Lions defensive line prepares for big test with Kyler Murray

DETROIT — Dan Campbell isn’t one to make predictions. But one he made a few weeks ago already has him sounding like Coach Stradamus.

“I think this defensive line can be the engine that we desperately need,” Campbell said, “and I think they will be.”

So far, so good. Through two weeks, the Lions are tied for second in the league in sacks (7), rank in the top 10 in sack rate (9.3%), defend the run at a high level (76.5 rushing yards per game allowed — fourth-fewest in the NFL) and are tied for 12th in points allowed per game. A Lions defense that has failed to match its offense appears poised to change that script this season.

Campbell believes it all starts at the front. And for good reason.

Over the years, the Lions have invested capital, financial resources and time to shape this defensive line. It all started with the 2021 NFL Draft, a special year for the Lions. That year, the Lions selected Levi Onwuzurike in the second round and Alim McNeill in the third. They were drafted to help anchor this defensive line for years to come. But it didn’t always seem like that vision would come to fruition.

At one point, their careers took opposite trajectories. Drafted as a three-skilled player who could destroy the game, Onwuzurike dealt with a back injury that forced him to miss the entire 2022 season and would also slow him in 2023. Sidelined for two years and then a relatively small presence last year, it simply wasn’t clear if he could be counted on to contribute. That would have been a tough pill to swallow given his second-round pedigree. Meanwhile, McNeill has gotten better and better each year. A season ago, he recorded 34 pressures in just 13 games, was solid against the run and emerged as one of the league’s best young defensive tackles, thanks to his two-way style of play. The Lions have openly discussed the possibility of an extension for McNeill.

But these days? That vision seems to be coming true again. McNeill remains a steady presence inside and wreaked havoc in training camp this summer. Onwuzurike has joined him, just as the Lions always thought he would. Finally healthy, two years removed from his back issues, Onwuzurike is tied for fifth among defensive tackles in pressures with eight, according to PFF. He has recorded half a sack in both of Detroit’s games. After an offseason under the spotlight of his coaches, Onwuzurike has lived up to expectations from the start.

“It’s nice to be able to play full games,” Onwuzurike said. “That’s how I felt in college, how I felt before. It’s a blessing, 100 percent. I’m just happy to be in a game and no matter what, I can be on the field and play.”

“That’s him,” McNeill said of Onwuzurike. “That’s the kind of player he is. He’s worked hard and put himself back in that position to be Levi again. … He’s doing a good job. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Levi does.”

And then, of course, there’s Aidan Hutchinson. The Michigan player who fell into the arms of the Michigan NFL franchise with the second overall pick two years ago was a perfect match and helped change the trajectory of this organization.

Every good defensive line needs a star, and Hutchinson has been one for the Lions this past calendar year. As a sophomore, Hutchinson tied for first in pressures with 101, while recording a career-high in sacks with 11.5. While his sack totals aren’t among the best in the league, his pressure rate has always suggested they would come with time and additional help. We’re seeing that early this year.

In Week 1 against the Rams, Hutchinson recorded 11 pressures, a 47.7 percent pass-rushing success rate, and a sack. He then had a career-high 4.5 sacks against the Buccaneers, which puts him in first place with 5.5 through two weeks. Hutchinson has become a versatile player in this league, capable of rushing from anywhere on the field. When he’s on the edge, his wide alignment sets up a vicious spin move—one he can deploy on the counter whenever he wants. He’s also quick enough to beat a tackle on the edge and powerful enough to rush from the inside. He’s becoming the complete package, right before our eyes.

“Every time you watch him, he gets better and better and I was pretty blown away last night,” Campbell said of Hutchinson Monday. “He’s a force. … He’s played all but six or seven games. He’s relentless, he’s powerful, he’s explosive. They were kind of trying to double him and chip him and push him and he just — he was a force. … Hutch is playing at the highest level you can play right now, and I expect him to take it to another level. He’s continuing to get better and better.”

Through two games, here are the top pass rushers in the following categories:

Bags – Aidan Hutchinson (5.5)
Total Pressures – Aidan Hutchinson (18)
Pass victory – Aidan Hutchinson (14)
Pass Rush Win Percentage – Aidan Hutchinson (42.3%)

– Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) September 16, 2024

But draft capital isn’t always enough to create a dominant defensive line. The Lions watched Hutchinson become a star, saw McNeill take a leap forward and never gave up on Onwuzurike, but at the same time, they knew more was needed to round things out. That’s where free agency came in.

Former Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader was arguably the top target for this direction in March. He’s a space-grabbing defensive tackle who plays with a motor that most 327-pounders don’t possess. He’s also unselfish on and off the field — known for creating for others around him on the field and offering advice and tips that only a veteran has in the defensive line room. He made his debut last week after missing the opener.

“He’s a jack of all trades,” Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said of Reader’s team debut. “… When it comes to somebody that can take the blocks, when it comes to somebody that can really push the pocket, and I’m sure you’ve seen it, I mean, he’s been close to a sack maybe twice in that situation, so his sneaky athleticism has shown up. Man, when this guy really starts rolling, I think that’s going to be something to talk about with those guys.”

The same can be said for Marcus Davenport, a man Glenn knows well. A former first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints who signed with the team this offseason, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn knows what Davenport brings to the team when healthy. He has a powerful hit, can set the running game up and get after the quarterback. In many ways, he’s the prototype for what the Lions want in the opposite of Hutchinson. Although he sat out Week 2 with a groin injury, he recorded six pressures and a half-sack in the season opener against the Rams and is expected to return this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. They’re a handful for tackles.

“When you look at them, they’re both about the same height, weight, arm length, everything’s the same,” Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams said of Davenport and Hutchinson. “When you have big guys on the edges that can run down those tackles, and you have big guys in the middle that can push, then now we’ve basically built a box around the quarterback and it’s hard for them to throw.”

In other words…

“When we get all these guys together,” Glenn said, “I expect these guys to be at the top of the league at some point.”

It’s a lofty goal, but given the way this group has looked early this season, it seems entirely possible. Their games complement each other well. They have a star pass rusher in Hutchinson. A nose tackle in Reader to do the dirty work. An inside-out rusher in Onwuzurike. A two-way three-tech in McNeill. And a boost for Hutchinson in Davenport — a quality player when healthy. Not to mention Josh Paschal, James Houston and Kyle Peko as depth.

But to be one of the best, you have to look like you’re one of the best, and you have to do it consistently. Every game presents new challenges, like the one the Lions will face this weekend in Arizona. Kyler Murray is the kind of quarterback who has given Lions defenses problems in the past. He can beat teams with his legs and his arm. He’s elusive in the pocket and can evade sacks. If the Lions rush too much, Murray can use his mobility to move upfield for easy yards on the ground or to go sideline to sideline to extend plays in the passing game. In many ways, he’s the kind of player they built this defensive line to defend against.

The next step is to do it week in and week out, against different types of quarterbacks. But the Lions believe they’re ready for what’s ahead. They believe that’s who they are.

“Our identity is violent,” McNeill said. “That’s our identity. We want to be feared. We want to be violent. That’s how defenses win games. That’s our edge — fear — and that’s our identity. We want to be feared. We want to be that violent defense that nobody wants to play.”

“When your big guys in the middle are getting pushed and we have good rushing lanes on the edges, it’s just a matter of who can get there first at that time,” Hutchinson said. “I think that’s the recipe for success for a defensive line. We just have to keep the momentum going. We have athletic QBs coming in, so we have to be very precise and the communication has to be great. I think we’re ready, though.”

We will find out.

(Top photo of Levi Onwuzurike and Aidan Hutchinson: Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)