Mathis expects Lions to remain an elite defense

The Detroit Lions' defense took a huge step last year. After finishing 2013 with the NFL's 13th-ranked defense, the Lions vaulted into the top spot for much of 2014 and eventually finished second.

The question is how much of a drop-off the Lions' defense will endure after the departures of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley.

"Well, hopefully, none," cornerback Rashean Mathis said. "That's what the draft, that's what free agency is for. That's what the guys who were their backups are for, trying to fill in that void. So hopefully the void won't last long. It's not about filling shoes. It's about doing your job."

Regardless of who plays where, Mathis said the expectation this year will be to remain an elite defense.

Mathis eager to mentor new CBs

"That's definitely the plan," he said. "Anything other than that wouldn't be us. It wouldn't be what we're building for.

"Like I said, we started something but we know that consistency has to carry on. That's what the off-season is for: trying to fill in those gaps or even places that we were good at, getting better and those things as well. That's what our scouts are for, that's what the coaches coach for and that's what we train for, to be better than we were last year."

Contact Carlos Monarrez:cmonarrez@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@cmonarrez.