When Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn began picking through the rubble of the Lions' old defense, they weren't sure what to make of an outside linebacker who spent most of the prior two seasons on the practice squad.
Anthony Pittman?
"It was like, ‘Who is this guy?’" Campbell said Wednesday. "We’re trying to figure out what to do with him, what did he play. We’re watching some of the practice film from last year, and you look at his dimensions and we listened to some of the coaches that were here, and AG’s like, ‘This guy sounds like he should be inside and not an outside linebacker.’"
Matt Patricia felt otherwise. The defensive mastermind shifted Pittman from inside linebacker to outside after the Lions signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Wayne State in 2019. Patricia wanted Pittman to work off the edge. Pittman did as he was asked, because his future was at stake, but he never felt at home in his new position. When the new coaching staff arrived this winter, Pittman made his preference known.
"He said, ‘Coach, I feel like inside is where I belong,'" Campbell said.
So the Lions moved him there, and now Campbell raised his hand toward the ceiling and said, "He's just been doing this."
"He shows up every day. Every day he does something," Campbell said. "He can run, he’s physical, he’s young. He’s one of those guys you get really fired up about as a young guy who's developing and growing. It’s like, what can this guy be? But the potential is there and he’s working extremely hard at it.”
In an ideal world, the 24-year-old Pittman can be a hidden gem of the prior regime. He can be dusted off, refitted in Glenn's defense and unleashed as a playmaker. He can be a burst of talent at a position where the Lions need more. Asked about the linebackers Tuesday, Glenn started here: "A guy that really stands out is Pittman."
“He’s making plays on the ball, he’s running to the ball. You see the physical nature of him. There’s a lot of things about that player that I like," Glenn said.
You won't be surprised, but the feeling is mutual. Pittman respects Glenn as a three-time Pro Bowl corner and as an accomplished defensive backs coach with the Saints. He said every day that Glenn stands in front of Detroit's defense, "I look up to him." So when Pittman heard Glenn's praise, well, "that just makes me want to go even harder," he said.
When training camp began, Campbell said inside linebacker was one of two position battles he'd be watching closely. There are jobs up for grabs behind starters Jamie Collins and Alex Anzalone. At this rate, Pittman is going to win one. He's 6'3, 240 pounds and he has more talent than he was able to display in a role that never fit him. He's an inside linebacker at heart.
"It’s my natural position, played it my whole life," Pittman said Wednesday. "Couple years ago they moved me to outside, added that skillset to my toolbox and when I moved back inside it’s natural."
Pittman did benefit from his time on Detroit's practice squad. He spent two seasons taking on the Lions' first-team offense. He ran into offensive linemen like Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow and chased down running backs like Adrian Peterson.
"I was able to play real ball against some high-level players," he said.
A year later, he might be playing alongside them.
"It’s a fresh start," Pittman said. "In preseason games this year I’ll be able to show what I can do. And whatever opportunity comes, take advantage of it."