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The Detroit Lions might be close to finished with hiring of their defensive staff. The St. Paul Pioneer Press is reporting that Alan Williams, the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator the past two seasons, will join the Lions as their defensive backs coach. Williams also has a long history with new Detroit coach Jim Caldwell. Williams coached the defensive backs in Indianapolis from 2002 until 2011 under Tony Dungy and then Caldwell. They also coached together under Dungy for a season in Indianapolis. This is also the second former defensive coordinator Detroit has hired under first-time NFL defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. Bill Sheridan, the new linebackers coach, has experience as a defensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Giants. Under Williams in Indianapolis, the Colts were often in the top half of the league in both interception percentage and passing yards allowed per game, including having the second-best pass defense in 2006 and 2007. This should also complete the major position coaches on defensive side of the staff for Detroit. The Lions have yet to hire a quarterbacks or wide receivers coach. Coaching staff: Head coach -- Jim Caldwell
Assistant head coach -- Ron Prince
Offensive coordinator -- Joe Lombardi
Defensive coordinator -- Teryl Austin
Quarterbacks -- TBD
Running backs -- Curtis Modkins
Wide receivers -- TBD
Tight ends -- Ron Prince
Offensive line -- Jeremiah Washburn (asst. Bobby Johnson)
TBD -- Terry Heffernan
Defensive line -- Kris Kocurek (asst. Jim Washburn)
Linebackers -- Bill Sheridan
Secondary -- Alan Williams
Special teams -- John Bonamego (asst. Evan Rothstein)
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