I have never seen the Lions be so aggressive with forced turnovers.
This season it appears that the team made this a clear focus. As there seems to be guys taking swings at the balls way more than I can remember. And maybe it is that it is being coached and they are discussing where to hit and how to hit the ball to create a loose ball.
I kind of feel like this is something you can do once you have everyone knowing where they are supposed to be and when they are supposed to be there. In essence the defense and players know their roles and jobs and can now spend time focused more on the little details of each position.
Reminds me of some of those Chicago defenses in the past that really focused on turnovers.
We turned teams over at a high rate over the last half of last season too if I remember correctly (@CuriousHusker ?). We went hyper-aggressive and while it hurt us on the back end, the turnovers and pressure rate spiked and helped us win games. Now we’ve got a much better secondary.
It 100% is being coached. Every team will tell you they work on creating turnovers, but a lot of it is lip service. While we were at the game Sunday we were watching warmup drills. My son played DB for his HS team, so he loves watching the pros do their drills. During the warmups, the Lions run drills where the DB’s are actively trying to punch the ball out. Low and behold, who forces 2 turnovers last game on punchouts? Amik Robertson.
Doing the punch out drills in warmups shows how much of a point of emphasis it is. I love it, because it not only teaches DB’s how to get the ball out, it forces your offense to learn how to cover it up otherwise they are on the wrong side of it. Ball security is absolutely vital to sustaining, or ending drives.
Partly Branch and Robertson are both really good at punch out tackles. Both came in that way.
Branch and Kerby are also both ball hawks and know how to bait a QB into thinking a throw is more open than it is.
It’s a fine detail to know when to secure the tackle versus when to go for the punch out.
If you are in a very close proximity from behind and can punch while wrapping at the same time, it’s a no brainer. If you are too far away and try to punch you may miss the tackle completely.
If coming from the front, if you can wrap with your arms and hit the ball with your helmet that is effective. punching at the ball risks the player cutting back weakside so it kind of depends on where are the field you are. If you are pinching towards the sideline you can adjust your angle to close the space. if you are in the open field, you should probably just wrap up.
Branch is as good of an open field tackler as I’ve seen and he knows exactly when to punch when he has leverage. He plays like a vet at a level many vets never learn how to play.
Anzalone is also pretty good at punch outs when he has leverage. Campbell seems to be pure wrap up at this point.
And your comment about Campbell is a great example of what it looks like on a whole defense. When a guy is struggling a bit to play his position correctly he is not focused on punch outs. But when the player is confident and at ease he is then looking into the next play.
When the whole unit is struggling to get into the proper fits and lanes it is hard to focus on the fine art of the punch out.
AG is looking like a better DC than maybe I thought he was. I am still not sure he is top half of the league but he is looking much better as the talent improves.
Let’s face it, Ben looks amazing but he also has a great Oline, a really smart Qb, and explosive RBs. Not to mention top 10 TE and WR
I think the improved play across the entire secondary is key.
I remember posting months ago that better CB play would lead to tight windows… which ultimately leads to overthrows and INTs.
As @StormGuyNovi and @BearlyThere mentioned… the safeties can also feast on punching the ball out…
because the good CB coverage typically has WRs catching the ball with a CB and the safety near them… so less chance of a missed tackle leading to huge YAC.
The Urlacher/Tillman Bears were great at forcing fumbles on short throws as well… and I think there is some similarity here since those teams were also good at inviting short throws… and then attacked the ball.
coaching is a major reason for it too - we are winning at the margins more these days. route running improving, punch outs, tackling the ball, getting contain, sustaining blocks, WR/downfield blocks, etc…we win with the little things…ST blocking and tackling. beautiful to see. getting far fewer penalties too.
higher level professionalism, attention to detail, presence in the moment and faith…that allows you to have OL & QB as WR, and RB/WR as QB. lol. getting really fun.
I predicted this would happen the first year we got Campbell. Yes…the guy is a GD animal-savage, but he cares a ton and infuses it into the guys. professionalism and detail…winning at the margins.
One thing I see often that makes me a little nutty: defenders who prioritize trying get the ball out over tackling. The thing I love about the fumbles the Lions’ D creates is that they’re leading with getting the ball carrier to the ground. Gang-tackling is a major help there. So the first guy tackles, the second guy punches while helping w/the tackle. Or sometime you see the first guy tackling AND trying to dislodge the ball.
But never a defender trying to rip the ball before making the tackle.
I noticed it in week one, the DBs were selling out a lot more to try and get picks rather than maintaining discipline in coverage. Sometimes it bites them but I believe that overall it’s worked out favorably.