Ndamukong Suh is gone, but Teryl Austin isn’t worried about what that will do to the Detroit Lions’ second-ranked defense.

“We plan to be better this year,” Austin told a couple of thousand season-ticket holders Tuesday at Ford Field.

Austin, the second-year defensive coordinator, was one of six coaches and front-office executives who spent an hour answering moderated questions as part of the team’s annual hall meeting.

President Tom Lewand reiterated comments from the NFL owners meetings last week that the team did all it could to keep Suh as a free agent, and he joined Austin, coach Jim Caldwell and pro personnel director Sheldon White in expressing confidence that the Lions won’t miss a beat without their three-time All-Pro.

via Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press