As part of the epic failure that defined the Detroit Lions’ winless season, they struggled to harass opposing quarterbacks.
For the entire 2008 season, the Lions’ defense registered a modest 30 sacks.
With the arrivals of new coach Jim Schwartz and veteran defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, improving the pass rush is a top priority.
And if the Lions’ defense fails this year, it won’t be because of a lack of aggressiveness.
In an interview with the Lions’ official Web site, Cunningham outlined how a heavy dose of blitz packages will become a hallmark of his defense’s reputation.
“One of the things I’ve always believed in is high blitz,” said Cunningham, as referenced in One-Liners. “Up to 40 percent in a game, which is off the charts for most people. But that’s what I believe in. I think you have to keep the quarterback nervous all the time.”
The Lion are counting heavily on outside linebacker Julian Peterson to improve the pass rush. And the operative plan is to utilize him heavily in the quarters formation of three defensive linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs.
“We can start moving around and get a feel for it and confuse the offensive line,” said Peterson. “We can make them think there’s more people coming than there actually are.”
Last season, Dewayne White led the Lions with six sacks followed by Cliff Avril’s five sacks.
May the Schwartz be with you!
But if your blitzes aren’t very, very good, a good quarterback will pick your defense apart with big plays.
crank up the heat!!!!!!!!!!! I love it…..expect Delmas to have 4 sacks
I wasn’t aware that the UFL had a Detroit team… I’m happy for the good people of Detroit, they deserve at least a semi-professional team.
Triple U
avril was a nice surprise. but… i wouldnt get too excited.
they probly should have blitzed more last year. sure couldnt have hurt.
crank up the heat!!!!!!!!!!! I love it…..expect Delmas to have 4 sacks
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Isn’t Delmas’ whole schtick that he’s a coverage guy? If I’m sending in more defender after the QB, I’d want to keep someone like that back… y’know, unless I like getting beat deep.
That will really help the Lions…..getting rid of their old 5-Mississippi-two-hand-touch rule for rushing the QB.
I’m surprised no one told them they didn’t have to do that sooner.
♪…..Oh, yeah! It was like lightning!
♪ Everybody was frightening!
♪ And the music was soothing!
♪ And they all started grooving!
♪ Yeah! yeah! yeah! yeah! yeah!
♪ And the man at the back said everyone attack
♪ And it turned into a ballroom blitz!
♪ And the girl in the corner said “Boy, I wanna warn ya, it’ll turn into a ballroom blitz!”
♪ Ballroom blitz! Ballroom blitz! Ballroom blitz! Ballroom blitz…….
Couple years ago the big story was the Packers were going to start blitzing more…then they got burned and quit. Everyone talks about blitzing more in the preseason.
I think Delmas is going to be a factor in coverage and blitzing, whether it be on running downs or passing situations….I mean it works out well for Troy Polamalu and the Steelers to keep teams worrying CONSTANTLY on where he is on the field………the constant word associated with Delmas is VERSATILITY……which means he is capable of multi tasking on the field…..
September 13, Game 1, Drew Brees will throw for 3 TD’s and the Detroit Blitz Package will be put back in the filing cabinet where it belongs. And the Detroit defense will have ZERO sacks.
Gunther Cunningham hasn’t run a successful defense since Derrick Thomas was still playing.
I’ll have to watch a couple of Detroit games this year. It’s not often you see a draw play go for a TD two, three times a game. Once again, take the team playing Detroit and give the points. And bet the over. Are you sure Matt Millen is really gone?
Gunther may not have, but Schwartz has… and I think that the good chemistry between them will create a solid defense this year and with more turnover next year, the Lion’s will have a top 10 defense.
I hope he doesn’t waste the talent on the defensive side of things.
I’m cranking up the blitz too. I think I might have almost as many in the NFL by season’s end as the Lions.
Pressure on the quaterback? Didn’t the Chiefs have like five sacks last season? Weren’t the Chiefs one the worst defenses this past decade, half of which Cunningham was in charge of?