Hutchinson: Lions' Defense Will Change in Search of 'Right Formula'
Three sacks through four games. On the surface, it doesn't sound like too bad of a sack total for Detroit Lions rookie EDGE Aidan Hutchinson.
However, when you dig deeper, you'll find out that all three of those sacks came in one game: Week 2 against the Washington Commanders.
Additionally, the former Michigan standout pass rusher has recorded just three total QB hits in the other three contests.
And, he hasn't exactly been a tackling machine through the first quarter of the 2022 campaign, either. In fact, in Weeks 1 and 3 (against the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings, respectively), he amassed one combined tackle.
That is far from getting it done from the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Through all of Hutchinson's ups and downs this season, his head coach, Dan Campbell, believes he's been making progress.
"Every week, he's getting a little bit better," Campbell told reporters this week. "I think he's one of the players that I think we need to look long and hard about: 'Do we need to move him in some different spots? Do we need to see if we can give him an opportunity to have more success?' But, look, I think he did a lot of good things in the run game (against the Seattle Seahawks), and look, I think he's kind of where our defense is right now, where we've just got to improve, I mean, get a little bit better. And, I think we can all help each other."
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One of the potential adjustments that the coaching staff could be looking to make for Hutchinson is getting him to line up in a two-point stance.
While at the University of Michigan a season ago, he logged the majority of his snaps in a two-point stance, and it helped propel him to a career-best season.
Remember, in his final campaign in Ann Arbor, he produced a Wolverines single-season record 14 sacks, and also contributed 16.5 tackles for loss.
So, by possibly getting Hutchinson to switch from a three-point stance to a two-point stance, the Lions could be unlocking some untapped potential for the first-year NFL EDGE rusher.
No matter what the Detroit coaching staff throws at him, the Dearborn (Mich.) Divine Child High School product will continue to listen to his coaches.
"You know, I'm here, and I'm going to do what they ask me to do," Hutchinson expressed Thursday. "And especially (with) being a rookie, you don't have a ton of pull around here. Yeah, I mean, three-point, two-point, there's benefits and disadvantages to both."
With the team seeking to rectify its glaring defensive issues, changes will inevitably occur, especially after last week's disappointing loss to the Seahawks.
"Whenever you are struggling as a defense, it's really just a couple little things that change and things start clicking," Hutchinson said. "I really don't think that we're that far away. It's a couple little things that change. I don't know what they are exactly, that's for him (Aaron Glenn). They're definitely making those changes and trying to find that right formula."
On Sunday, Hutchinson will be going up against an NFL team he watched closely as a child, the New England Patriots. He grew up idolizing former longtime Patriots passer Tom Brady, who also spent his collegiate days at Michigan.
No matter what he thought of the then-Brady-led Patriots, all of that fandom is thrown out the window at this point for Hutchinson.
"I just liked Tom Brady. Every kid loves Tom Brady," Hutchinson said. "Hopefully, one of these days, I'll get the chance to hit Tom, but we'll see. I would say that Patriots fandom that you referenced is no good."
As for what it will take to stop this current version of Bill Belichick's squad, Hutchinson emphasized stopping the run.
"You know, obviously, I think they're going to be on their third-string quarterback (Bailey Zappe)," Hutchinson said. "You know, I don't think any of that matters unless we stop the run and we are very stout on first and second down, so that we can get to third down."
