The Lions have overhauled their linebacker group this offseason through free agency and the draft, adding players with speed and versatility. These new additions will allow Detroit to use these athletes in different roles and schemes during the 2017 season.

Overview

In 2016, the Lions began the season with five linebackers. If they keep the same format, the five most likely candidates to make the Lions 53-man roster are: Jarrad Davis, Tahir Whitehead, Antwione Williams, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Paul Worrilow.

Last season, the linebacker group was limited due to injuries, lack of experience and limited range. While experience may still be an issue, the upgraded 2017 linebackers have more positional versatility and athleticism, which is a significant step to correcting the 2016 issues.

Because of these traits, when the Lions alter defensive sets, their player roles can alter as well, which will allow the Lions to keep the best players on the field, in situations in which they can be successful.

The Lions utilize a base 43 scheme (four defensive lineman and three linebackers), but with the evolution of offenses passing attacks, this defensive formation is being utilized less frequently. In fact, the Lions only ran a base 43 defense approximately 25% of their snaps, operating in sub-package sets (nickel and dime) the majority of the time.

By looking at the five most common defensive sets the Lions ran in 2016, we can project how they Lions may utilize their linebackers in the upcoming season.

Base 43 defense

As noted earlier, this defensive set is being utilized less every season, only accounting for approximately 25% of the Lions snaps. Based on players’ skill, the picture illustrates how I believe the Lions will deploy their linebackers in a 43 set.

The most notable changes from last season are Jarrad Davis taking over the MIKE (middle) linebacker position, and Tahir Whitehead being pushed to an outside linebacker role. As Lions Wire’s own Scott Bischoff points out in his analysis of the Lions first round pick: “Davis is a tone-setting hitter and his ability to make plays will elevate the plays of those around him.”

With three linebackers on the field, Whitehead will move to SAM (strong side) linebacker where he can blitz the edge and disrupt the tight end.

I believe second year linebacker Antwione Williams will operate as the Will (weak side) linebacker in this set, where he will be allowed to run blitz and drop into a zone and use his range to cover space. He will be challenged for snaps by fourth round pick Jalen Reeves-Maybin and newly acquired free agent Paul Worrilow.

Nickel defense

The Lions utilized traditional nickel and dime base sets approximately 40% of their snaps, adding defensive backs to the field and replacing linebackers.

In the Nickel set in the pictured above, the offense has added a third wide receiver (often referred to as 11 personnel because it has 1 running back and 1 tight end) to the set and the Lions have adjusted by replacing their SAM linebacker with a nickel corner.

With only two linebackers on the field, Whitehead shifts to WILL linebacker ahead of Williams because of his experience and a slight adjustment to the Will’s responsibilities.

Big Nickel defense

This variation of a nickel defense was implemented frequently last season (approximately 35% of snaps), due to lack of linebacker depth and the emergence of Miles Killebrew.

In the picture above, the offense is in 12 personnel (1 running back, 2 tight ends), and the Lions nickel defense has adjusted by replacing their nickel corner with a bigger coverage defender. Last season, Rafael Bush and Miles Killebrew split time in this role. The other two linebacker roles (MIKE and WILL) stay the same in both nickel set variations.

With no Bush on the roster, I expect Killebrew to see the majority of the vacated 501 snaps. This will also create an opportunity for Reeves-Maybin to step into Killebrews role last year (149 snaps) as a third down sub-package defender.

Dime defense

As noted earlier, the Lions spend approximately 40% of their time in traditional sub-package (nickel and dime) sets. In this scenario, the offense has four wide receiver available and the Lions have countered with four corners, leaving one linebacker on the field.

With only one linebacker, Jarrad Davis is the player that will most likely be relied upon to hold down the middle of the field.

The only significant change to positional depth is Reeves-Maybin would likely be the second option if Davis is unavailable. This is because Reeves-Maybin offers more range and coverage skills than Whitehead and Worrilow.

Big Dime defense

This is another formation to counter an offense in 11 personnel, where the defense may want more speed than they would traditionally get in a nickel set.

Like in the dime set, the MIKE is the only linebacker on the field. It is slightly different than traditional nickel sets, in that it removes the WILL and replaces the position with a safety (Killebrew) or nickel linebacker (Reeves-Maybin).

This is a defense that can be used in third and short situations when the offense spreads the field but running the ball is still an option. This type of situation where having players with range and tackling skills (like Killebrew and Reeves-Maybin) become very valuable.

Summary

The Lions linebackers have the potential to be one of, if not the, most improved position group on the team.

Jarrad Davis is a day one starter at the MIKE and should be on the field in almost every situation. Tahir Whitehead, will move back outside where he has been more successful in the past. He seems primed to have a bounce back year in a smaller role, where he limitations won’t be so exposed and he can utilize the skills he’s best at.

Antwione Williams flashed in limited duties last year at the WILL and he should challenge Whitehead for snaps in sub-package sets there as he gains more experience. Jalen Reeves-Maybin is in a very similar situation to Miles Killebrew last year and I expect this years fourth round pick to mirror last years fourth round pick in his development.

Paul Worrilow is the wildcard here, as I am not comfortable with what I’ve seen from him to believe he is anything more than depth at this point. It’s possible he earns a starting role, like he had in Atlanta, but my expectations are that he finds success on special teams rather than defense.

Steve Longa, Thurston Armbrister, Nick Bellore and Brandon Chubb will be fighting for a sixth linebacker spot, but with Miles Killebrew in the mix as a hybrid defender, the Lions may opt to use that roster spot at another position.