Dan Campbell made it clear Monday that the Detroit Lions are going to shuffle things on defense. He said the team plans to “move some guys around,” hand out “some more opportunities to play,” and “shake it up a little bit,” adding that certain players “have earned that” and “deserve a chance to do more for us.”
That leaves one obvious question: what should those internal changes actually look like?
If you keep the conversation strictly inside the building, there are a few spots where the Lions can try to spark something. The defensive line is probably the least urgent of the three levels, but there is still room for a tweak.
The biggest demand there is discipline, and that includes Aidan Hutchinson. Derrick Moore is the name some fans want to see more often, though he still has to earn those snaps and is clearly in the middle of his own learning curve.
DJ Wonnum, meanwhile, has gotten off to a slower start than expected, which could be the opening for Moore to get ramped up.
At linebacker, the case for change is easier to make. Malcolm Rodriguez should see more time, while Devin White should see less.
White brings burst and pass-rush ability, but the bigger issue for this defense right now is the mental side of the game. He’s still getting comfortable with the system, and his style can lead to overpursuit and bad reads.
Rodriguez is steadier. He plays within the assignment and handles the basics well.
PFF grades are not the whole story, but in this case they point in the same direction.
The back end is where the choices get messy. Rock Ya-Sin has had a rough two weeks, and that’s putting it mildly.
The trouble is that Detroit doesn’t have a clean replacement waiting in the wings. Roger McCreary could be kicked outside, but then the Lions would have to decide whether they’re ready to start rookie Keith Abney at nickel.
Another option is elevating Nick Whiteside from the practice squad and throwing him into the mix. There’s also Ennis Rakestraw, though none of those paths comes with much confidence attached.
Still, Ya-Sin’s play has not been good enough.
Safety brings another complication. Avonte Maddox is out for the season with a foot injury, and replacing him is not simple.
Thomas Harper could be the straightforward answer, but he’s only 25 and still pretty raw. Detroit could also move Christian Izien back to safety, though that would mean trusting him with a much larger role after he played just 26 snaps over the first two weeks.
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