ALLEN PARK, Mich. – New Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco knows success in the NFL comes down to the details.
The veteran running back, entering a new chapter in Detroit after building a championship résumé with the Kansas City Chiefs, said his focus has been on learning the offense, correcting mistakes, and finding ways to contribute wherever needed.
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“Pinpointing the details in the work and coming out here and executing at a high level, but most importantly, not making the same mistake twice,” said Pacheco. “Coming out and being better from that mistake.”
Pacheco said he has embraced the culture he found in Detroit, pointing to the team’s competitive mindset during offseason workouts.
“They got their own culture here, and I love being a part of it so far since I got here,” Pacheco said. “It’s the grit. You got guys willing to compete every single time we get a chance.”
Fitting into a new system
The transition has meant adjusting to a new offensive system and a different role.
With the Lions’ backfield featuring established starter Jahmyr Gibbs, Pacheco said his approach remains simple: stay prepared and help the team however possible.
“This game here, it takes a lot of us to win the game and not just one person,” Pacheco said. “Everybody on the team, the staff, the coaches, nutritionists, everybody plays a part.”
Pacheco credited running backs coach Tashard Choice for helping him understand the importance of preparation and said he has also learned from teammates about competing and improving daily.
He also emphasized the value of mental repetitions when players are not taking every snap.
“If someone’s in, you got to watch them, get that mental rep,” Pacheco said. “So when you’re up and then ready to go, you got to compete at a high level.”
Pacheco is also continuing work at return positions, saying his goal is to be available in any role that helps the team.
“Just doing whatever I could do to help the team win,” Pacheco said.
TeSlaa ready to play faster in year two
Second-year wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa said his biggest advantage entering his sophomore season is comfort.
After spending his rookie year learning the offense and adjusting to the speed of the NFL, TeSlaa said he feels more prepared to play faster and think less.
“I don’t think in football you can ever really relax because you got to have an edge about you,” said TeSlaa. “But just being so much more comfortable. I feel like I’m able to play a little bit faster, doing a lot less thinking this year.”
TeSlaa said the Lions have spent more time mastering fundamentals this offseason rather than loading players down with new concepts.
“I feel like we’re trying to nail the basics before we start adding on stuff,” TeSlaa said. “We’ve done a good job mastering the basic things.”
Weapons create mismatches across the board
TeSlaa’s role expanded late last season, and he said he is excited about the possibilities within an offense featuring multiple playmakers.
“With the weapons that we have, I don’t know how you’re going to guard all of our skill positions,” TeSlaa said. “If you want to try to double a guy, then you’re just leaving another extremely skilled person wide open.”
The Michigan native said his personal goals for the season remain private but acknowledged they are higher than at the start of his rookie year.
“Last year I came in not really knowing what to expect,” TeSlaa said. “This year, now that I feel like I’ve gotten a little more comfortable, I have some pretty lofty goals for myself.”
Clark focused on communication, turnovers
Safety Chuck Clark has embraced his opportunity with Detroit, focusing on communication and leadership within the defense.
Clark said he does not view stepping into a larger role as a source of pressure, but rather as part of the preparation required at every level of the NFL.
“It’s football,” said Clark. “You just always got to be ready.”
Clark pointed to his own career path as an example of how quickly opportunities can develop in the league.
“I wasn’t a starter, but in a matter of a week, I became a starter, a green dot player, captain of a defense,” Clark said.
Building chemistry in the secondary
A major focus for Clark has been building chemistry with teammates. He said defensive backs recently spent time together watching film and discussing tendencies.
“It’s actually good hearing another person’s perspective and how he watches film as opposed to how you watch film,” Clark said.
Clark said creating turnovers remains a top priority for the defense.
“You get the ball back to the offense so they can go put up points, and we do it again,” Clark said. “That’s the name of the game.”
The veteran safety said his physical style of play comes from a willingness to sacrifice for the team, but acknowledged that maintaining longevity requires consistent preparation.
“It’s not one specific thing,” Clark said. “It’s an accumulation of things, taking care of your body, recovery, stretching, everything.”
As offseason work continues, the Lions’ newcomers and returning players remain focused on the same goal: building habits that carry into the regular season.
“Get fast, physical, and continue to build off of this camp,” Pacheco said. “Come back in shape. Ready to roll.”