Tag: interior defensive line

Adding to interior DL position should again be priority for Packers

The Packers were best on defense when the interior of the defensive line played well in 2022. Adding to the group makes a lot of sense again this offseason.

The Green Bay Packers just selected Devonte Wyatt in the first round of the 2022 draft. They also still have Kenny Clark, one of the best interior defensive linemen in football. However, adding another defensive tackle should be a priority this offseason.

There are two main reasons for saying this. One is that they need the bodies. Both Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry are hitting free agency and may not return. The second reason is that for much of the season, this group was underwhelming, but when playing well down the stretch, it had an immense impact on the defensive side of the ball.

Overall, the Packers struggled to generate any sort of consistent pressure from the interior pass rush. Basically, it was dependent upon how Clark played. Green Bay also ranked 28th in yards per rush allowed and 31st in run defense by DVOA.

But during the Packers final five games, we saw improved play up front, and not coincidentally, the defense as a whole looked a lot better. Pressure on the quarterback was much more consistent, with Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, and Devonte Wyatt all ranking within the top 35 out of 120 eligible interior defensive linemen in PFF’s pass rush productivity metric from Weeks 14 through 18.

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Against the run during that same span, Green Bay didn’t allow any running backs to combine for 100 yards, and they held them as a collective group over those five games to 4.4 yards per carry, which for some context, would have ranked 15th in the NFL compared to where the Packers finished at 28th, allowing five yards per attempt.

Having a more stout run defense allowed the Packers’ secondary to play more Cover-2 and Cover-6, both of which are designed to limit the opponent’s ability through the air. It also makes the defense susceptible against the run, but because Green Bay’s front seven was able to not only hold up but play their best football, it gave them the flexibility to utilize these coverages, which helped limit the production of players like Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Justin Jefferson.

So as we look ahead to 2023 and wonder how this defense can improve after a disappointing season, it begins with the play in the trenches. Truly the entire defense benefits when there is a regular push from the interior defensive line. It can provide more freedom with coverages, slowing the opponent’s run game can lead to them becoming one-dimensional and more predictable, while pressure on the quarterback is always the best way to wreck any passing play.

As far as free agency goes, the Packers, once again, aren’t going to have much spending power, which means the draft may end up being their best avenue when it comes to finding an impact player. I’m also not suggesting that the Packers absolutely have to spend their 15th overall pick on the position, although that wouldn’t hurt, but an early-round investment could go a long way for this defense.

This addition could also benefit Clark by providing him with a few additional snaps off each week, which doesn’t sound like much, but over the course of a season, that adds up. Clark, again, had one of the higher snap totals among defensive linemen in 2022. Given the makeup of the room over the last few seasons, this hasn’t been a luxury that the Packers have had. As already mentioned, Clark is one of the best, but some consistent help shouldering the workload isn’t a bad thing.

Our very own Brennen Rupp lists Clemson’s Bryan Bresee as an option at pick 15. He also adds that Lukas Van Ness from Iowa is more of an edge rusher, but has the versatility to move around the defensive front. In Round 2, Rupp mentions Siaka Ika (Baylor), Gervon Dexter (Florida), Mazi Smith (Michigan), Karl Brooks (Bowling Green), Keeanu Benton (Wisconsin), Keion White (Georgia Tech), as potential targets.

Hopefully, internal improvement with Wyatt moving into Year 2 and TJ Slaton moving into Year 3 will help this room improve and find more consistency. But for a heavily rotated position, adding more impactful depth should be on Brian Gutekunst’s to-do list because, as we saw, the impact can be felt throughout the defense.

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2022 NFL draft rankings: Interior Defensive Line

Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling updates his rankings for the top interior defensive line prospects in the 2022 NFL draft

The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, and the pro day circuit is in full swing, which means it’s time to take an updated look at our prospect rankings for the 2022 NFL draft.

Here’s how we stack this year’s interior defensive line class:

Establishing the 53: breaking down the LB group

Examining the Detroit Lions linebackers and debating who and how many players they will keep on the 53-man roster.

It’s never too early to examine and speculate about the Detroit Lions roster. Currently, the Lions have 90-players on their roster, and come September, there will likely be some difficult decisions to make when determining their final 53-players.

Previously, in this series of articles at Lions Wire, we rounded out the running backs group, declared a winner in the fullback versus H-back competition, added an offensive weapon, narrowed down the offensive line, broke down the defensive line, and in this piece, look at the linebackers.

Setting the table

The Lions don’t use their linebackers like traditional 43 or 34 base players, instead opting to use traits from both schemes and asking their linebackers to be fluid in moving between positions.

