Lions coach Dan Campbell just dropped a bomb, telling everyone on Monday that the team is ready to make some serious defensive changes. “We’re going to do a couple of things defensively. We’re going to move some guys around,” Campbell said. He’s talking about shaking things up, giving some guys more opportunities because they’ve earned that playtime. After two weeks, it’s clear something has to give, and the Lions are looking inward for answers.
D-Line Needs a Kick in the Pads, Corners Are a Mess
On the defensive line, the issues aren’t about talent as much as they are about discipline. Aidan Hutchinson needs to clean it up, plain and simple. Everyone wants to see more Derrick Moore out there, and yeah, he’s still learning the ropes, but DJ Wonnum has been way slower out of the gate than anyone expected. It feels like this is the moment to get Moore ramped up. Give the man a shot, see what he can do when Wonnum’s not producing. It’s early, but you gotta make adjustments.
Then you look at the back end, and oh man, Rock Ya-Sin is struggling big time through these first two weeks. The kicker? There’s no obvious fix on Detroit’s depth chart. Do you move Roger McCreary to the outside? If so, are you really ready to throw rookie Keith Abney into the nickel spot? Is it time to pull Nick Whiteside off the practice squad and straight into the starting lineup? Or maybe it’s Ennis Rakestraw’s turn to show what he’s got? Honestly, none of those options sound like a slam dunk, but Ya-Sin’s play has been flat out unacceptable. Something’s gotta give there, fast.
Give Malcolm Rodriguez The Damn Snaps
Here’s the real head-scratcher: The linebacker corps. We need way more Malcolm Rodriguez and a lot less Devin White. Yeah, White brings explosiveness and can get after the passer, but this defense is getting killed by mental mistakes. White is still learning the system, and his aggressive style often means he’s overpursuing and misdiagnosing plays. Rodriguez, on the other hand, plays assignment-sound football. He’s fundamentally solid. The PFF grades don’t lie, they’re screaming right now: Rodriguez has an 82.2 PFF grade on 35 snaps, while White is sitting at a dismal 44.4 PFF grade on 51 snaps. The numbers are telling you everything you need to know: Rodriguez needs to be on the field more, period.
The Lions are at a crossroads just two weeks into the season. Campbell promises changes, and they better be the right ones, especially getting the right guys on the field. This defense needs to tighten up, and fast. What will this lineup look like next Sunday? We’re all waiting to see if these adjustments pay off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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