Aidan Hutchinson is about to be set loose.
Lions run game coordinator and defensive line coach Terrell Williams appeared on 97.1 The Ticket’s Costa and Jansen with Heather show Thursday morning, discussing the defensive line with a focus on Hutchinson. Williams noted that Hutchinson has exceeded his expectations based on what he observed from a distance before joining the team. He remarked that Hutchinson is such a skilled rusher that he just needs to be fully unleashed on the quarterback.
After a standout Pro Bowl season last year, where he recorded 11.5 sacks and ranked second in the NFL with 101 total pressures, Hutchinson has impressed in camp and seems ready for a huge season.
Hutchinson mentioned, “Honestly, I think a lot of it comes from our new coach. I think T (Williams) has been great; he just encourages us to go all out. Our main focus is on getting off the ball and striking blocks, and the rest will fall into place.”
He added, “I feel like this approach is very freeing for many D-linemen. Instead of being overly concerned with specific blocks, we’re just going all out. That will lead to a lot of pressure and disruption.”
The performance of the defensive line has been a major highlight of camp so far. The front four, in particular, has consistently created disruption and pressure, showing more stability than in any previous camp under this regime. Hutchinson has been especially dominant, while Alim McNeill has also excelled. Levi Onwuzurike and Marcus Davenport have provided the essential boost on the other side of Hutchinson, which has been crucial for both him and the defense.
All of this has Hutchinson eager for what 2024 could bring, given the effort he’s invested to become one of the most consistently dominant pass rushers over the past two seasons. With 21.0 career sacks, he now holds the record for the most sacks through a player’s first two seasons in team history.
“There’s been a lot of growth in these early years,” Hutchinson said. “This year, I feel like I’ve elevated my game both physically and emotionally. I believe that consistently working on things over time leads to improvement. I’ve watched a lot of film and done a lot of self-scouting; being my own toughest critic has driven me this far.”
