, Oruwariye went from someone who simply took the ball, to a player that would actively seek it out and make the play for himself.

“Probably midseason saw a little bit of freedom from him,” Pleasant said. “There's a difference between putting yourself in a good position to make the play and actually taking the ball away from the offense. And, that's the one thing that as the year progressed, he got better. And, I think it's also talked about being a student, understanding what the offense is giving you, and putting yourself in a good body position where you are in the field of position, the field position. And, all those things, really tried to achieve all those things that really advanced with Amani and you can see it. So, now it's just how can we put you in better positions. You do what you do well, which is taking the ball.”

With some added improvement and growth, Pleasant said the expectations for Oruwariye should be high. Eventually, the Penn State cornerback could wind up being a shutdown corner, and among the top in the league.

“Yes, I do,” Pleasant said. “But, in order for that to happen, he has to continue to grow and understand what a shutdown corner is. What do you look for as a defensive coordinator, in order to put that tag on a guy? And, those are all the things in this offseason that we've collectively come together to say, ‘What could you do to be able to take that next step?’ And, I think he's accepting the challenge.”

Battle emerging at nickel cornerback position

The Lions are in the midst of a schematic change on the defensive side of the ball. Because of this, the team is welcoming competition at the nickel spot, which is a hybrid corner/safety that tracks slot receivers.

Pleasant has seen the development of Will Harris, a competitor for that position, at two different spots. Beginning 2021 as a safety, Harris was forced to move to cornerback, due to a rash of injuries that depleted the depth at the position.

Now, Harris’ versatility makes it tough for Pleasant to lock him into just one position.

“I view him as a defensive back,” Pleasant said. “I think the skill set that you all saw last year, throughout our season, is part of the reason why he's able to move around and plug and play in different spots. His growth has happened with being really fundamental at corner, while still understanding the savvy part of the game that comes from safety. And, I think that's what he does best, and we’ve got to find ways, as a staff, to put him in the best position to have success.”

Tracy Walker III has locked down one of the starting safety positions. After signing an extension during the offseason, he will be seen as a leader in the secondary. Yet, there are still areas for improvement.

“Making sure he’s capitalizing on the opportunities that come available that present themselves,” Pleasant said. “Last year, Tracy had some great pass breakups that should have been pick-sixes or interceptions. Really taking that next step, counting those small victories, realizing what you've done, but how do you separate yourself? And, when he watches those on film, he sees there's an opportunity for him to improve.”

Pleasant also spoke on rookie Chase Lucas, a seventh-round pick who, at 25 years old, is among the oldest players at the position. He’s been working at the nickel spot during the offseason.

“(Nickel) is where we see home,” Pleasant said. “We'll have to practice a little bit more to see where that secondary position could be. But, right now, as a home spot at nickel, he has done a good job this offseason.”