The Detroit Lions, like many NFL teams, have had varying degrees of success when facing off against mobile quarterbacks. While this is often seen as a potential vulnerability in their defense, it’s important to understand that struggling against mobile quarterbacks is not unique to the Lions. In fact, it is a challenge that most NFL defenses face, due to the evolving nature of the quarterback position and the increased emphasis on athleticism and dual-threat capabilities. Mobile quarterbacks can change the dynamic of a game in ways that traditional pocket passers cannot.
The Evolution of the Mobile Quarterback
Historically, NFL quarterbacks were expected to be primarily pocket passers, relying on their ability to read defenses, make quick decisions, and deliver the ball with accuracy from within the pocket. However, over the last two decades, the landscape of quarterback play has changed dramatically. As offenses have become more innovative, there has been a significant shift toward incorporating quarterbacks who possess dual-threat abilities – quarterbacks who can not only throw the football but also scramble and run when necessary.
This shift began with players like Michael Vick in the early 2000s, who demonstrated the potential of a quarterback who could both throw and run with equal efficiency. Today, quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, Josh Allen, and Jalen Hurts have become household names in part because of their ability to make plays with their legs. This new breed of quarterback poses unique challenges for defensive coordinators and often forces defenses to adapt to a more dynamic style of play.
Why Mobile Quarterbacks Present Challenges
Mobile quarterbacks are challenging for several reasons. For one, their ability to extend plays with their legs forces defenses to remain disciplined for longer periods. In traditional drop-back passing, the quarterback is typically either in the pocket or on the move, but their mobility is usually confined to a smaller area of the field. Mobile quarterbacks, on the other hand, can escape pressure and turn potential sack situations into long gains.
This movement makes it difficult for defenses to stick to their coverage assignments. In man-to-man coverage, defenders must keep up with their assignments while also being mindful of the quarterback’s potential to break free and run. In zone coverage, defenders must be aware of the quarterback’s ability to break the pocket and force them to abandon their zones, often leading to breakdowns in coverage and big plays.
Another key challenge is the unpredictability that mobile quarterbacks bring. A standard pocket-passing offense can be predictable in some ways; quarterbacks rely on specific routes and timing. Mobile quarterbacks, however, introduce an element of chaos. A quarterback who can extend plays with their legs can create new opportunities for themselves or their receivers to get open, which often results in broken plays that are difficult for defenses to defend against.
The Detroit Lions’ Defensive Approach
The Lions, like many teams, have struggled against mobile quarterbacks in the past. This is particularly evident when looking at their defensive performances against quarterbacks like Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson, and Russell Wilson, who are known for their ability to escape pressure and make plays with their legs.
Under head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, the Lions have focused on building a defense that is aggressive and physical, but they also have recognized the need to adapt to the changing nature of the quarterback position. Their defense often deploys a heavy pass rush to disrupt the quarterback, but against mobile quarterbacks, this strategy can backfire. When defenders overcommit to rushing the passer, they open lanes for a mobile quarterback to escape the pocket and gain yards on the ground.
One area where the Lions have struggled is in their containment of mobile quarterbacks, particularly in the open field. While their defense is solid in terms of stopping the run, mobile quarterbacks present a different kind of threat, as they can make defenders miss in space and turn short gains into long runs. This ability to make defenders miss and break tackles in the open field is what separates mobile quarterbacks from traditional passers.
Furthermore, the Lions have also faced difficulties when it comes to adjusting their coverage schemes to account for a quarterback who can throw and run effectively. For instance, when facing a player like Lamar Jackson, the Lions have had to decide whether to maintain their standard defensive schemes or implement a “spy” technique, where a designated linebacker is tasked with shadowing the quarterback. While the spy technique can help limit a quarterback’s ability to run, it also creates gaps elsewhere in the defense, potentially leading to big passing plays.
The Broader NFL Struggles
While the Lions may struggle against mobile quarterbacks, it’s crucial to note that this is a universal challenge in the NFL. Defending against a quarterback who can both pass and run with equal effectiveness is not something that any team has fully mastered. Teams around the league have seen similar struggles against dual-threat quarterbacks.
Consider the case of the Kansas City Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes, a quarterback who is capable of making plays with his legs in addition to his arm. Even the best defenses in the NFL have had difficulty limiting Mahomes, as his ability to extend plays and throw on the run makes him a dynamic and unpredictable threat. Defenses have to balance the pressure they apply to Mahomes with maintaining coverage discipline, which is easier said than done when dealing with a quarterback who can throw the ball to any part of the field from any platform.
Another example is the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, a quarterback who combines size, strength, and mobility. Allen’s ability to both run through defenders and evade tacklers makes him a nightmare for defenses. Teams have found that while they can pressure him in the pocket, once he escapes, he becomes a lethal weapon with the ball in his hands. As a result, teams must employ complex defensive schemes to try to limit Allen’s impact, but even then, he still finds ways to beat them.
The New Orleans Saints, with their defense built around speed and pressure, have had similar struggles when facing quarterbacks like Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts, both of whom are elusive and capable of turning a broken play into a big gain. The speed and agility that mobile quarterbacks bring to the table force teams to adjust their strategies on the fly, which can lead to missed opportunities and mistakes.
Solutions and Adjustments for the Lions
Given that mobile quarterbacks present a challenge for every team, the Lions’ approach to defending against them needs to focus on discipline and adaptability. The key to slowing down a mobile quarterback is not necessarily to completely shut down their ability to run but to contain it and make them less effective as a result.
One way the Lions could approach this is by maintaining a more disciplined pass rush, ensuring that they don’t overcommit to pressure and allow the quarterback to escape the pocket. Instead of relying solely on edge rushers to get to the quarterback, the Lions could implement a more balanced defensive front, using a combination of inside pressure and containment to force the quarterback to stay within the pocket or take away their running lanes.
Another potential solution would be to rely more on linebacker play. A linebacker who is fast and agile can serve as a spy for a mobile quarterback, tracking their every move and preventing them from getting out into open space. This approach requires a high level of athleticism and football IQ from the linebacker position, but it can be an effective way to neutralize a quarterback’s running ability.
The Lions should also focus on their secondary play. Mobile quarterbacks often rely on improvisation when plays break down, so the secondary needs to remain disciplined and stay with their assignments even when the quarterback is on the move. This requires excellent communication and coverage skills, as well as the ability to recognize when a play is breaking down and adjust accordingly.
