detroit lions vs. st. louis rams the season begins consistency up front ...

KYLE
VALERO
Off ensive
Quality Control
Years with Lions: 3
Years in NFL: 3
Valero enters his third season as the Lions off ensive coaching
assistant a er joining the staff during the 2010 off season. In addition
to opponent fi lm breakdown and self scouting, he assists with coaching
the wide receivers during practice
Before coming to Detroit, Valero spent the previous two seasons
with the coaching staff at Florida State. He served as an Off ensive
Student Assistant in 2008 and then became the Off ensive Graduate
Assistant for the 2009 season. Valero was set to be the Seminoles’
Off ensive Quality Control Coach for 2010 before leaving for the NFL.
Valero got his fi rst coaching experience with the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers during the 2002-2003 seasons. While his primary
responsibility was helping with Special Teams, he also assisted two
future head coaches – Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and former
Buccaneers Head Coach Raheem Morris – with the defensive backs
throughout training camp.
VALERO’S BACKGROUND
Detroit Lions .......................................................................... 2010-
Off ensive Quality Control ............................................................................2012
Off ensive Coachign Assistant .....................................................................2011
Assistant to the Defensive Coaching Staff .............................................2010
Florida State University.......................................................2008-09
Off ensive Graduate Assistant.....................................................................2009
Off ensive Student Assistant .......................................................................2008
TIM
WALTON
Secondary/
Third Down Package
Years with Lions: 4
Years in NFL: 4
Tim Walton joined the Lions as secondary coach in 2009. Before
coming to Detroit, he was the defensive coordinator at the University
of Memphis (2008) and had additional responsibilities coaching the
safeties. Throughout his 14-year collegiate coaching career, Walton
coached 13 players who were eventually drafted into the NFL,
including fi ve fi rst round picks (Patriots S Brandon Merriweather,
Seahawks CB Kelly Jennings, Giants CB Kenny Phillips, Redskins S
LaRon Landry and Cardinals S Antrel Rolle) and four second round
picks (S Idrees Bashir, WR/KR Devin Hester, S Michael Stone and CB
Corey Webster).
LIONS COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
Walton coached a secondary that excelled in making big plays in 2011.
Detroit’s secondary accounted for 16 of the team’s 21 interceptions
in 2011 which was the most by a group of Lions defensive
backs since 2005 (16).
Of the unit’s 16 interceptions in 2011, three were returned for
touchdowns, the most by a Lions secondary since 2001 (3).
Lions CB Chris Houston led the team with a career-high 5 interceptions
for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2011 and was second with
14 pass defenses. Houston was one of only three NFL players in
2011 with 2 interception returns for touchdowns.
In 2010, CB Alphonso Smith, acquired from Denver at the end of
the preseason, led the team with a career-high fi ve interceptions
including one for a touchdown.
As a rookie in 2009, S Louis Delmas fi nished second on the team
with 91 tackles. His other defensive tallies included: two interceptions
(130 yds), eight passes defensed, one sack and one fumble
recovery. He became the only rookie in NFL history to record a
safety (<strong>vs</strong>. GB 11/26), an interception return for a touchdown (Arz
12/20) and return a fumble for a touchdown (at NO 9/13) in the
same season. Delmas led the defense with 84 tackles (62 solo)
in 2010 despite playing most of the season with a groin injury.
Prior to joining Memphis, Walton spent the previous four seasons
EXECUTIVES & COACHING
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(2004-07) with the Miami Hurricanes. He was promoted to defensive
coordinator in February of 2007 and helped propel the defense to a
national ranking of 33rd in total defense. In his fi rst three seasons
at Miami, he coached the defensive backs and the Miami secondary
ranked in the top 10 nationally in pass defense in 2004 (ninth) and
2005 (fi rst).
In 2005, Walton’s pass defense led the nation, allowing only
152.17 yards per game, and featured All-Americans safety Brandon
Meriweather and cornerback Kelly Jennings as well as Freshman
All-American Kenny Phillips.
Walton was at LSU in 2003 and his defensive backs were a key
factor in the Tigers earning the 2003 BCS National Championship and
a Southeastern Conference title. The LSU defense ranked among the
nation’s top three in four-of-fi ve major defensive statistical categories:
total defense (fi rst, 252.0 yards per game), scoring defense (fi rst,
11.0 ppg), pass effi ciency defense (second, 89.8 rating) and rushing
defense (third, 67.0 yards per game). Additionally, LSU ranked 18th
nationally in passing yardage defense (185.0 ypg) while leading the
SEC in four of the fi ve defensive categories, including a No. 2 ranking
in the league in pass defense.
In his fi rst stint with Memphis (2000-01), Walton coached defensive
backs. In 2000, the Tigers ranked fi h in the nation in total defense
(fi rst in rush defense), allowing only 275 yards per game and placed in
the top 15 nationally in passing and scoring defense. He le Memphis
to coach defensive backs at Syracuse for the 2002 season.
Walton began his coaching career as a defensive graduate
assistant at Bowling Green in 1995. He was promoted to running backs
coach in 1996 and then moved to coach the defensive backs in 1999.
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Walton has had
three summer internships with NFL teams. He spent the summer of
1998 serving as a defensive intern with the Chicago Bears, the summer
of 2001 as a defensive intern for the Green Bay Packers and in 2004
with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under current Pittsburgh Steelers
Head Coach Mike Tomlin.
As a defensive back at Ohio State, Walton lettered four seasons
and served as co-captain for the Big Ten champions in 1993. During
his time with the Buckeyes, OSU went to four bowl games, including
the Liberty Bowl in 1990. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology
from OSU in 1994.
Walton and his wife, Tracy, have three children: Trei, Timia and
Tyler.
WALTON’S BACKGROUND
Detroit Lions .......................................................................... 2009-
Seconday/Third Down Package................................................................2012-
Secondary ................................................................................................ 2009-11
Memphis ..................................................................................2008
Defensive Coordinator ..................................................................................2008
Miami (Fla.) ....................................................................... 2004-07
Defensive Coordinator ..................................................................................2007
Defensive Backs ..................................................................................... 2004-06
Louisiana State ........................................................................2003
Defensive Backs ............................................................................................2003
Syracuse ..................................................................................2002
Defensive Backs ............................................................................................2002
Memphis ............................................................................ 2000-01
Defensive Backs ..................................................................................... 2000-01
Bowling Green ................................................................... 1995-99
Defensive Backs ............................................................................................1999
Running Backs ........................................................................................ 1996-98
Defensive Graduate Assistant ...................................................................1995