Josh Paschal: Lions Becoming 'Hard-Nosed Defense'
The Detroit Lions have committed to building their defensive line around young players.
Aidan Hutchinson and James Houston stole the show, but a third member of that draft class is aiming to enter the mix this season.
Josh Paschal, who was limited by injuries in his rookie season, is at full health this offseason. That was not the case last year, as he missed a significant portion of time with a hernia.
His presence will be valuable, as he adds depth to the team's defensive line rotation.
The defense struggled in 2022, ranking in the bottom five of the league in both the run and pass categories. In particular, the Lions struggled to stop the run.
As a result, Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has placed an emphasis on improving in that category. The defensive end said the coordinator has hammered the point in meetings, as well as during various periods of practice.
"He's put an emphasis on that this offseason," Paschal said. "Making sure that stopping the run is coming first, you can't rush the passer without stopping the run and being able to set firm edges. Not getting blocked by tight ends and things like that. Just being able to be that hard-nosed football defense that nobody can run against."
Oftentimes, the teams which are most effective against the run have the most success in rushing the passer. The ability to dominate the line of scrimmage is not something to be taken lightly.
Because of this, the Lions are committing to stopping the run, with the hopes that it will have a ripple effect on the pass rush.
"I feel like it's an emphasis, because they both go hand in hand," he explained. "Once you stop the run, that's when you're able to rush the passer. So, right now, of course, it's being able to stop the run, but once we've stopped the run, we've got to be able to get after the passer, as well."
Brodric Martin, a third-round pick in the 2023 Draft, figures to play a part in Detroit's run-stopping efforts.
The physical defensive tackle has made a strong impression on his teammates. Paschal described his teammate as "a big, strong dude," and added that he sees great potential in the Western Kentucky product.
Entering his second season, Paschal has been getting reps on both the inside and outside of the defensive line. The Kentucky product believes he's versatile enough to play either spot.
"Just being able to play inside and outside, when it gets to situations playing outside and down situations, coming inside and rushing the passer," Paschal remarked. "I just feel like that's my game, being able to play both."
