Our Lions training camp preview series has reached the linebackers, and despite returning nearly their entire room, there’s still potential movement in player roles.
With just over a week before the Detroit Lions open their 2024 training camp, we continue to roll out our preview series and have made our way to the off-the-ball linebackers. After returning their top five linebackers from last season, there was little outside movement for this group but there is still plenty to discuss regarding roles.
Previous training camp previews:
- QB: Who will win the backup job?
- RB: Sione Vaki transforms the RB room
- WR: 3 big questions
- TE: Who will win the TE3 job?
- OL: Sorting through depth roles
- IDL: Depth roles up for grabs
- EDGE: Who is ready to step up opposite Aidan Hutchinson?
Setting the table
As mentioned in the opening, the Lions were able to retain their top five linebackers this offseason, as Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez remained under contract, and Jalen Reeves-Maybin signed a two-year deal to return to Detroit.
Anthony Pittman was the Lions’ sixth linebacker and four-phase special teamer for the past three years but opted to sign with the Commanders this offseason. The Lions didn’t sign a replacement in the pre-draft free agency period, nor did they draft one, but they did sign two undrafted rookies: Steele Chambers and DaRon Gilbert. The Lions would release Chambers during the final week of OTAs and signed veteran special teamer Ben Niemann to his spot on the roster.
Roster construction
Over the last three seasons, the Lions have kept six linebackers on the active roster. In 2021 and 2022, the Lions typically leaned on just three of those linebackers to fill roles on defense with the other three primarily being special teamers.
In 2023, the Lions expanded the amount of linebackers they deployed, some of it being out of necessity but also because there was a sharp increase in production. As many as five different linebackers would occupy different roles on defense while also filling special teams roles, and no surprise, it was the same five linebackers who returned from last season.
Understanding the Lions’ LB roles
The Lions’ defensive base is a 4-2-5 scheme, which means four defensive linemen, two off-the-ball linebackers, and five defensive backs. Detroit prefers to adapt its scheme to their opponent, so they will modify the scheme and players’ roles depending on the team they face.
The two base linebackers are called the MIKE and WILL and both will typically line up inside the tackle box. The MIKE (which is typically a bigger linebacker) is on the front side (typically the side of the formation the tight end lines up on) and is used as a hammer against the run. While the WILL lines up on the backside and uses speed/instincts to chase the play.
In 2023, Anzalone was the starting WILL, while Campbell and Barnes split the MIKE linebacker role. Amongst the reserves, Reeves-Maybin typically saw time at WILL but was used at the MIKE in certain coverage packages (ex: final series of divisional playoff game vs. Bucs), while Rodriguez backed up both WILL and MIKE in more traditional sets (ex: role in NFC Championship game after Barnes injury).
There is a third linebacker role called the SAM, but it does not operate like a traditional SAM in a 4-3 scheme. In Detroit, the SAM is not a starting role and is deployed outside the tackle box, typically on the line of scrimmage. SAM responsibilities include rushing the passer, overloading the box in certain running situations, and dropping into coverage.
Because of injuries to edge rushers who operated in the SAM role—namely James Houston and Julian Okwara—the Lions leaned on their linebackers to fill the gaps, specifically Campbell and Barnes.
The battleground
With so many linebackers returning, there’s an expectation that many of the players’ roles will remain the same, but if we look at how things played out during OTA/Minicamp, there could be a bit of a shake-up with the starters, SAM usage, and the number of players kept on the active roster.
Starting MIKE: Campbell vs. Barnes
Campbell is the Lions’ MIKE of the future. That’s been made clear since they drafted him in the first round in 2023, but he wasn’t producing enough as a rookie to overtake Barnes—who took major strides in 2023—for the MIKE starter job.
Barnes is arguably the Lions’ best run-defending linebacker, which got him significant playing time at the MIKE. But he is also the only linebacker capable of playing all three linebacker roles at a high level, which gives the Lions flexibility to move him around and get others on the field.
In spring OTA/Minicamp, Anzalone got some time off, which led to Rodriguez and Barnes filling in for him at the WILL—Barnes also got snaps at SAM—and Campbell taking the starting MIKE reps. While this could be a sign of things to come, it could also simply be a way of getting Campbell more reps at MIKE.
With Campbell’s rare physical traits and mental makeup, he seems destined to be the starting MIKE sooner than later, but when he ascends to the next step will likely come down to when he takes his processing skills up a level. According to linebacker’s coach Kelvin Sheppard, Campbell has taken a few more steps down his developmental path this spring.
“He’s exceeded my expectations which were already high,” Sheppard said of Campbell at minicamp. “But he’s come back further along than where I expected because you don’t have meetings during the gap from the last game to now. And really, those guys with the length of the season—him coming off a rookie campaign and all that stuff—typically you see those guys take a chunk of time off and come in kinda still raw, but this player you could tell dove right back into even-toed and took minimal time off.”
If Campbell isn’t ready, the Lions can feel comfortable in the fact that Barnes is. The Lions’ defensive ideology is to stop the run first, then progress to other aspects of defending, and right now, Barnes gives them the best opportunity to do that. That being said, because of Barnes’ positional flexibility, if Campbell is playing at an equal level, it may be in the best interest of the Lions to put Campbell at the MIKE and shift Barnes to other roles, therefore getting their best players on the field, rather than just the best player at a specific spot.
Will Campbell/Barnes still be used at SAM?
While the SAM role is primarily a pass rushing role, the Lions do want their SAM to be able to drop into coverage, and right now, it’s unclear if any of their edge players—namely James Houston, Mathieu Betts, and Mitchell Agude—are capable of doing that.
Therefore, if Campbell is ready at the MIKE, we could certainly see Barnes at the SAM. And if Campbell is not ready, the Lions may keep giving him snaps at the SAM to increase his game experience, as they did last season.
In the end, the Lions may not have a true SAM in 2024, but instead a collection of players who can all fill the role situationally.
Will the new special teams rules impact the number of linebackers kept?
As we discussed in our running backs preview, the new kickoff rules will likely have an impact on roster construction. In previous seasons, the Lions have kept six linebackers for special teams purposes, but with the rule change, there will likely be a preference for keeping more defensive backs and fewer linebackers.
“It’s become more of a short area play,” Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp explained. “You got a guy lined up 5 yards across from you—you might settle a little bit and make it 7—but you’re trying to beat a guy in a 7-yard space. And so, I think it is a little bit more quickness-oriented, both in the coverage game and the return game. I think guys’ abilities to flip their hips—kind of similar to the secondary-type guys—flip their hips, match guys in the return game is going to be important.”
If the Lions reduce their linebacker presence to just five, it figures to be the five they retained from last season. Anzalone, Campbell, and Barnes are sorting out starter roles, while Reeves-Maybin (special teams captain) and Rodriguez are weapons on special teams.
If the Lions do keep a sixth, the Lions do have two intriguing options. Niemann is the most experienced and has stuck around in the league because of his special teams abilities, but he will be transitioning to the new rules. On the surface, it appears Gilbert may have a more challenging road—no surprise for a UDFA—but as a former safety, his skill set may be best suited to adapt to the new rules.
The Lions have understandably been keeping their special teams plans under wraps, but as training camp plays out, we will likely get a better understanding of what their plans may be for the linebacker room.
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