Aidan Hutchinson reveals key to Detroit Lions pass rush
The Detroit Lions have been grappling with a glaring issue in the early stages of the 2023 season – their inability to sack opposing quarterbacks. In fact, as has already been well documented, the Lions have just one sack in the first two weeks, which is the fewest amount of sacks in the entire NFL. Adding to the concern, Aidan Hutchinson, last season's leading sack producer for the Lions has yet to record a sack this year.
What Did Aidan Hutchinson Say?
Hutchinson, after scrutinizing game film, believes that the key to reigniting the Lions' pass rush lies in playing more cohesive football as a defense. He emphasizes the need for better communication, particularly “pre-snap,” to synchronize the efforts of the secondary and the defensive line.
“We’re just not playing complementary football with our back-end,” Hutchinson told reporters Thursday. “They’ll be playing really good coverage, where we don’t get as good of a rush and then vice versa. So, it’s just about playing complementary football with our secondary, and also just being more on the same page with our D-tackles (defensive tackles), as an EDGE player.”
“I feel like when you’re out there sometimes, it just sometimes doesn’t work,” Hutchinson expressed. “Sometimes, there’s no communication, and there’s a wide-open ‘B’ gap for the quarterback to go right through. So, I think communication was a really big thing this week, and I think that’s what we’ve been working on.”
“I mean, we’re getting there a lot of the times, but we’ve just gotta get the quarterback on the ground,” the former Wolverines EDGE defender said. “We’ve got to match up our good coverage with our good rushes. I think ideally that’s how you get sacks in this league, is when you’re playing good coverage and you’ve also got the good rush paired up with that.”
TL;DR (too long didn't read)
- The Detroit Lions struggle with a lackluster pass rush, managing just one sack in two games.
- Aidan Hutchinson, last season's sack leader, is yet to record a sack in the current season.
- Hutchinson identifies improved communication and synchronized play as the key to reviving the Lions' pass rush.
Bottom Line – Unleashing the Lions' Roar
Aidan Hutchinson's revelation about the Detroit Lions' pass-rushing struggles serves as a wake-up call for the team. While they possess the talent and potential to disrupt quarterbacks, a lack of synchronization has hindered their sack production. The bottom line is clear: if the Lions can fine-tune their communication and coordination, they have the ingredients for a formidable pass rush. As the season progresses, the team's ability to unleash this potential may well be the key to their defensive success and overall performance in 2023.
