Each week, I dive into the film of the Eagles’ upcoming opponent to get a feel for who they really are. Think of it less as a stats preview and more as an overview of what shows up repeatedly on film, and what the Eagles will be facing.
Pass Defense
Detroit’s defense has become one of the most aggressive and well-rounded units on film, built around a violent, disruptive front seven and an aggressive secondary. Detroit’s defense starts with pressure on the edge, and Aidan Hutchinson has been playing at an exceptionally high level, winning as both a pass rusher and run defender. As well as Hutchinson, Al-Quadin Muhammad has been good as a pass rusher.
You do not need to watch much Aidan Hutchinson film to realize he is an exceptional talent. He plays nearly every snap, can win from both sides, or line up over guards. He causes havoc wherever he ends up.
Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone give the Lions range and intelligence at linebacker, allowing them to disguise fronts and stay versatile. They are one of the rare teams that play a lot of base defense, even against 11 personnel, because they trust their linebackers a lot. Campbell is a physical blitzer and an outstanding run defender.
This foundation allows defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard to play very aggressively. No team in the league plays more man coverage than Detroit. They play man coverage 43.9% of the time and they play a ton of press man, too. In some ways, it’s an old-school defense led by an old-school coach who values toughness and physicality in Dan Campbell. They are a fun team to watch on film!
However, Detroit’s heavy man-coverage identity naturally opens up opportunities in the intermediate areas of the field. They’ve allowed the sixth-most yards per game on throws between 10–19 air yards, and it’s clear on film why this is the case. The aggressive man usage can leave space over the middle, especially if the pass rush doesn’t win quickly. The biggest issue I saw with the defense was that their linebackers are nowhere near as good in pass coverage as they are against the run. I would be using heavy personnel and then throwing the ball and utilizing play action. This could be a big Dallas Goedert game. I even like another shot to Grant Calcaterra up the seam…
Teams also use a lot of rub routes and pick plays to create openings because the man coverage does look predictable at times.
Detroit’s pass defense is at its best when the front forces quarterbacks into rushed decisions. But when forced to cover longer, their aggression becomes exploitable as their man coverage can break down. Additionally, the Lions’ secondary is looking pretty banged up right now, which will benefit the Eagles even more.
Run Defense
The Lions’ run defense is built around strength and discipline at the point of attack. Hutchinson is one of the league’s best edge-setters, consistently controlling blockers and forcing runs inside. The real strength of the defense is the play of the linebackers. The linebackers trigger downhill with impressive timing, and Detroit rarely busts fits or loses leverage on early downs.
Their numbers reflect that consistency, as they allow just 89.4 rushing yards per game at 4.0 yards per carry. This isn’t surprising considering they play base against nickel frequently, and want to get bigger bodies on the field. If there’s one thing Dan Campbell does not want, it is his team being physically beaten.
Detroit is particularly good against zone-based run schemes, as they stop you from getting to the 2nd level. Their secondary tackles well when healthy, and they do not allow cutback lanes easily. Where Detroit can be more vulnerable is against heavy personnel and power-run schemes. Kansas City exposed that by using jumbo sets and large tight ends to widen Detroit’s edges and create inside gaps. However, you do take the risk of having a lot of negative plays before breaking a decent gain.
Personally, I wouldn’t run much 12 personnel Duo much this week. I’d throw from heavy personnel and run after spreading them out a little more. You have to use their aggressiveness against them by using motion, misdirection, and getting your backs out in space.
Overall, the Lions’ run defense is one of the most structurally sound in the league, driven by a physical front seven.
Final thoughts
Detroit’s defense is aggressive and physical, with a front seven that can take over games and a secondary that is good enough when healthy. The main vulnerabilities, intermediate passes against man, and occasional issues versus heavy run personnel, stem directly from their aggressive tendencies. But overall, this is a well-coached, physical unit capable of matching up with anyone when they dictate terms. For all their flaws, the Lions play a brand of defense that forces opponents to win one-on-ones. Luckily, the Eagles should have the talent to do so if they can be aggressive and take shots on the outside. If the Eagles play conservatively, I fear for them in this one.
Thank you for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to comment below and ask any questions. If you enjoyed this piece, you can find more of my work and podcast here. If you would like to support me further, please check out my Patreon here!
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