In the Lions base defense, they deploy three linebackers on most downs. In the picture below, Jarrad Davis (40) is the MIKE, Christian Jones (52) is the WILL, and Devon Kennard (42) is the JACK.

The MIKE and WILL are off-the-ball players, with the JACK typically living at the line-of-scrimmage. While this is their base set, the Lions will lineup — and pass rush/cover — their linebackers in a variety of ways, as deception is part of the scheme.

For more detailed looks at how the linebackers are used in this scheme, please take a look at my film study: explaining how the Lions LB roles changed in 2019, and how adding Jamie Collins in free agency points to the linebacker positions being positionally fluid moving forward.

Natural JACK LBs

As mentioned in the Collins article, the adding of Collins and releasing of Kennard point to a shift in how the JACK linebacker spot is used. Instead of having a dedicated player at the position, the Lions appear to be leaning towards rotating off-the-ball linebackers and natural JACK linebackers here and in other roles.

In the last two drafts, the Lions have selected two JACK linebackers: Austin Bryant (in the fourth round in 2019) and Julian Okwara (third round in 2020) — both look like strong options for the final 53-man roster.

In addition to JACK, Bryant’s secondary position is as a down defensive end, while Okwara’s secondary position will likely be off-the-ball, with the goal of turning him into the next Jamie Collins. Both players were injured last season — Bryant with the Lions and Okwara at Notre Dame — and it points to them being rotational players in 2020 while they gain experience.

Erik’s take: With high developmental ceilings, both Okwara and Bryant should make the 53 with ease.

Who else can play JACK?

Anthony Pittman has also been a player primarily used at JACK, but at 225-pounds it’s hard to feel confident with him holding up there on a regular basis. He has also been cross-trained at the off-the-ball linebacker spots.

In college, both Jamie Collins and Christian Jones were pass-rushing linebackers and while they have transitioned to more off-the-ball roles in the NFL, they are also capable of rotating through the JACK position making them very valuable players in this scheme.

Jahlani Tavai and Reggie Ragland are also capable of rushing off the edge but they’re better suited as at the line-of-scrimmage run stuffers rather than pass rushers.

Jarrad Davis, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Miles Killebrew, Jason Cabinda, Christian Sam, and Elijah Lee are more traditional off-the-ball linebackers and are not considered players who can play at the JACK spot unless they expand their games.

Starter battle

With no dedicated JACK, I am anticipating the Lions to use three off-the-ball linebackers as their base starting unit, with plenty of rotation through all spots. There are four primary contenders for those spots.

Collins — who saw 80.7-percent of snaps in New England last year — was the Lions’ big-ticket free agent this offseason and should be considered a lock for a starting role. His contract backs that up, as it averages ($10 million) nearly triple any other Lions linebacker’s salary. For example, even Collins’ lower cap hit of $6.3 million in 2020 is a stone’s throw away from total cap hits of  Davis, Jones, and Tavai, which equals $7.4 million.

Last year Davis (57.3-percent of snaps) and Jones (53.3-percent) were the technical off-the-ball starters, but Tavai also saw starter levels snaps (52.2-percent). A similar rotation of these three in 2020 wouldn’t be overly surprising.

Erik’s take: Personally I think Tavai makes a leap in 2020 and earns a starting role, next to Collins and Davis, while Jones will come off the bench but still see a starters levels of snaps. 

Reserves LBs vs Special teamers

With Bryant, Okwara, Collins, Tavai, Davis, and Jones securing the top spots, that only leaves one or two spots for a reserve linebacker.

The first player that should be considered is Ragland. His ability to be positionally fluid is a big plus, but he has always been a part-time player in the NFL. With the Chiefs, he saw only 21.3-percent of their defensive snaps in 2019, 49.4-percent in 2018, and 29.3-percent in 2017. His $962,500 cap hit doubles down on the fact that the Lions only see him as a reserve player as well. There is a contingent of Lions fans who would rather see Ragland get a shot over Davis but I don’t believe that to be a realistic option at this stage.

His primary competition is special teams’ demon Reeves-Maybin. He is not nearly as good a fit in the scheme as Ragland, but Reeves-Maybin is among the elite special teams’ players in the league — PFF gave him a 90.0 special teams grade in 2019 — and that will go a very long way with this organization.

Killebrew is even more limited than Reeves-Maybin in what he can do on defense, but he is also among the best special teams players on the roster. It’s also worth noting that his new contract carries a $1.05 million cap hit in 2020, which is slightly higher than both Ragland and Reeves-Maybin ($978,273). Elijah Lee has similar PFF special teams grades to Killebrew and will also be competition for this role.

