Alim McNeill Committed to Playing More Snaps in 2023

Detroit Lions interior defensive lineman Alim McNeill has undergone physical transformation.

Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill is committed to playing more snaps in his third season as a pro. And, the 2021 third-round pick of Detroit has taken steps toward achieving just that.

Most noticeably, the N.C. State product is 22 pounds lighter than he was a season ago.

"Last time I was at a podium, I was at about 327 (pounds). I’m 305 now,” McNeill told reporters Monday, on Day 2 of training camp. “I feel a lot better. A lot lighter and faster on the field. And, I still have the same strength, so I feel really good.

“Yeah, yeah. Absolutely (stamina is better). Being able to play more snaps -- that was really the goal. Being able to be more consistent, playing more snaps on the field. All of that goes into that.”

The 6-foot-2, 330-pound lineman is coming off a campaign in which he recorded a career-best 41 total tackles, including six for loss. He also notched a career-high seven quarterback hits.

He produced all of the above numbers while logging 782 total snaps, an increase of 300-plus snaps from his inaugural NFL season. McNeill totaled 422 snaps in year No. 1. 

Despite the jump in productivity for McNeill from year No. 1 to year No. 2, he feels like he experienced an uneven season in 2022. 

“I did feel like I was somewhat getting there,” McNeill expressed. “I didn’t -- last year was up and down for me. I didn’t personally like it. But, I didn’t dislike it. This year, I’m looking to be able to be who I want to be on the field. And be able to show everybody what I can really do.”

Arguably McNeill's best game as a pro came in Week 11 of last season, against the N.Y. Giants. In the aforementioned contest, the interior D-lineman compiled a career-best three tackles for loss and three QB hits, en route to amassing his lone sack on the year. He also -- per Pro Football Focus -- recorded a staggering 10 pressures of Giants signal-caller Daniel Jones, helping McNeill earn PFF Defensive Player of the Week honors.  

Throughout the Week 11 tilt, he showcased a knack for getting after the quarterback, something he hasn't consistently shown in his NFL career up to this point. If he can start doing so more frequently, he'll be able to take his game to the next level, and will subsequently be on the field a lot more often in 2023.

McNeill also wants to help Detroit's defense boost its level of play this upcoming season. And, in order to do so, the third-year pro believes that he and his defensive counterparts need to create an "identity" for themselves.

"(I) feel like our mentality is completely different,” McNeill said. “We want to be able to create an identity for ourselves, just like a lot of defenses in the past have done in the league. We just want to be able to put on a performance every Sunday of, this is who we are. We’re coming to play every Sunday.

“I would say, what we (have) been talking about lately is being violent. Being violent. Relentless. Those are our two words right now. We’re just going to keep building on that, as it goes. Violence and being relentless. That’s what we’re banking on right now.”