Detroit Lions camp preview: How will Anzalone's departure impact LB rotations?
Allen Park — This is Jack Campbell’s defense.
It’s a phrase we’ve heard Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard utter more than once. And after Campbell earned first-team All-Pro honors in his third full season, who is going to argue?
Appearing in all 51 games since the Lions surprised outside observers by taking Campbell No. 18 overall in the 2023 draft, the linebacker delivered 176 tackles, 5.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and four pass defenses last season.
How rare is that type of production? Since the league started tracking tackles in 1987, only three players have recorded 170 stops, 5.0 sacks and three forced fumbles, and none since 1991.
Campbell also completed his second season wearing the green dot, putting him in charge of communication with the sideline, relaying the call and getting the defense aligned. Additionally, Sheppard entrusted the middle linebacker with the ability to adjust play calls to match offensive alignments.
So, yeah, it’s Campbell’s defense.
But, for the past three seasons, he wasn’t doing it alone. Campbell took the reins from five-time captain Alex Anzalone and continued to work in concert with the veteran leader.
Detroit opted to move on from Anzalone this offseason, letting him walk in free agency. It was both a financial decision and a concentrated effort to get younger, across the roster.
Replacing Anzalone’s production and leadership is the biggest question facing Detroit’s linebackers heading into training camp. Let’s explore that and some of the other areas worth focusing on with the corps ahead of the start of training camp.