Like Ragland, Cabinda and Sam are great scheme fits but offer more on special teams. They will need to take big strides in their game to make the 53,  but the practice squad is a likely landing for at least one of them.

Erik’s take: With defensive positions at a premium, reserves need to play multiple roles, including special teams, so give me Reeves-Maybin as my top option in this group. 

Conclusion

With Collins, Tavai, Davis, Jones, and Okwara rotating through three spots, along with Bryant and Reeves-Maybin holding down key roles, the Lions linebacker corps is improved from last season.

Ragland will likely be one of the final cuts, but as long as Davis is on the roster, Ragland will likely get pushed off it. Killebrew will also be a difficult cut, but he is somewhat redundant with safety Jayron Kearse, who seems like a safe bet for the 53. Additionally, expect one or two from the linebacker group to be kept on the practice squad for developmental purposes.

Establishing the 53: Rounding out the Lions’ DL

Examining the Detroit Lions defensive linemen and debating who and how many players they will keep on the 53-man roster.

It’s never too early to examine and speculate about the Detroit Lions roster. Currently, the Lions have 90-players on their roster, and come September, there will likely be some difficult decisions to make when determining their final 53-players.

Previously, in this series of articles at Lions Wire, we rounded out the running backs group, declared a winner in the fullback versus H-back competition, added an offensive weapon, narrowed down the offensive line, and in this piece, we will shift to the other side of the ball and focus on the Lions defensive line — projecting who and how many will make the 53-man roster.

Setting the table

The Lions defensive line primarily operates out of a three-man front, deploying a down defensive end (the DDE lines up on the offensive tackles outside shoulder, but will also shift inside to the 3-technique), a nose tackle (the NT splits time evenly between the 1- and 3-technique) and a defensive tackle (the DT lines up from the 3- to the 5-technique). In this set, the Lions will also line up a pass-rushing JACK linebacker opposite the DDE — for this exercise, the JACK will be discussed further in a linebacker article.

Because this is a hybrid front, the Lions will also operate with four defensive linemen, substituting a back-7 player (linebacker or defensive back) in favor of a big defensive end (BDE). The BDE will line up at the 7- or 9-technique (outside the tight end) in four-man fronts but will also rotate through at DT in three-man fronts.

For a frame of reference, last year the starters at these spots were:

  • DDE = Trey Flowers
  • NT = Damon Harrison
  • DT = A’Shawn Robinson
  • BDE = Da’Shawn Hand

Identifying starters

Despite losing two starters on the defensive line, the Lions front-four starters for 2020 are clear. Flowers will resume his role at DDE, Hand returns to his role at BDE/DT, while Harrison and Robinson were replaced in free agency by Danny Shelton at NT and Nick Williams at DT.

In three-man sets, expect Hand and Williams to rotate through the DT spot equally, regardless of who technically starts.

Erik’s take: You can write these four names in pen on your depth chart.

DDE reserve battle

After seeing over 53-percent of snaps last season, Romeo Okwara appears destined to resume the reserve DDE once again in 2020.

Jonathan Wynn runs third on the depth chart here but unless an injury happens the odds are against him. Add in the fact that JACK linebacker Austin Bryant can also flex to the DDE position and Wynn’s most optimistic outlook could be the practice squad.

Erik’s take: Okwara in, Wynn to the practice squad.

DT/BDE reserve battle

Last season the Lions kept four players at DT/BDE — Robinson (who has been replaced by Williams), Hand, Mike Daniels (who is still a free agent), and Kevin Strong. One of the reasons the Lions rolled with four players was due to Hand’s injury, but if he is healthy heading into this season, they may elect to keep only three players at this spot.

Strong returns to the roster, and as things sit right now, he appears to be the front runner for the third DT role. His primary competition will be seventh-rounder Jashon Cornell, a converted DE who shined last season at Ohio State after pushing inside to the 3-technique. Frank Herron, who was added to the Lions roster for the final month of the season, rounds out the group but he is staring at an uphill battle.

Erik’s take: Strong gets the nod in this projection, but he’ll be looking over his shoulder at Cornell who is headed to the practice squad. Herron is out.

NT reserve battle

Like at DT, this is another three-person battle between a returner, a draft pick, and a late addition to the roster.

After going undrafted in 2018, John Atkins has seen action each of the last two years, playing in 14 games and starting six down the stretch last season. His primary competition will be sixth-round pick John Penisini who has received a tremendous amount of praise for his upside in this type of NT role. Olive Sagapolu received a futures deal with the Lions last January, but like Herron, he lost his leverage once the Lions drafted a player at his position.

