ALLEN PARK -- A popular topic surrounding the Detroit Lions throughout Matt Patricia’s tenure has been whether or not the roster was buying into what the coach was selling.

Whether this concerned the culture change, alleged grueling practices or high expectations, the topic trailed the Lions during their 6-10 season in 2018.

Patricia, entering his second season in Detroit, came over from the New England Patriots where he served under coach Bill Belichick for 14 seasons.

Naturally, this move brought the idea the “Patriots Way” was coming to Detroit with concerns on if it would resonate or not. Helping alleviate these concerns in 2019 is the fact returning players are more familiar with the schedule, practice structure and expectations within Patricia’s system.

“I was here last year, and I would say this camp -- a lot of guys are bought in,” fourth-year safety turned linebacker Miles Killebrew said during training camp. “You’re starting to get an overall sense of guys buying into the system and trying to get better. Not only at their own craft but bringing other guys along with them. It’s not just the veterans, you’re starting to see a lot of leadership especially among the rookies which is impressive.

“Each day you just see more continuity and drive together as a team. You’re not just seeing that nasty competitiveness -- it’s constructive and it’s guys trying to build each other up and it’s refreshing. I would say it’s across the board. It starts with our leadership, coaching staff on down. Everybody is bought in."

When asked about the idea of players “buying in” at the NFL owners meetings, Patricia himself called it a “tricky situation.”

He was quoted as saying, “everybody buys in when you win. It’s easy. But do you know if they’re really buying in or are they just riding the train of winning? I think this is where we find out.”

Related: Snacks Harrison says extension was important due to age, comfort level with Lions

Safety Tracy Walker is primed to step into a bigger role this season, and echoed Killebrew with his own praise of the togetherness in Detroit.

“I feel like the team chemistry is definitely a lot closer. We have a great group of guys in this locker room, and we’re just trying to win, continuing to build our bonds and continuing to push forward to success,” Walker previously said during training camp. "Last year, for example, I didn’t have the best relationship with all the offensive linemen but now I’m great with them. It’s just little things like that.

“You got to have relationships with everybody. You have to establish these relationships with your teammates because at the end of the day you got to know who you’re fighting for. We put this logo on, it’s not just what our last name says on the back, it says the Detroit Lions.”

When asked about specific impactful changes, Walker kept it simple saying “I feel like we all have grown. We have all made drastic improvements.”

Related: Mike Daniels: I thank God I got cut so I could play for Matt Patricia

Heading into Detroit’s regular-season opening game against Arizona, Patricia was asked what changed for him in the past year and if he noticed a different vibe on his team. His comments on the cusp of Week 1 fell in line with what he said about “buying in” back at the NFL owners meetings.

“I don’t really get into that stuff because, I mean who knows. I’ve been in situations where the sky was falling in September and things worked out pretty good in the end," Patricia said. "I’ve been in situations where it looked pretty good in September, and it didn’t work out in the end. For us, the NFL, it’s a rollercoaster, and it’s just about trying to be as consistent as possible going through that so that we can try to improve as we go.”

Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia talks with reporters before their joint training camp practice with the New England Patriots at their team headquarters in Allen Park, on Tuesday, August 6, 2019. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

Related: Matt Patricia hasn’t lost any confidence despite Lions’ first winless preseason since 1989

Safety Quandre Diggs, shortly after being named a team captain, declined to get into the “vibe” in the locker room, as well. The fifth-year pro said he leaves “it up to the coaches to figure out what the vibe is around the team.”

The Lions captains as voted by the players for the year are Jarrad Davis, Devon Kennard, Don Muhlbach, Danny Amendola, Taylor Decker, Matthew Stafford and Diggs.

Kennard is entering his second season with Detroit after signing a three-year, $18.75 million contract last year to come over from the Giants. The linebacker said he feels the team is more comfortable thanks to improved familiarity with the system and awareness of expectations.

“I feel like we’re more comfortable. We understand what coach expects of us day in and day out,” Kennard said on Friday. "We understand how things are run and we’re just getting more and more comfortable every day. Defensively, same thing with the defense. Understanding everything.

“Last year was last year, so I don’t even care about last year much. I like the team we have right now. I like the guys we have in this locker room and on the defensive side of the ball. I’m excited to get out there with them and go to battle with my guys.”

Related: Detroit Lions game-by-game predictions for 2019 season

One of the more public supportive figures of Patricia has been recent-signing Mike Daniels. The defensive tackle signed with Detroit in July after the NFC North rival Green Bay Packers cut him.

After signing, Daniels said he “thanked God he got cut” so he could play for Patricia. He even went as far to refer to the second-year head coach as a “defensive genius."

His tune hasn’t changed on Patricia as he approaches his first regular-season game as a member of the Lions.

“I really like playing for coach, I’ll say that. I really like his demeanor, his attitude and his approach to the game,” Daniels said on Friday in the locker room. “We’re very similar that way.

"This is the perfect spot for him, and I know it’s the perfect spot for me. That’s why I decided to come here.”