Tag: aidan hutchinson

David Long: What the Lions are getting in their new LB

Breaking down the game film and scouting report on new Lions LB David Long, signed to the practice squad to help replace Alex Anzalone

Despite demolishing the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the Detroit Lions did receive some bad news regarding linebacker Alex Anzalone. It was confirmed yesterday that Anzalone will miss the remainder of the regular season with a broken forearm.

The injury occurred while Anzalone was making a tackle on Jaguars running back Travis Etienne with 2:32 left in the second quarter. As Etienne was getting near the sidelines, his left arm got caught between the running back and his teammate Brian Branch.

Fortunately, it does sound like Anzalone could return for the playoffs as he’s expected to only miss 6 – 8 weeks. To fill the void, the Lions will need players such as Malcolm Rodriguez and Jack Campbell to step up for the defense. In addition to that, the Lions signed linebacker David Long to their practice squad.

Rated as one of the best linebackers in football in 2023, Long being available was somewhat surprising last week. However, Long had lost his starting job on the Dolphins defense and he ended up being released on November 13, 2024.

Prior to playing a season and a half with the Dolphins, he had spent four seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Originally, he was drafted by the Titans in the 6th round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of West Virginia. Let’s dive into some film to see what the Lions are getting with linebacker David Long!

 

Starting with where I think Long could be best suited for Detroit and that would be whenever blitzing. As we know, the Lions have had to get creative in generating pressure with the loss of Aidan Hutchinson. Using different blitzes and line stunts, the Lions could get creative to get Long in the backfield.

Looking at the play above, you can see a clear blitz from Long (LB 11). He times the snap well and blitzes through the B-gap. In the process, he slips under the right tackle, who is trying to pull and kick him out. However, Long does a great job ripping underneath and making a tackle in the backfield.

Through the first four weeks of the season, Long was ranked 3rd in PFF’s tackle-for-loss rate database. In 65 run-defense snaps, he had earned a 6.15% tackle-for-loss rate. The hope for Detroit is that they can tap into some of what he was doing so well to start the season.

 

Staying with Long’s performance against the Bills from earlier this season, we go to my favorite play from him on tape. Through the four games that I watched, there were certainly some head scratching reads and plays from Long. However, the play above is a perfect example of Long playing with conviction and violence.

Looking at the play above, Long (LB 11) is aligned in a ’10’ (between guard and center) and he makes a great read. As he begins to trigger downhill, he’s met by Bills LT 73 Dion Dawkins. Rather than waiting for Dawkins to get square and seal him off, Long shocks and sheds the blocker.

As he creates separation, he’s able to see on either side of the blocker. Once he sees the running back make his cut, he slips underneath and makes a terrific tackle at the hole. This was textbook from Long, and the hope is the Lions can get him back to playing like that.

 

While the previous play was a great highlight, I do want to reiterate that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows when watching Long play. There are times that he looks hesitant, plays too slow or too fast or he simply just makes the wrong read.

When you’re a younger player, you can get away with that. However, when you’re a 6-year veteran and ranked as one of the top run defenders in the league over a period of time, it’s hard to justify bad performances when they stack up. That happens to be the case for David Long.

For example, when you look at the two clips posted above, we’ll start with the first one against Arizona. Long reads the zone blocks being executed by the Cardinals offensive line but as the play continues, he gets impatient and gets burned. Assuming that the running back is going to cut back, Long would have looked like a stud.

Instead, he looks somewhat foolish for trying to get around 3 players. He then goes for the tackle but instead of a good form tackle, he arm tackles and the running back continues up field from there.

Lastly, the second clip is against Jacksonville. Aligned in a ’20’ (head up over the guard), you can see Long’s initial steps go to his right. Much of that is due to him falling for the “eye candy” that is the pulling right guard. Fortunately, he recovers nicely due to his ability to change direction, get over the top and meet the running back in the C-gap.

So as you can see, there’s some pretty good play from Long and then there’s some head scratching plays. That tends to be the case for any player who ends up getting released during the middle of the season.

Early in the year against the Jaguars and Bills, it’s evident that Long was playing like his old self. However, he suffered a hamstring injury against the Seattle Seahawks in week 3 and he hasn’t looked right ever since. That could be causing him to play with that hesitation or that could be why he just looks slow on tape at times.