Erik’s take: Penisini is a perfect fit for this role and my gut feeling is he passes Atkins in the final weeks of the preseason, earning a spot on the 53. Atkins could push Strong for a deep reserve role but he’s more than likely headed to the practice squad. Sagapolu is out.

Conclusion

No real big surprises here, and while things can definitely shakeup during camp amongst the reserves, here’s where the depth chart stands in this projection:

  • DDE: Flowers, Okwara
  • NT: Shelton, Penisini
  • DT/BDE: Hand, Williams, Strong

Examining Derrick Brown’s Combine and identifying the numbers that matter to the Lions

Auburn’s Derrick Brown’s had an interesting Combine and we take a deep look at the numbers that will matter the most to the Detroit Lions.

Every year during the NFL Combine a highly rated player over- or under-performs and there is a mass exodus from his bandwagon. This year that prospect is Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown.

Brown entered Saturday as a true contender to be selected by Lions with pick No. 3, but by the end of the workouts, several Lions fans wanted no part of him anymore.

To get a better idea of Brown’s Combine workout, let’s examine how Brown measures up against league history at his position with Pride of Detroit’s Kent Platte’s RAS card:

A few not so great red scores for sure, but which of these scores matter to the Lions?

Let’s take a closer look at how the Lions prioritize measurables in an interior defensive lineman, which ones have value, and which ones can be thrown out.

Height/weight: 6-4, 326

Priority: medium

This is an ideal combination for the Lions, who want their interior defensive linemen to be able to shift between the 1- and 3-technique, and at Brown’s size, he can comfortably live at the 0-technique (over the center) as well.

Arm length: 34 1/4″

Priority: high

Of the nine defensive linemen and EDGE rusher on the Lions roster, only two have an arm length under 34″ — Devon Kennard (33 1/3″) and Kevin Strong (32 3/4″).  This is a huge measurable for the Lions.

40-yard dash: 5.16

Priority: low

Long speed isn’t overly concerning for an interior defensive lineman, and Brown’s unofficial time of 5.11 seconds on his first run is exactly the league average for the position. This is acceptable.

10-yard split: 1.73

Priority: high

League average is 1.76, the top-30 players in the NFL average 1.72, and the Lions have historically wanted a prospect to be under 1.79 seconds. At 326-pounds, this is a terrific time.

Bench press: 28

Priority: low

The league average is 27, but with the Lions putting a high priority on arm length, this number is typically low for Lions players as they have farther to push the bar and in turn lower scores. Among the nine players mentioned above, only two broke the league average — Da’Shawn Hand (28) and Trey Flowers (28).

Vertical jump: 27

Priority: medium

This is an important measurable for edge rushers, but not so much for interior players. Brown’s jump is below average but at his size, it’s not overly concerning.

Broad jump: 9’0″

Priority: high

The broad jump measures explosiveness and get-off, and the Lions are hoping for a prospect to hit at least 8 feet 10 inches — Brown hits just above the target. The only current Lions interior defensive lineman to best Brown’s jump is Hand (9’4″).

3-cone: 8.11

Priority: low

This is the drill that sparked fireworks at the Combine as it is one of the worst 3-cone scores in Combine history for an interior defensive lineman.

Here’s the thing. The Lions won’t care much about this score.

The 3-cone measures a player’s ability to change direction at top speed and that isn’t a very applicable measurable for the position, as he won’t be asked to do this in a game. It’s a red flag for sure, but at the end of the day, the 3-cone is a drill that won’t matter much — if at all — for Brown’s position.

Short shuttle: 4.79

Priority: high

The target here is 4.74 seconds for a run plugger and 4.63 seconds for a pass rusher. Brown misses both marks.

Brown time isn’t terrible but it will cause the Lions some pause and force them to go back to the tape to see if the number matches up with what they see. Then they need to determine, did Brown just have a bad run or is this something that will change how they grade him overall?

Conclusion

Brown is one of six interior defensive linemen to check three of the four “priority: high” boxes — none that tested fully checked all four — and is likely still the top prospect at the position on their draft board.

The question becomes, even if he is still at the top of their IDL board, where does he sit overall?

Picking at No. 3, the Lions need to target a prospect with as few red flags as possible and while Brown only has one glaring issue, there are other defenders at other positions that won’t have any.

So, is he still a Lions target? Absolutely.

Is he a Lions target at pick No.3? Probably not.

What if the Lions trade back? He’s back in play.

Who and what to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine: Interior defensive line

The Lions Wire staff has identified which interior defensive linemen Detroit Lions fans should be watching at the 2020 NFL Combine.

