The metrics confirm the eye test on Alex Anzalone: the middle linebacker for the Lions has struggled. Really, really struggled. Dan Campbell’s eyes see something different.
Asked Tuesday what the Lions are looking for on defense following the team’s 0-2 start, Campbell said “guys that are going to challenge on the perimeter and guys that are going to rally to the ball.”
And the first name he cited, unprompted, was Alex Anzalone.
“I thought he was all over the field last night,” Campbell said. Was it perfect? No, but from point A to point B he was damn near in on every tackle. And that’s the type of guys we’re looking for.”
Indeed, Anzalone played every defensive snap for the Lions for the second straight week. He made a team-high 10 tackles, but he also missed two. He seemed to be trailing plays as much as ending them. He allowed five completions and a touchdown on five targets in coverage.
Anzalone was the Lions’ fourth worst defensive player on Monday, per Pro Football Focus, and he’s been their second worst defensive player this season, ahead of only rookie CB Jerry Jacobs. He's been the third worst linebacker in the NFL out of 85 qualifying players.
But Campbell recruited Anzalone to Detroit after watching him play for four seasons in New Orleans. He said Anzalone is a veteran who helps “set the tone.” And Anzalone, to his credit, was just voted a captain by his teammates. Campbell isn’t giving up on him anytime soon, no matter what the numbers – or the general public – said about his performance Monday night.
“He played with a lot of energy,” said Campbell. “I think he was spot-on with his calls. Look, he’s high-effort, he’s smart, he’s kind of what we’re about here. I liked where he was at.”
As for fellow middle linebacker Jamie Collins?
“Look, Jamie had some mistakes,” said Campbell. “It wasn’t certainly his best performance.”
And as for rookie middle linebacker Derrick Barnes?
“Yeah,” said Campbell, “I think Barnes deserves a shot.”
Campbell inherited Collins from the previous regime. While his metrics have been better than Anzalone's -- Collins ranks 24th among all linebackers, per PFF -- the eye test has arguably been worse. He was beaten around the edge several times Monday night, including on a pair of catch-and-run touchdowns by Aaron Jones. He also seemed prone to lapses in effort. Either that, or Collins has lost a step. Neither bodes well for his outlook in the middle of Detroit's defense.
Asked if he feels Collins' effort has been lacking, Campbell did his best to defend the eight-year vet -- without exactly shooting the notion down.
"Look, Jamie is a big linebacker," Campbell said. "He’s a very athletic linebacker. The way he moves is a little bit different. Now, does he move with the same effort or have the same effort as Alex? No I don’t (think so). I think Alex just plays at a high level all the time. That’s him, that’s how he goes.
"But there are things that Jamie does well that we still have to continue to use. He’s still a mismatch on third down, particularly in the pass-rush game. We’ll see where this goes.”
Barnes, by contrast, is one of Campbell's guys. The Lions traded up to draft him in the fourth round this year, and Campbell has done nothing but rave about him since. Barnes missed time in camp with an injury, which has thus far limited his role on defense. But it sounds like Campbell and DC Aaron Glenn are ready to give him a shot. Campbell said they discussed it Monday night and Tuesday morning and would hash it out some more Tuesday night.
"Tonight we’re going to really sit down and say, ‘Alright, this is how we want to handle it,'" said Campbell.
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A bigger role for Barnes would likely mean a smaller one for Collins. But the Lions are unlikely to move on from Collins altogether. He's in year two of a three-year, $30 million contract and the Lions would incur significant dead cap hits this year and next by trading him or cutting him. And, to reiterate, Detroit wouldn't necessarily be better off without him. He's been the team's fourth best defensive player, per PFF, and its second best against the run.
But Barnes is coming and Anzalone, for now, isn't going anywhere. That much we can say for sure.