Za’Darius Smith, the Detroit Lions’ newly acquired defensive end, is expected to make his debut in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. After sitting out the previous week, Smith will join the team as the Lions return to Ford Field following two consecutive road games. Head coach Dan Campbell emphasized that the focus for Smith’s first game isn’t on his individual stats but on him fulfilling his role within the team’s defensive scheme.
Campbell explained that the key evaluation of Smith’s performance will be based on whether he can execute his responsibilities effectively, rather than the number of sacks or pressures he generates. If Smith does his job by helping to push the pocket and allowing other defensive players like Josh Paschal and Alim McNeill to make plays, it will be considered a successful contribution. The Lions are looking for Smith to complement the defensive line, not be the sole catalyst for the pass rush.
Smith, who has five sacks in nine games this season, is expected to play a role that elevates the overall defensive performance without bearing the entire burden of the pass-rush. As such, he may initially have a rotational role, rather than being an every-down player in his first game with the team. Campbell has consistently highlighted that Smith’s addition is meant to strengthen the defense as a whole, adding depth rather than solely focusing on individual production.
The Lions’ offensive line, regarded as one of the NFL’s best, has recently faced more pressure on quarterback Jared Goff. In their Week 9 loss to the Texans, the Lions allowed eight pressures, though they didn’t give up any sacks in the game. Campbell acknowledged that some of the offensive line struggles have been due to the unique defensive schemes faced recently. He emphasized that the issues were technical and correctable.
Additionally, Campbell pointed out that Goff’s recent sacks have sometimes been due to holding onto the ball too long. The Lions are putting a strong emphasis on improving ball security, while also working to refine the offensive line’s technique in order to address these issues. With these adjustments, the team expects to shore up their pass protection moving forward.
On the injury front, the Lions may get offensive tackle Taylor Decker back in action after he participated in Wednesday’s walkthrough. Campbell expressed optimism about Decker’s return, though tight end Sam LaPorta was listed as questionable after missing practice. Decker’s potential return would be a significant boost to the offensive line as the team prepares for their Week
1 matchup.
