How the Detroit Lions defensive line can have the biggest impact on the season opener against the Rams
It’s a new year, but a familiar matchup to start the 2024 NFL season on Sunday night. The Detroit Lions host the Los Angeles Rams again, a rematch from their Wild Card playoff game last season where the Lions won 24-23. This time, though, the rosters on both teams have had some dramatic changes and now the Lions’ defense is looking to be a much better unit. The biggest change for both teams is along the defensive line.
While the Lions made some helpful additions, signing defensive end Marcus Davenport and defensive tackle DJ Reader in the offseason, it wasn’t as big as what happened to the Rams in the offseason. The Rams lost their superstar defensive lineman Aaron Donald as he retired from the NFL. It’s hard when you lose a generational type of talent on your team. The Lions know all about that when they lost the likes of Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, and their head coach Dan Campbell is thankful that the team doesn’t have to worry about Donald now.
“You needed to know where he was at, at all times, really on all downs,” Campbell said. “It was a constantly—you were shifting and motioning just for him, and you’re damn near doing it every play. It’s nice not to have to necessarily worry about (Donald), but the guys they have over there are young and hungry, high-motor.”
For this matchup though, it’s not just the additions of the Lions’ defensive line that make this the X factor, it’s the health of the offensive line for the Rams. The Lions’ upgraded defensive line will go up against at least one backup offensive tackle as the Rams’ starting left tackle Alaric Jackson is suspended for the first two games of the season due to violating the NFL Personal Conduct Policy. That’s not all though.
Former Lion, now Rams left guard, Jonah Jackson got injured and was ruled out for six weeks with a bruised scapula in July. By the time the game comes around on Sunday, he will be just under six weeks, and with him returning to practice last week, it sounds like he should be back and ready for the season opener. Will he be 100 percent or still dealing with the injury? Tough to tell, but even then the Lions can take advantage knowing he is just getting over an injury.
To make matters worse, the Rams starting right tackle Rob Havenstein injured his ankle the day after the team ruled Jackson out for six weeks. While Rams head coach Sean McVay said Havenstein wouldn’t go on IR, he also said he may miss the opening week. On Monday this week, McVay provided a positive update on Havenstein though.
“We’re having contingency plans for either or.” McVay said. “I think Wednesday I’ll have a much better idea. We’re going to use every day and that’s the truth, especially as it relates to him.”
So in the end, the Rams could be down up to three starting offensive linemen, two of them being at the tackle position. If Jackson and Havenstein do play, they might not be at full strength, which isn’t what you want to start the season. To make matters even more difficult for the offensive line, Jackson may be lined up at center instead of left guard, making the chemistry for the offensive line a little askew.
Enter the Lions defensive line.
Even if the Lions go up against the Rams offensive line with just one backup tackle playing, Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson could have himself a start to the 2024 season. In the game last season, Hutchinson was the only player to get a sack for the Lions, getting two on Rams quarterback Matt Stafford. Having him go up against one, or possibly two backup tackles makes that much easier.
If the Rams opt to give their tackles some help with Hutchinson, that means defensive tackle Alim McNeill can start attacking the interior and driving pressure up the middle. He won’t be alone, as defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike has had an impressive training camp that he could be causing havoc, too. Then you could even have Reader get some playing time with his new team if he is healthy enough to return
Don’t forget about the other edge rushers like Josh Paschal, Davenport, and James Houston. The Lions will have multiple players who can at least generate pressure on Stafford and slow down the Rams’ ground attack. If the Lions defensive line can dominate the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball, it changes the game entirely. Stafford won’t have as much time to find his star wide receivers Cooper Kupp or Puka Nacua, and his running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum won’t have many holes to bounce through.
The Lions had a strong run defense last year, allowing the second-fewest rushing yards, so stopping the run will continue to be the goal for the group. But if Detroit’s defense is going to improve this year, getting to the passer is a must. The Lions have a new and upgraded secondary, but they won’t be perfect to start the year as they must build their chemistry. If Stafford is constantly under pressure, though, it’ll ease the burden of the back end, and could lead to a Lions victory Sunday night.