The 2020 NFL Combine on-field workouts begin Thursday, February 27th in Indianapolis but the interior defensive linemen won’t take the field until Saturday, February 29th.

This is the latest in a series of articles leading up to this year’s NFL Combine, where the Lions Wire team has identified players they will be tracking in order to determine potential fits within the organization.

If you missed the previous articles in this series, be sure to check out our quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, and offensive linemen previews.

Interior defensive line traits to evaluate

There are several on-field drills that emphasize a player’s abilities and the main areas Lions’ scouts will likely be focusing for the defensive line are:

  • Balance starts at the knees.
  • Quick feet and lateral mobility.
  • Reaction time.
  • Power in their punch.
  • Head up. See the target, hit the target.

Derrick Brown, Auburn

Suggested by: Erik Schlitt and Ty Finch

A legit option for the Lions at pick No. 3 overall. If he’s their target and they trade back, they need to make sure they don’t go back too far as he is likely to go very early.

Brown is a rare complete defender, capable of being an every-down nose tackle or 3-technique, and can even spend time on the edges at the 5-technique. He is perfectly suited for the Lions scheme because he can 2-gap, reset the line-of-scrimmage with power, as well as use his athleticism to penetrate and get to the ball. At 6-5, 325 pounds, he is an instant upgrade for the Lions at either nose tackle (Damon Harrison’s role) or the 3/5-technique (A’Shawn Robinson’s role).

Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina

Suggested by: Max Gerber, Scott Warheit, and Bryce Rossler

Kinlaw absolutely destroyed South practices at the Senior Bowl, illustrating why he many believe he will hear his name called in the top half of Round 1, and likely in the Top-10.

At 6-5, 315, Kinlaw is close in size to Brown, but they are very different players. Kinlaw is an ideal penetrating 3-technique, who has the strength to also contribute at the 5-technique. With elite length and power, he will appeal to the Lions, but he can get too upright at times which could potentially hurt him when trying to hold his gap — a staple in the Lions scheme. For a team that values interior penetration from their defensive linemen, Kinlaw could be ranked ahead of Brown on some draft boards.

Ross Blacklock, TCU

Suggested by: Zack Moran

If the Lions pass on a defensive tackle in the first round, Blacklock could be an option at No. 35 — if he lasts that long.

Projected to check in at 6-4, 331 pounds, Blacklock has positional range similar to Brown, but his skills are not as refined. Blacklock’s length, first-step quickness, and athleticism make him better suited for the Lions 3/5T role rather than the anchor spot in the middle. If he improves his ability to hold his gaps he has the potential to be an impactful player in the Lions scheme.

Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma

Suggested by: Jeff Risdon

Gallimore was a nose tackle in Oklahoma’s three-man front, but he earned that role, not because of his size (6-2, 304), but because of his ability to win with tenacity and violence. Very athletic for his size, Gallimore was a gap penetrator in college but he has the skill set to be a potential 2-gapper at the next level.

Marlon Davidson, Auburn

Suggested by: Derek Okrie

Davidson played an edge role at Auburn, similar to the down defensive end role on the Lions, but at the next level, he would likely fit in as a “big defensive end”, the role Da’Shawn Hand plays in Detroit. At nearly 300-pounds and the ability to play from the 3- to the 7-technique, he has the potential to have a Hand-like impact at the next level in the right system with improved power.

Raekwon Davis, Alabama

Suggested by: Sonja Greenfield

Since Matt Patricia took over as coach of the Lions, one rule for evaluating prospects has always held true — if a prospect played defense at Alabama, they’ll fit the Lions scheme. Davis’ game begins with his power and his ability to control offensive lineman, which is paramount in the Lions scheme. His run defense is top-notch but offers very little in the way of a pass rush or burst to the ball.

Leki Fotu, Utah

Suggested by: Scott Bischoff

Checking in at 6-5.5, 337 pounds at the Senior Bowl, Fotu is a mountain of a man who is strong enough to live at the 0- and 1-technique roles. Fotu’s game is drenched in power and his ability to 2-gap and anchor the middle of the defensive line makes him a natural replacement for Damon Harrison. He doesn’t offer much in the way of pass-rushing but he’s more athletic than what you’d expect at first glance and has yet to reach his developmental ceiling.

Darrion Daniels, Nebraska

Suggested by: Matt Urben

Daniels is a try-hard nose tackle, who needs to add more functional power in order to be capable of contributing from the middle of a defensive line. He has good foot quickness but the lack of strength allows him to lose his contact balance and thus give up gaps. Daniels’ high character and energy level will endure him to coaches, but he may need time on the practice squad to develop.