Lions Film Review: Schematic, Personnel Changes Pay Dividends
The Detroit Lions' defense had been maligned for its performance in recent weeks.
Since the bye week, production has tailed off, and particularly in the secondary. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has done some shuffling as a result, which was on full display against the Denver Broncos in Week 15.
The Lions made a change last week, inserting Ifeatu Melifonwu into the starting lineup next to Kerby Joseph at safety. Another change came this week, as Khalil Dorsey made his first start of the season at cornerback ahead of Jerry Jacobs.
The personnel changes weren't the only different aspects of Detroit's defense in Saturday's game. Glenn utilized various blitzes, in an effort to generate pressure outside of the team's pass-rush.
Here's a look at the impact that Detroit's personnel and schematic changes had in the 42-17 triumph over the Broncos.
Testing Dorsey
The Lions were burnt for a 40-yard gain on their first defensive play from scrimmage, as an RPO fooled the middle of the defense. After a jet sweep put Denver at Detroit's 20-yard line, two plays turned the tide of the action.
The first comes as the Broncos are targeting Dorsey. Making his first defensive start, Dorsey had seen mostly special teams action prior to Saturday's game. In fact, he had logged just 11 defensive snaps this season ahead of Week 15.
On this particular play, Denver lines up in a quad set to the left, aiming to create an advantage. Detroit counters by sending Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph out to help, but the Broncos still out-number them four to three.
However, Dorsey's instincts make the difference here. On the snap, he attacks the outside shoulder of tight end Adam Trautman. His quickness off the snap makes him unblocked, and he blows up the play as a result.
Traditionally, the blockers on a screen pass like this are trained to block the most dangerous defender. Dorsey being outside leaves him vulnerable to running past the play.
However, the defender does a nice job of breaking down in the open field and breaking up the pass.
Blitzes
On the very next play, we get our first glimpse of Glenn's blitz package in Saturday's game. Ifeatu Melifonwu was one of the game's biggest stars, and he makes his biggest impact on this snap.
After the game, Melifonwu told reporters that the Lions had repped this specific blitz against the scout team, plus on the exact play Denver calls in this situation. That's a credit to the defensive staff's preparation in what was, by all accounts, a strong week of practice.
Melifonwu comes free off the edge after lining up in the box. Because Russell Wilson is executing a play-action fake to his right, he doesn't see Melifonwu racing unblocked to his left.
As Wilson boots around, Melifonwu is already closing in. The third-year defensive back jars the ball loose, and Isaiah Buggs recovers the fumble, taking the return into Broncos territory.
Dorsey wasn't the only player to see increased reps at cornerback. Kindle Vildor also played a role in Saturday's win.
The Lions like Vildor's veteran experience, signing him to the active roster prior to last week's game against Chicago. Though he didn't start, he played 18 snaps, and recorded a pressure. He did not allow a completion, and was targeted just once.
Glenn utilized Vildor in the second quarter to send pressure from Wilson's blind side. He does a good job disguising the said blitz, lining up in press coverage and waiting until the ball is snapped to attack.
Because he's coming off the blind side, Vildor has a clear path to the quarterback. Kerby Joseph is able to pick up Vildor's assignment, and Wilson doesn't see the rusher until he's nearly sacked.
The Lions also experimented with different looks in their blitz packages. On this second-quarter snap, Melifonwu disguises his rush by remaining deep in the secondary until the ball is snapped.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin plays a role in this, as he sets up his blocker. Because Denver's left guard is occupied with Reeves-Maybin, the rush lane for Melifonwu is wide open.
Additionally, Paschal angles left, which forces his blocker to do the same. With the running back vacating pass protection, Melifonwu has nothing but space between himself and Wilson.
With the defender bearing down, Wilson scrambles to his right to try and extend the play. However, he ends up throwing the ball off target, and the Broncos are forced to punt.
Filling run lanes
Melifonwu has been in and out of the lineup with injuries since entering the league in 2021. Additionally, he's switched from corner to safety. Given his injury history, it's been difficult for him to accumulate game experience.
On this particular play, Melifonwu lines up as the box safety. He has the right build to play such a role, but success at the position is determined by an ability to adequately read keys and diagnose plays. Without a plethora of game reps, there's always a chance that errors emerge.
However, Melifonwu does a good job of diagnosing the play here. His play-side tackle blocks down, leaving a gap for the defender to rush through. Because the Broncos are zone blocking to the left, they're banking on Melifonwu not chasing the play down.
With these inside zone runs, there is typically a cut-back lane for running backs when the play is blocked correctly. The Lions do a nice job of closing that, however, as Melifonwu meets Javonte Williams in the backfield and makes a nice tackle.
Winning on the interior
One core area that Aaron Glenn and Dan Campbell have viewed as essential throughout the season is the ability to win one-on-one matchups.
Regardless of position, players are expected to win in situations where they have a single matchup. Some of the issues defensively can be attributed to lapses in this element.
On Saturday, there were multiple encouraging moments with regards to the Lions winning individual matchups. Josh Paschal, in particular, came through with a sack in the second quarter.
Paschal has popped in recent weeks working as a run defender, but this development as a pass-rusher is all the more encouraging. On his sack, he lines up outside of Denver's left guard yet manages to beat his blocker to the inside.
This pre-snap quickness is impressive and could be a factor in revitalizing Detroit's pass rush.
These individual victories didn't just happen on passing downs, though. Detroit's front four helped limit Denver to just three yards per carry.
The Broncos have a trio of dangerous running backs, but the Lions were able to neutralize their impact. The Lions anticipate run on this play, utilizing both Benito Jones and Isaiah Buggs on the interior.
Josh Paschal is lined up inside, leaving Brian Branch to be responsible for setting the edge. Branch does a good job of establishing outside contain, and the Lions' front seven gives Javonte Williams nowhere to go.
Williams is able to make Branch miss, but the Lions have multiple reinforcements already at the point of attack.
