One of the more interesting free agency decisions for the Detroit Lions is what they choose to do with linebacker Alex Anzalone. In his one season in Detroit, the off-ball LB had an up-and-down campaign but added value as a leader and a teacher of coordinator Aaron Glenn’s defense and mentality, coming with the DC and head coach Dan Campbell from the New Orleans Saints.
After the Lions parted ways with Jamie Collins following Week 2, Anzalone’s coverage and run defense in space improved. He still struggled in games against teams with good play-action passing games (Cleveland, Denver, Minnesota), but the open-field speed and intensity made him a largely effective off-ball backer in Glenn’s defense.
