New Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has a lot of leftover messes to clean up. Among the myriad issues that plagued Detroit’s defense under Matt Patricia was just how awful the Lions were at stopping passes to running backs.
In fact, no team was worse at preventing big plays in the passing game to opposing running backs in 2020. Per Inside Edge, the Lions allowed 11 receptions of 20 yards or more to opposing RBs. No other team hit double figures.
Against the Bills, the Lions looked much more aware and organized when Buffalo threw to the RBs. Granted that Buffalo isn’t a team that relies heavily on the running backs in the passing game, but Detroit’s defense contained nicely.
Buffalo completed all seven pass attempts targeting their RBs, but the Lions quickly snuffed out the receivers as runners. Those seven receptions resulted in just 35 yards, with the longest reception netting only 10 yards. Obviously it should have been better; the Devin Singletary touchdown reception was an ugly lapse in coverage and very reflective of the egregious coverage from a year ago in Detroit. But overall the tackling, the closing burst to the ball and the relative proximity to the RBs in coverage looked much better. The Lions did not miss a single tackle against a Bills running back after a catch.
It’s one small step, and the Lions stubbed a toe making it too, but that’s what the 2021 season is going to be about for Dan Campbell and his Detroit defense. Being the worst defense in the NFL doesn’t get erased overnight. Improving in pass defense against running backs is one subtle area where Glenn’s defense looks better already than what we witnessed a year ago.