Fortunately, Long comes to a place like Detroit where they just get the best out of their players. They made it work with Charles Harris for two years. Defensive lineman John Cominsky looked like he was on his way out of the league but he’s been with the Lions for three seasons. It’s just how this team is coached and you better believe that David Long will be held to a high standard.

The Lions play the Indianapolis Colts this week and then have a quick turnaround to play the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving. If I had to guess, it’s unlikely that we’ll see Long play for the Lions during those two games. However, we could see him suit up against the Green Bay Packers in three weeks or potentially the Buffalo Bills the game after that. Regardless, it’ll take some time for him to get adjusted to the Lions defensive scheme.

While the Lions continue to battle through injuries on defense, they still push forward to the best record in the NFL and NFC. By adding David Long, the Lions could certainly use him for that late season push.

Look: Aidan Hutchinson shows off his progress in recovering from a broken leg

Look: Aidan Hutchinson shows off his progress in recovering from a broken leg

It’s been a little over one month since Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson broke his lower leg in Detroit’s lopsided win in Dallas over the Cowboys. Breaking both the tibia and fibula in a freakish collision as he sacked Dak Prescott, Hutchinson is expected to miss the rest of the season. However, the Lions have left the door open that Hutchinson could return in time to play late in the postseason.

Hutchinson appears hard at work in making that chance into a reality, should the Lions make it to the Super Bowl in New Orleans. The Lions star posted a clip of his rehabilitation process on his Instagram over the weekend. This is Hutchinson bearing some weight in a rehab pool on the surgically repaired leg after four weeks.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCcIhiyPVt8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

While it’s not a miraculous leap like walking on water, merely walking in a pool of water is a big step for Hutchinson.

Two Lions players make their way onto the top ten best-selling jersey list

Two Lions players make their way onto the top ten best-selling jersey list

Both defensive edge Aidan Hutchinson and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown have found themselves on the top ten list for jersey sales according to NFLshop.com. 

Hutchinson sits at the number four spot, with only Houston Texans quarterback, C.J. Stroud, Chicago Bears quarterback, Caleb Williams, and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes in front of him. He has the highest jersey sales among non quarterbacks and is one of only two defensive players in the top ten, the other being the Las Vegas Raiders defensive edge, Maxx Crosby. Before Hutchinson’s season ending injury, he was a defensive player of the year front runner, tallying 7.5 sacks, 19 total tackles, and one forced fumble. 

On the other hand, Amon-Ra St. Brown sits at the number six spot with Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels above him. St. Brown currently has the best selling jersey among wide receivers, and so far this season, he has tallied 524 receiving yards and 7 receiving touchdowns. 

Rounding out the final four spots of the top ten jersey list are Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, and Las Vegas Raiders defensive edge Maxx Crosby. Overall, Detroit is the only team to have two players in the top ten.

Film Study: Lions new DE Za’Darius Smith is a near-perfect fit for the Lions defense

Film Study: Lions new DE Za’Darius Smith is a near-perfect fit for the Lions defense

It’s been a few weeks in the making but the Detroit Lions finally made the trade with the Cleveland Browns for Za’Darius Smith. Adding the talented defensive end was much needed after the Lions lost Aidan Hutchinson for the season due to his leg injury.

With this addition, the Lions are getting a veteran defender that has started more than 80 games in his career. During that time, he has over 300 tackles and 65 sacks. The former 4th round pick from the 2015 NFL Draft has found success playing for the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns.

Currently, Smith is playing on a 2-year contract worth a total of $23 million dollars. For the Lions, most of that money has been paid out from the Browns so currently, Smith will count as a $605,000 cap hit for the Lions (per Spotrac). There is an option for the Lions to let him go after the season, if it isn’t a fit and it wouldn’t cost them anything in dead cap money. If the Lions decided to bring him back for 2025 to pair with Hutchinson, it would only cost them a cap hit of $5.4 million dollars.

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So, the tenured player has been a productive player and has more than a reasonable contract for the Lions. But what does he bring to the team? Let’s jump into some film to see what Smith will provide the Lions defense moving forward!

