ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Detroit Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp believes the NFL’s evolving kickoff rules have elevated the importance of special teams play, creating new opportunities for players to impact games through field position and return production.
Speaking after organized team activities on Friday (May 29), Fipp said the spring practice period offers coaches a unique chance to focus on individual player development before the demands of game preparation take over during the regular season.
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“I love this time of year,” Fipp said. “You get a chance to work with individuals and try to build players and make guys better. During the season, it’s more about the next opponent. Right now, it’s about how can I make this guy a better player.”
Kick return takes center stage
The emphasis on player development extends to Detroit’s search for contributors in the return game, a role that has regained significance under the NFL’s revised kickoff rules.
“The kick return is obviously a huge play,” Fipp said. “It’s definitely more important than it’s ever been.”
Among the candidates to replace departed return specialist Kalif Raymond is veteran receiver and returner Greg Dortch, whom the Lions added this offseason.
Fipp sees similarities between the two players.
“Dortch has done it,” Fipp said. “He’s probably similar to Kalif. You want a guy who’s durable and able to take some hits because at that position, you’re going to.”
Raymond’s departure leaves a high bar
Replacing Raymond will not be easy. Fipp praised the veteran’s five-year tenure in Detroit, noting his development into one of the NFL’s top punt returners.
“He left here as probably the best punt returner in the game,” Fipp said. “The things you’re going to miss about him are all the things you don’t appreciate right now.”
Fipp pointed to Raymond’s reliability, decision-making, and ball security. Raymond never recorded a turnover during his time with the Lions while also contributing offensively.
Rookies face learning curve
As Detroit evaluates its roster, Fipp said many rookies will have opportunities to earn roles on special teams, though he cautioned that several draft picks and newcomers are still adjusting to responsibilities they did not handle extensively in college.
“These guys are green. They’ve got to grow,” Fipp said. “But that’s my favorite part of the job, trying to get a guy to do something he’s maybe never done before or play at a level he hasn’t before.”
Fipp highlighted rookie wide receiver Kendrick Law as one of the newcomers with significant special-teams experience entering the league, but emphasized that all young players face a learning curve.
The veteran coach said roster turnover is one of the aspects he enjoys most about the profession because it creates opportunities to develop new contributors each season.
“You start from scratch every year,” Fipp said. “It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past. It only matters today.”
Lions look to rebound in 2026
That philosophy extends throughout the organization as the Lions attempt to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season that ended without a playoff appearance.
Asked whether the coaching staff has changed its approach this offseason, Fipp said the team’s standards remain unchanged.
“I had a lot of emphasis on it a year ago. I’m going to have the same emphasis on it this year,” Fipp said. “There’s a bunch of young, hungry guys coming to try to get your job. That’s what you love about this business.”
Fipp also praised second-year running back and special teams contributor Sione Vaki, calling him one of the most talented special teams players he has coached at the position.
“As a running back, he’s as good as any running back I’ve been around playing on special teams,” Fipp said. “The big thing for him is he’s got to stay healthy.”
Projecting talent to special teams
When evaluating rookies before the draft, Fipp said his process often involves projecting how a player’s traits at another position might translate to special teams responsibilities.
“Football’s football,” Fipp said. “A lot of things relate.”
That projection process, he said, is one of the most challenging aspects of roster building, which has given him an appreciation for the work of general manager Brad Holmes and the scouting department.
“Brad’s got the hardest job there is,” Fipp said. “Everybody looks back afterward and says who should have been picked. But nobody knew that at the time.”
The Lions will continue offseason workouts throughout June before reporting to training camp later this summer.