Detroit Lions defensive again Brian Department had a stellar rookie season, however the crew has even greater plans for the 22-year-old defender shifting ahead.
Many have questioned if the truth that the Lions haven’t gone out and signed a security in free company was an indication that they have been making ready to play Department—who was nearly completely a nickel cornerback final season—at security extra going ahead. Whereas coach Dan Campbell mentioned they’re nonetheless searching for extra security assist, he more-or-less admitted that was the observe Department is on.
“Department has bought flexibility to have the ability to play the security place, we imagine, right here in time,” Campbell mentioned. “And we already really feel very assured in regards to the nickel. He’ll solely get higher and higher. It’s actually, we do imagine he’ll have the ability to get there, it’s how briskly do you get him there.”
Final 12 months, Department modified their whole plans within the secondary with how effectively he was taking part in in coaching camp. C.J. Gardner-Johnson entered camp because the beginning nickel, with Kerby Joseph and Tracy Walker heading up the security spots. However Department was so dominant at nickel with the second-team protection that he compelled Gardner-Johnson again to security and Walker to the bench.
The Lions can’t assist however see the similarities between Department and Gardner-Johnson. It’s clear they need Department on the same profession arc, the place he may be the versatile piece that Gardner-Johnson has been since getting into the league first as a nickel nook.
“Ducey was the identical manner once we bought him in New Orleans,” Campbell mentioned. “It was, ‘Man, is he a security (or) nickel?’ After we simply let him play nickel, he simply actually exploded. Now you see, right here he’s later in his profession and he can actually do each. He actually grew in each areas. It’s only a matter of how briskly he can get there.”
The Lions gained’t rush the method. They’re thrilled with what Department is doing at nickel proper now, and so they don’t wish to mess with it. Final 12 months, they tried to share a few of his time in follow at security, however scaled again when it proved to be just a little an excessive amount of for a rookie who was nonetheless studying the system. Past that, it’s not totally clear if Detroit has a succesful backup nickel who might take over if/when he drops again to security.
That mentioned, Campbell clearly believes Department is able to taking part in security, and having a full offseason to study the place could be the time to begin including to the younger defensive again’s plate.
“Now he’s been within the system a 12 months. He understands,” Campbell mentioned. “He has bought an entire (new) understanding of the nickel place, which helps. Now, he can begin actually diving into the security (place).”
It’s unclear what that might imply for Detroit’s present beginning safeties: Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu. Would one be pushed off the sphere in sure subpackages? Will the Lions convey again extra three-safety seems to be? That’s all to be decided. However, for now, the Lions appear thrilled in regards to the potential of getting one other versatile piece of their secondary.
