Through teaching, Lions safety Miles Killebrew becomes a better player

Dave Birkett | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Watch: Sam Martin's celebrity softball game Detroit Lions punter Sam Martin hosted his first celebrity charity softball game Saturday, June 10, 2017 at Wayne State in Detroit.

Miles Killebrew still is learning the defense, but as the Detroit Lions got younger at safety this off-season, Killebrew found it made him a better player.

“I’ve learned if you teach it actually makes you learn a little bit better,” Killebrew said on the final day of Lions minicamp last week. “So I’ve been teaching the young safeties a little bit and it’s been a blast learning.”

The Lions return veterans Glover Quin and Tavon Wilson as their starting safeties and have Don Carey in a special-teams role, but otherwise count a group of relative newcomers as backups.

Alex Carter moved from cornerback to safety this off-season. Rolan Milligan signed a futures deal with the Lions in February. And Charles Washington, like Killebrew, is in his second NFL season.

More Lions news:

'Eager' rookies Jarrad Davis, Reeves-Maybin impressing Lions teammates

Report: Lions safety Tavon Wilson accused of punching ex-girlfriend

Killebrew said he, Carter, Milligan and Washington spent extra time this spring learning the playbook with safeties coach Alan Williams.

“I may see things a little bit differently than them, they may see things a little bit differently than me,” Killebrew said. “So we’re able to collaborate and really work together off the field. And I think it’s paying dividends on the field.”

The Lions are counting on Killebrew to play an expanded role on defense this fall as their No.3 safety.

As a rookie, he played behind Quin, Wilson and Rafael Bush, but still was an effective dime defender with 28 tackles and one interception in just 149 snaps.

Killebrew said he’s not sure what his role will be this fall or whether he can challenge Wilson for a starting spot.

“Time will tell,” he said.

But entering year two, Killebrew said there’s no doubt he feels “more comfortable” on the field.

“Because I’m comfortable, I’m quicker, my reads are faster,” Killebrew said. “I feel like I’ve improved my coverage and my run fits have gotten a little bit better. It’s fun playing fast and I feel like I’m playing faster than last year, for sure.”

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!