Focus on James Houston’s Strengths
The Detroit Lions are recalibrating their approach with James Houston, steering him back to his forte—rushing the quarterback. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn made this clear on 97.1 The Ticket Wednesday, stating, “Houston’s a dynamic rusher, so we want to keep him as a dynamic rusher.”
Houston first garnered attention with his standout performance during his debut on Thanksgiving two years ago, where he notched eight sacks in just seven NFL games. The Lions attempted to transform him into a SAM linebacker, but coverage responsibilities and pre-snap calculations hindered his performance. Glenn acknowledged the unsuccessful venture, emphasizing, “So we tried him at different positions to see if he can bring value in those aspects, but sometimes you’ve got to sit back and go, ‘You know what, just do what you do best.’”
“So we’re going to let him go play defensive end, we’re going to let him go get after the quarterback and let him use those moves that I don’t think a lot of people know that he has,” said Glenn.
Learning from Past Mistakes
James Houston‘s challenges aren’t new. Florida previously tried to convert him to an off-ball linebacker, a move that didn’t yield the desired outcomes, leading him to transfer to Jackson State, where he excelled as a defensive end. The Lions persisted with their experiment until recently. Head coach Dan Campbell admitted, “He knows he has to be able to handle the SAM linebacker position for us. … We have to be able to trust that he’s going to do what he needs to do, and that whatever defense we call, he’s going to handle it mentally.”
With the experiment now concluded, Houston can focus on his primary role upon his return from injury. The secondary and linebacking corps are already strong, and Houston’s addition as a pass rusher alongside Aidan Hutchinson could elevate the team’s defense. Glenn summed up their strategy, “So we’re going to let him go play defensive end, we’re going to let him go get after the quarterback and let him use those moves that I don’t think a lot of people know that he has.”
In simplifying Houston’s responsibilities, they aim to maximize his natural abilities. As Campbell noted, “He’s setting the edge or he’s rushing the passer.” By focusing on these clear tasks, the Lions hope to see Houston excel once again.
