The Detroit Lions are switching to a base 4-man defensive front from last year’s 3-man look. Earlier this offseason, head coach Dan Campbell explained that the switch was being made in part to fit the personnel on hand better. One of those players it should suit better is second-year defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike.
Currently projected to split a tackle role with veteran Michael Brockers, Onwuzurike is moving more inside and adapting to a role that’s similar to the way he played in college at Washington. The hope is it will jumpstart Onwuzurike’s development after an underwhelming rookie season. That’s certainly the hope for Campbell.
“You don’t make any greater jumps than you do from (year) one to two,” Campbell told reporters on Thursday. “That is the greatest jump that most guys make. It doesn’t mean you don’t continue to grow. So we’re expecting him to take a leap forward, you know?”
