Lions are 31st in PFF Tackling Grade
Anzalone and Jacobs have 5 missed tackles through 2 games
Brian Branch, who has 83.3 tackling grade so far, had 4 missed tackles in his three years at Alabama (1698 snaps)
- true freshman, 1 missed tackle in 290 snaps
- Sophomore year, 0 missed tackles in 624 snaps
- Junior year, 3 missed tackles in 784 snaps
Zero missed tackles in his NFL career
***************
Tracy Walker probably takes over as the starting S; was the Lions best DB in 21-22 and a team captain a year ago, but coming off achilles, not sure he'll be the same player.
Would they give consideration to moving BB back? I don't think so, he is outstanding in run support and a good cover Slot corner (though he was on Lockett for the walk off TD.) Doesn't really have the closing speed to be a deep safety, best to deploy him closer to the LOS.
***************
Jerry Jacobs had a 30.6 man coverage grade in 2022. His overall coverage grade versus the Seahawks wasn't as bad as I thought it would be (49.9, and 51.1 on the year) but they don't offer zone v man coverage grades in their weekly premium content. His rookie year his overall defensive grade was 65.8, but has slipped to 55.8 and 54.2 since tearing his ACL.
As an aside, there was some bogus thing going around X (twitter) and Reddit yesterday he gave up 12 receptions for 180 yards and 3 TDs. Doesn't pass the smell test, PFF has him at 6/7 allowed for 68 yards. Week 1 he was 3/6 for 13 yards.
***************
Geno Smith was 19/22 for 189 yards and 2 TD (+20.1% CPOE*) when targeting receivers outside of the numbers
NGS Pass Chart
*completion percentage over expected
***************
The stubbornness to keep playing man when you clearly don't have to dudes to play Cover Zero is baffling. We called it a ton in the first 7 games of last year, and rarely in the last 10 games when we fired the DBs coached and switched it up, with Quarters / Quarter Half being the most prevalent coverage scheme (our Cover Zero % on the year was like 15th.)
In 2021 and 2022 under Glenn, the Lions were in the top half of the NFL in blitz rate. Through two games this season, they are blitzing at the second-lowest rate in the league (5.6 percent). There has been little imagination in Glenn's trying to scheme pass rush, almost in deference to an improved secondary.
***************
WRT the pass rush, this is getting into the weeds and it's pretty hard to determine the real answer bc they're never going to give a straight answer in pressers. But picking up on verbiage from Glenn last week and Campbell yesterday, it seems clear that the thing they emphasize for the DL on the pass rush is maintaining your rush lanes and not creating voids by rushing too deep. Don't be a hero, do your job and trust your teammate will do his job. It's why they have continually treated James Houston IV like the ree-headed stepchild; he has incredible bend and is super fast getting around the outside, but in doing so he opens up running lanes for the QB.
We bemoan that the IDL doesn't create enough pressure - which is true of 20-28 teams most weeks - but philosophically I think they want those guys to stand their man up and drive to collapse the pocket. There is no creativity, we hardly ever run stunts. Hutch will line up as a 3-tech occasionally but doesn't loop back outside, if he lines up at Edge he's probably coming wide or doing a spin move to his man's inside shoulder but you almost never see him loop inside the 3-tech or 4-I alongside him. Stay. In. Your. Lane.
In both games it seems to me that Hutch is creating pressure; 10 or 13 hurries depending on your source, 3 QB hits vs Mahomes, 17.1% pass win rate. But it's not that hard for mobile QBs to avoid one guy. We are relying on guys to win their one-on-one battle but we never flood the protection on one side to create or force the pressure.