Lions' Defense Thrived When Blitzing in 2022
Opposing quarterbacks struggled significantly when the Detroit Lions' defense blitzed last season.
The team was able to get home and other signal-callers were forced into making increasingly dangerous throws into coverage, when the pressure was dialed up.
Opponent's passer ratings when blitzed was 77.4, second only to the New Orleans Saints (72.3).
According to the team website, "This is an important statistic for two reasons. One, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn blitzed the sixth highest percentage in the NFL last season. If that's going to be part of the defensive repertoire, they need to be good at it. Two, when teams blitz to generate pressure, they leave vulnerabilities in the back seven of their defense, so they better get home more often than not or really affect the quarterback."
Detroit only gave up six touchdowns, while securing six interceptions and 15 sacks when Glenn dialed up a blitz.
Outside linebackers coach David Corrao expressed the defense wants to be violent and take advantage of the aggressive nature of their defensive linemen.
"What do we do on defense to create an advantage for ourselves? Well, our speed, our violence, our aggressiveness, our ability to put the offense back on their heels. That's the only advantage we have," Corrao said on the Lions team podcast. "We don't get a rules advantage, right? You can't touch a receiver past five yards. So, how do you disrupt the receiver once he gets past five yards? Pressure the quarterback. And all those things have to be married together for us to take advantage. And it starts with speed, violence, aggressiveness, pursuit to the ball. You know, that type of stuff."
