The 2009 Detroit Lions Positional Outlook: Defensive Line

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Over the course of the next week, The 2009 Detroit Lions Positional Outlook will examine the positional changes of the current offseason: how the position has improved or weakened, the current outlook for younger players in the position, and how that position group should fare in the 2009 season.

There was a time, long ago, when defensive linemen all did the same thing. Four guys, slightly bigger than the guys behind them, tried to stop the runner. Then, with the advent of the forward pass and the subsequent removal of power running throughout the NFL, defensive linemen became very specialized.

Case in point: for the 2008 Detroit Lions, the defensive linemen had two jobs. Against the pass, they had to get to the quarterback. Against the run, they had to take on blockers and let the linebackers do the dirty work.

For the 2008 Lions, that didn't work.

Against the pass, they could touch the quarterback. The team ranked 15th in the league with 30 sacks. Five of those sacks came from non-linemen.

Against the run, the line certainly didn't tackle anyone, but they didn't take on blockers either.

Schwartz' system is different. The first change was highlighted yesterday by Jared DeVries. The defensive ends will play wider this year—shaded outside of tackles instead of over them.

This will cause one interior gap to be left slightly open—a no-no in the Tampa Two. Schwartz will cover that strong side gap in a bunch of ways—blitzing, slant blitzing, line stunts, line slants, etc. What the offense thinks will be a nice hole, will be the most dangerous spot on the field.

This scheme will also force runners toward the middle of the field rather than to the outside. Its a high risk high reward defensive plan that has worked for both Schwartz and Cunningham in the past.

Here are the defensive linemen who will be running it.

The Starters

Grady Jackson (6'2", 345): Sixth Round, 1997, Oakland Raiders

Jackson will start games at the "One-Technique" tackle position—shaded between the center and guard. He was signed to make sure 1st and 10 turns into 2nd-and-8 rather than 2nd-and-4.

He's a "starter" because games begin with a first down. I fully expect him to come out of most games after two plays for someone younger and faster. He'll probably average 10-15 plays a game throughout the first half of the season and less after that. Schwartz does not want him on the field unless he is 100 percent fresh.

Jackson was signed to take up blockers. Even at 36, teams will have to double him because he is big and disruptive. However, if he's forced to log heavy minutes, he will falter.

Chuck Darby (6'0", 297): Undrafted FA, 2001, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A holdover from the Marinelli regime, Darby had been signed because of his knowledge of the old scheme. Now, he'll shift and do his best to learn a scheme he's never played. Darby will rotate, starting games at the "three-technique"—shaded between a guard and tackle—moving over when Jackson leaves the game.

At the three, his job will be to become unblockable. If teams are forced to double the three technique, things get messy. Linebackers start flying into the backfield and defensive ends start coming around the edge.

Darby knows that his days are slightly numbered. At 33, he's got little time left as a full time player. This year will be his to prove to Lions' brass they only need to add one defensive tackle next offseason instead of two.

Dewayne White (6'2", 273) Second Round, 2003, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Another holdover, White will be playing outside of the Tampa Two for the first time in his career. As a defensive end though, his job won't be terribly new, just a little different.

Under Marinelli, the DE would line up over or shaded slightly to the outside of the offensive tackle. The job was to collapse the pocket or the running lane. Now, things could get interesting.

White will be asked to stunt more, going through an interior gap while a linebacker blitzes the outside. White will be asked to give up statistics—voluntarily influencing a tackle further outside so a linebacker can take advantage.

Most importantly, against the run, White will be responsible for contain—never letting the running back outside of him. In a perfect world, White would make the tackle on every outside run or force the running back to cut back into a linebacker.

On passing downs, White may find himself playing defensive tackle if Kevin Carter is not signed.

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