 

During the absence of Hutchinson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has done a good job getting creative to generate pressure. Whether it be blitzing from all angles or designing a variation of line stunts, Glenn is doing whatever he can to form some type of pass rush.

Now his job gets somewhat easier to execute that game plan with the addition of Za’Darius Smith. Looking at the play above, you’ll see Za’Darius Smith (Browns DE 99) executing a T/E stunt for the Browns defense last season against the Texans.

Watch as he loops inside; he has more than enough speed and burst to get through the hole and close to the quarterback. Fortunately for the quarterback, he’s able to get the pass the ball while throwing off his back foot. However, it’s 3rd-and-long, and it’s one of those plays where Smith interrupts the timing, and it could lead to a sack or turnover. Adding that to a defense that is 2nd in the NFL with 11 interceptions on defense could do wonders for this unit.

 

Jumping into some tape from this year, one thing that immediately stood out with Smith is how he provides alignment versatility. He can play in a wide-9, tilt-5 and pretty much anywhere else a defensive coordinator wants to put him.

Looking at the play above, you’ll see Smith (Browns DE 99) align standing up over the right tackle as a 5-technique. However, he’s aimed or tilted towards the right guard. As he goes to rip across the face of the right guard, his pad level is a bit too high but he does his job by collapsing the middle as an interior pass rusher.

This works perfectly as there’s an outside rush from two defenders with wide alignments. This forces the quarterback to step up in the pocket and this is where he’s met by Smith for the sack.

 

Lastly, I want to highlight Smith’s ability to stop the run. Looking at the play above from a game against the Ravens this year, we’ll see Smith (Browns DE 99) is aligned over the tight end to the right of the formation.

Once the ball is snapped, Smith displays good burst while being able to rip across the face of the tight end. In the process, he bends down the line-of-scrimmage and helps make the tackle.

Having Smith present on the Lions defensive line won’t just help with generating a pass rush. He will also assist in stopping the run and teams will have to find ways to block him.

Overall, this deal had to be done by the Lions. They needed help up front for their defense and they should get it moving forward. So far this season, Smith has played 324 defensive snaps (per PFF).

This has led to 5 sacks and 27 pressures for Smith this season. From PFF, he’s earned a 73.6 overall grade and a 71.1 pass rush grade. Certainly, Smith is not graded as highly as Aidan Hutchinson but he will enter as the highest graded edge defender that is active on the team right now.

Pairing Smith with Alim McNeill, DJ Reader, Josh Paschal and the rest of their defensive line combinations should do wonders for this Lions defense. Having a defensive end that can turn speed-to-power, align anywhere on the line-of-scrimmage and execute the designed line stunts will be impactful. This move was the correct one by the Lions franchise and it should pay off in a big way for the next year and a half.

Detroit Lions Podcast: Bisch and Brown preview Lions vs Packers in Week 9

Detroit Lions Podcast: Bisch and Brown preview Lions vs Packers in Week 9 with a spotlight on Jahmyr Gibbs

Russ Brown and Scott Bischoff review the Lions resounding win over the Tennessee Titans. How long can the Detroit Lions continue to have more touchdowns than incompletions? Lions fans are all looking forward to finding out. 

Speaking of finding out, will the Detroit Lions face Green bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love this week? How might the Packers attack the Lions defense with or without Jordan Love this week in Lambeau Field?

Other topics the guys discuss:

  • Jahmyr Gibbs is so darn good
  • The Lions pass rush is starting to catch up with them
  • Jameson Williams PED suspension + possible gun charge
  • All that and more!

Lions DE Al-Quadin Muhammad can provide a spark on the defensive line

Lions DE Al-Quadin Muhammad can provide a spark on the defensive line, and he proved it in Week 8 vs. the Titans

When the Detroit Lions lost defensive Aidan Hutchinson for the remainder of the season, there was certainly some doubt on how you can replace him. Certainly, there’s no replacing a player as good as Hutchinson but the Lions may have someone that can help provide a spark.

That player is defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad. The 29-year-old defensive end is not new to the NFL. He’s bounced around the league to teams such as the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. He even found himself on the Dallas Cowboys this past summer but was cut in August.

Since then, he found his way onto the Lions practice squad. At this point, I’d be surprised if Muhammad found his way back to the practice squad. After his first game with the Lions, it sure feels and looks like he’ll be here for the long haul this season.

