Why it’s not all about sacks for Lions’ Dan Campbell when it comes to success of Aidan Hutchinson, defense

The approach to measuring the success of a NFL team Pass rush is not an exact science. So what’s more important: sack numbers or quarterback pressure numbers?

For the Detroit Lions, the 2023 NFC runner-up, the answer is multifaceted. The Lions’ 41 sacks as a defense last season ranked 23rd, despite having a pressure total among the top five quarterbacks (274, third-most in the league). NFL) and rate (41.6%, fourth best in the NFL). The issue was converting the quarterback’s consistent pressure into sacks, which they did at a rate of 6.5%, the 11th lowest in the NFL.

Detroit coach Dan Campbell said he would “absolutely” prefer to have better sack numbers than vacuum pressure numbers, but he also explained in depth the nuance around sacks versus quarterback pressure rate this week.

Detroit coach Dan Campbell said he would “absolutely” prefer to have better sack numbers than vacuum pressure numbers, but he also explained in depth the nuance around sacks versus quarterback pressure rate this week.

“Bags are not a big problem as long as you are under pressure,” Campbell said in his press conference On thursday. “As long as you’re getting pressures, and those pressures come out and negatively affect the quarterback, you know? Now would you rather have sacks? Absolutely, I’d rather have sacks. The loss of yards, all that stuff, but the pressures… a pressure that affects the quarterback… We watched some clips this morning in front of the team that is trying to advance. He can’t move forward, the throw is high, and he can’t move his hips. on negative plays like incompletions, like turnovers, whatever it is, I’ll take that all day.

The problem for the Lions in 2023, despite all their success, is that their consistent pressure has not always resulted in generating negative play for opposing attacks. Detroit was increasingly ahead of the Washington Commanders — a defense that ranked last in the league in several categories — for the worst mark in expected defensive points per addition per play when it pressured opposing quarterbacks. The Lions have allowed quarterbacks a 78.2 passer rating when they pressure them in 2023, the seventh-highest rate allowed in the league.

How is this possible? Well, Aidan Hutchinson, the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, didn’t get much support from his defensive teammates a year ago. Hutchinson’s 101 quarterback pressures in 2023 ranked second in the entire NFL behind only Dallas Cowboys three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons’ 103, but Parsons turned a few more of those pressures into sacks (14.0 compared to 11.5). Parsons’ league-leading 21.8% quarterback pressure rate was also slightly higher than Hutchinson’s 17.4% rate in 2023, which ranked as the tenth-best in the NFL. Still, Hutchinson has recorded top-notch play in 2023, profiling himself as one of the league’s best at harassing defenders.

“Look, Hutch is going to continue to improve,” Campbell said. “Whether they come in bags or not, I already know he’s going to get better. [2023 first-team All-Pro WR Amon-Ra St. Brown]: you will be able to count on the production he [Hutchinson] will bring.”

The Lions’ overall failure to capitalize on pressure from their top-five quarterbacks is why general manager Brad Holmes overhauled his team’s secondary, primarily through the draft, and the defensive line in free agency. Detroit used its first two picks of the 2024 draft on cornerbacks: Alabama 2023 first-team All-American cornerback Terrion Arnold, who co-led the SEC with five interceptions last season with the 24th overall pick, and cornerback of Missouri Ennis Rakestraw Jr., who has not allowed a touchdown in his 1,017 career coverage snaps, with the 61st overall pick. Super Bowl Champion cornerback Carlton Davis, a six-year starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was acquired via trade at the cost of a 2024 third-round pick.

Up front, Detroit signed veteran defensive tackle DJ Reader to a two-year, $22 million contract and 2018 first-round edge rusher Marcus Davenport to a one-year, $6 deal. 5 million this offseason.

“That’s always going to help,” Campbell said of Hutchinson’s need to be aided by the presence of another quality edge rusher. “It helps if you have someone else who can pressure them [the quarterback], for you. Sometimes you can hide in a little window and you can be two feet on the other side, and that’s all he needs [Hutchinson] to miss [making contact with the quarterback] by arm length. That helps, it certainly helps. But you can also achieve this with a three technique on the other side. This could be Mac [DT Alim McNeill] this is the opposite of him [Hutchinson] on some things. Yes, someone on the other side will always help.”

McNeill ranked second on the Lions in quarterback pressures (34) and sacks (5.0) last season, which likely played a role in Holmes’ decision to sign Reader and Davenport in March. After the Lions’ defensive personnel overhaul this offseason, Detroit is banking on Hutchinson to make another leap, perhaps to Parsons-level production, thanks to him and his teammates making quarterback pressure important.