When Jim Schwartz was the head coach and Gunther Cunningham the defensive coordinator of the Lions, the team did not blitz that frequently.
That’s expected to change this season as Teryl Austin has taken over the reins on defense and word out of Detroit is that things will be changing on that front. Austin is expected to call more blitzes, an alteration that will lead the Lions to identify players capable of getting after the quarterback. Coach Jim Caldwell said defensive end Ziggy Ansah should be part of the answer, but that the team will be looking for more help in that area.
“Now we also need trying to find maybe a little bit different flavor in that regard, trying to find maybe another guy that can do it,” Caldwell said, via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. “He may be in our program right now, in our organization. We have to see how he fits within our scheme, but obviously, anybody can use a flamethrower, and sometimes you find one here or there.”
Outside linebacker would seem to be a prime spot to install a flamethrower and Meinke finds the team lacking in in-house candidates for the role. UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr could be a possibility with the 10th overall pick in the draft if Caldwell’s own read on the talent on hand leaves him with the same conclusion.