In his debut, Muhammad did not record any tackles, but he did generate a team-high 6 pressures for the Lions defense against the Titans. Let’s dive into some film to take a look at what kind of spark he’s providing for the Lions defensive line.

The first rep that stood out on Sunday against the Titans was the play above. Looking at DE 69, you can see Muhammad aligned over Titans LT 55 JC Latham. The Titans 2024 1st Round Pick was known for his ability to anchor and the power within his game.

However, that’s not going to slow down Muhammad on this rep. Once the ball is snapped, you can see him turn speed-to-power and he uses a long arm to put Latham into the ground as he pressures Rudolph on this pass. If Muhammad was a step faster, this would have been a sack but this type of pressure is something that we’ve seen Hutchinson do so many times for the Lions defense.

The next play I want to highlight is on a 4th and goal for the Titans. On this play, Calvin Ridley ran out of the back of the end zone and reentered the field of play. This was a penalty and the Lions declined it to force a turnover on downs.

That said, I want to watch Muhammad on this play. Aligned in a wide-9 alignment, you can see him on the outside shoulder of the tight end. As the tight end looks to check release to the end zone, you can see Muhammad burst up field.

As he gets close to the right tackle, you’ll notice Muhammad chop the hands of the right tackle and he’ll rip through towards the quarterback. The impressive thing about this rep is how quickly Muhammad chop-rips on this rush. It appears that he trips on the turf as he begins to turn the corner to the quarterback. If he keeps his feet, these will turn into sacks for him and the Lions defense.

Overall, there’s much to be desired with what we saw from Al-Quadin Muhammad in his Lions debut. The 6 pressures is encouraging and at some point, those will lead to sacks and bigger plays.

Throughout his career, we’ve seen some positives from him. Looking back at 2021, Muhammad started 17 games for the Colts and he was able to generate 48 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. In his seven-year career, he’s been able to compile 152 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. As the season continues, he should become more productive, and it certainly looks like he will begin to carve out his role for the Lions defense.

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Dan Campbell suggests Lions are hunting for a pass-rusher (Maxx Crosby?) in a trade

The Lions feel like they’re on the verge of a blockbuster trade.

For all intents and purposes, the Detroit Lions are a bona fide Super Bowl favorite. They are easily the best and most complete team in the NFC. But every top-flight contender could still use a little help. The Lions, now without star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson for the season, are no different.

That’s why it was eye-opening to see Lions head coach Dan Campbell allude to the possibility of Detroit making a big trade over the next couple of weeks.

In an appearance on Detroit sports radio station 97.1 The Ticket, Campbell hinted at the Lions “needing a little bit [more pressure]. As the Lions peruse their options, Campbell maintained that people they’ve brought in for try-outs could also always be a possibility.

But the obvious elephant in the room would be taking a big swing in a potential Super Bowl year. You know, a home run like Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro Maxx Crosby, who happens to be a Michigan native:

https://twitter.com/DetroitOnLion/status/1848544980266049886

I firmly believe that the Lions have enough if they want to go all the way. Because of their dominant offensive line, they have an unstoppable offense no one has an answer for. And even without Hutchinson, they have enough defensive playmakers to flip a big game.

With that said, Detroit’s core is already locked up for the foreseeable future. Now would be the time to take a calculated risk and bring in a superstar to a heavyweight team. Can you imagine someone like Crosby in Detroit wreaking havoc off the edge? Furthermore, can you imagine him teaming up with Hutchinson next year?

If the Lions make a move — and it sure seems like they will — that’s the outcome I’m rooting for.

Could Aidan Hutchinson really return for the Super Bowl?

Could Aidan Hutchinson really return for the Super Bowl? Breaking down the medical outlook with Dr. Jimmy Liao

The Super Bowl is a long ways away, but Lions fans don’t often get the opportunity to dream like this so let’s do it. With the increasing chatter that Aidan Hutchinson might play in the Super Bowl, here are my thoughts.

Why might Hutchinson NOT play in the Super Bowl?

  • He will only be partway through his rehab and won’t be at full strength physically.
  • His effectiveness may be very limited and worse than his replacement.
  • Theoretically, he might be putting himself at increased injury risk.

