Detroit Lions Free Agency: The Case for Tennessee Titans LB Stephen Tulloch
The most likely linebacker for the Lions to target in the upcoming free agency is Stephen Tulloch.
Like Kyle Vanden Bosch, he played under Lions head coach Jim Schwartz when he was the defensive coordinator for the Titans. Despite having a breakout season in 2010, he is not one of the "big name" linebackers.
This is partly due to not playing for a big market franchise like the New York Jets or Minnesota Vikings. There is also a question that a lot of his tackles come from sub-par defensive line play.
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The Titans are infamous for not giving out big contracts to players and coaches, and this will conspire to force Tulloch out of the Music City.
Tulloch will also want to go to Detroit. The main reason is the presence of Schwartz. He is a favourite of defensive players, especially those who have played under him. Schwartz also wants linebackers who have played every linebacker position, and Tulloch has fulfilled that requirement.
Schwartz will know all about Tulloch's work habits and performance, so if they do go after him it will be because they know that he will be good for the team.
The Lions defense is also based on the Titans defense of Schwartz that Tulloch played in, so Tulloch will be able to understand the defense and perform immediately. There would be very little chance of his signing not being a success.
Tulloch would be a very valuable signing because he can play both middle and outside linebacker. Although he is short for the position at only 5'11", he weighs in at 240 lbs. Despite being only 26, he has played five seasons in the NFL, starting for the last three.
Although he ran a slow 40-yard dash time at the Combine, he plays as fast as anyone at his position. He has very quick feet which gives him great acceleration and quick adjustment to a change of direction. He is very aggressive, and has a nose for the ball.
He also is a very sure tackler who does not crush ball carriers, but rarely misses at the line of scrimmage or in the open field.
He is very aggressive despite his lack of height, and can play zone coverage very well because of his great instincts. Being short, he can slip past or under blockers, and when linemen get his hands on him, he has enough technique and strength to get off them.
His weakness is in man coverage, which is why he would be better suited to middle linebacker. He is not fast enough to keep stride for stride with explosive playmakers.
In 2010, Tulloch was second in the league with 160 tackles. Over his career, in 45 starts, he has recorded 457 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and defended 11 passes.
Tulloch would be a great addition to the Lions for three reasons.
The first is his leadership. The veterans on the Lions defense, with the exception of KVB, are reserved players not known for passionate outbursts or motivational words and actions.
On the other hand, Tulloch's game is built around passion and emotion. He has been the heart and soul of every defense he has played for, and this passion for the game from a veteran would improve every young man on the defense. His veteran leadership would also be valuable for a young corps of linebackers.
Secondly, by playing Tulloch in the middle, DeAndre Levy would be able to move to weakside linebacker, which better suits his play style and skills. Levy is not a physical player, but does play well in coverage and tackle surely in the open field. This move would unlock the full potential of our current star linebacker, and effectively replace the aging Julian Peterson.
Thirdly, Tulloch is a more physical player than Levy. This is important in the run game, where levy has been out muscled and lost when having to deal with blocks from fullbacks and interior linemen moving on to the second level.
Tulloch's extra weight, strength and aggressive personality make him far more adept at doing the grunt work required from a middle linebacker. His tackling at the line of scrimmage when surrounded by blockers is also superior to Levy's.
In closing, Tulloch would improve the run defense of the Lions immensely, while freeing Levy to be a playmaker in the mould of Derrick Brooks. His leadership would also make him a valuable mentor and leader in the Lions huddle.
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This is the final article in this series on the Lions upcoming free agency. For more articles in this series, go to:
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