Aidan Hutchinson has been solid in his first five NFL games, but the Detroit Lions didn’t spend the No. 2 overall pick to simply get a good player. They need a difference-maker, something Hutchinson has only flashed occasionally in the earlygoing. That could change thanks to a tweak in his usage and deployment.
Hutchinson has been working more with the linebackers and LBs coach Kelvin Sheppard during the bye week and lead-up to the Week 7 trip to Dallas. Sheppard confirmed that Hutchinson is spending more time in a 2-point stance and standing up in a more traditional rush-OLB role than the 3-point stance and tighter informational DE role the rookie has been playing.
It’s a smart move for the Lions. Hutchinson was at his best at Michigan when playing more outside the tackles and standing up ready to attack. It won’t be a full-time switch, Sheppard noted, but it’s something to help make Hutchinson more impactful and opposing offenses less comfortable.