Here are the reasons why Hutchinson WILL play in the Super Bowl

  • All indications suggest an uncomplicated tib/fib fracture that doesn’t affect the ankle or knee joints. Healing should be relatively straightforward. The reported estimated timeline is 4-6 months with the Super Bowl coming in at just under 4 months (17 weeks).
  • There is no way to quantify injury risk, so opinions will vary, but it is reasonable to believe that his injury risk over baseline will be minimal, if any. With the Super Bowl 17 weeks from the time of injury, the bone will almost certainly be well-healed by then in a young, healthy individual. Further injury to the bone should not be an issue. There will be atrophy and weakness of the legs being only partially into rehab, but whether the leg weakness would cause increased injury risk is far from definite.
  • Players will absolutely come back earlier than they are ready for the opportunity to play in a championship game. Some notable examples are Terrell Owens in 2005 who played in the Super Bowl seven weeks after an ankle fracture, Jaylen Waddle who was still hobbling from a similar ankle fracture in the 2021 college national championship game, and Philip Rivers who played with a torn ACL in a conference championship game.
  • Even if there is an increased risk of injury, many if not most will accept the risk for a possible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a Super Bowl. After all, players are already accustomed to being exposed to a high baseline risk of injury in every routine NFL game. A slight added risk will not be much of a deterrent.
  • Even if there is an aggravation of his injury or a compensation injury, Hutchinson will have seven months to recover before the next season starts. Yes, there is the risk of a long-term injury (Achilles, ACL, etc.) but that risk is ever-present and not necessarily increased by coming back early. The risk may even be decreased with less power in his legs.
  • Nobody in the NFL is 100% during the season, much less at the end of the season. Players are all dealing with physical ailments and weaknesses. Expecting Hutchinson to wait until he is at full strength isn’t a reality or a necessity.

Here are the reasons why the Lions will open a roster spot and let Hutchinson play in the Super Bowl

  • Hutchinson is one of the most important players on the team going forward – arguably the second most important player behind Jared Goff. The Lions invested a #2 overall pick in him, and he has quickly lived up to that status. At his current pace, he could end up being one of the greatest to ever don a Lions uniform. Maintaining a good relationship with this level of player is important, and that means giving him the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl.
  • Hutchinson has a long recovery ahead of him and having a Super-sized pot of gold at the end of the rainbow will be excellent for his mental health. He’ll still be able to feel like he is a part of this year’s team. Maintaining positive mental health should always be a major factor in any player decision.
  • Even if the Lions don’t think he’ll be effective physically, he could still make a difference as a decoy or distraction to the opposing offense. The opponent won’t know his physical status so they may expend resources to double team him or chip him even if he doesn’t deserve it.

Bottom Line

Unless there is a setback in his recovery, expect Hutchinson to play in the Super Bowl. Expectations for his performance should be tempered, though, as he will still be early in his recovery, and it will likely be his first game back.

During the game, Hutchinson’s strength, burst, quickness, and stamina will be limited, and he won’t play his usual 90% of snaps. Hopefully he makes a big impact, but even if he doesn’t, his appearance will still be an uplifting result with long-term benefits for the team and the player.

Detroit Lions Podcast: Bisch and Brown’s Lions vs Vikings preview

Detroit Lions Podcast: Bisch and Brown give a Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings Preview

It’s Friday and that means another episode of Bischoff and Brown on the Detroit Lions Podcast! On this episode the guys talk about all sorts of things Detroit Lions after their week 6 win in Dallas. In addition to that, the guys talk about the following:

  • Decimating Dallas was a statement. What does it all mean?
  • Unfortunate injury to Aidan Hutchinson may leave people feeling some doubt. Do the Lions make a trade to rekindle some hope?
  • Lions vs. Vikings Preview
  • All that and more!

Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the Detroit Lions Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your favorite shows!

C.S. Mott’s Children’s Hospital posts stirring video for Aidan Hutchinson

Aidan Hutchinson gets well wishes from a special group of children

Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions is recovery from surgery after breaking a tibia in a game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

The defensive lineman is a huge supporter of C.S. Mott’s Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, where he played football at the University of Michigan.

Some of those impacted by Hutchinson gave back to the Lion this week with some special best wishes for love and a speedy recovery.