Detroit is attacking from more directions, creating cleaner paths to the quarterback and giving versatile linemen like Lacy more ways to contribute.
The Detroit Lions defensive line is generating buzz through the first weeks of training camp, and the players on the field can feel the difference. Tyler Lacy talked to us about the growth he's seen up front, the pressure packages Detroit is deploying, and what he wants to accomplish during the 2025 season.
The pressure coming off the Lions' defensive line looks different this year. There's more urgency, more speed, and more variety in how Detroit is getting after the quarterback. When asked about the shift, Lacy didn't hesitate.
"I just feel like we're playing a little bit more attacking defense now," he said. "Like everybody's attacking, getting off the ball, and we got a lot of pressure and a lot of slants and stuff coming from different directions. And I feel like that helps us be able to get to the quarterback a little bit quicker."
The combination of slants, stunts, and varied pressure looks is creating confusion for opposing offensive lines and giving Detroit's pass rushers cleaner lanes to the quarterback. The Lions had 11 pressures and two sacks against the Commanders .
Last year, Lacy carved out a role toward the end of training camp and contributed during the season. This year, the workload has expanded. He's getting more reps, more opportunities, and more responsibility within the defensive scheme.
When asked what he's looking to accomplish with that bigger role, he kept it straightforward.
"Just holding the role down and just going out there and giving my team 100%," Lacy said. "Like, I could just do my part and just go out there and play and do my things and have (Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson ) Hutch or (Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill ) Alim out there. They do what they do. I feel like it makes the defense just move a lot easier."
When a rotational piece can hold his own and let Hutchinson and McNeill do their thing without wearing down, the entire defensive line gets better. Depth matters, and this is exactly the type of development the Lions need heading into the regular season. The good thing is that those guys are going to open up a lot of opportunities for guys like Lacy to take advantage of.
Every player has areas to improve, and Lacy was honest about where he needs to get better.
"Just all around, just getting the feel of the game some more, especially in between when I go to 4 out of 5 and then to the 3, just getting a little bit more reps and stuff out of there," he said.
The versatility to move between the four-technique and the five-technique, then slide inside to the three, is valuable in any defense. Getting comfortable with those transitions is the kind of thing that separates a rotational player from a consistent contributor. The fact that he's self-aware enough to identify it is a good sign.
The Lions are building something up front. The pressure is real, the depth is growing, and the mentality is shifting toward a more aggressive approach. Let's see how it translates once the games start counting.
Lacy and I also talked about the FX show Snowfall and how we're both excited for the upcoming spinoff, The Drop. We both agreed that Jerome should have gotten his own show, though.
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This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: The Lions' pass rush looks different this year, and Tyler Lacy just explained to us why
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