After being outclassed by the Chargers last week, the Detroit Lions defense got back to business Friday night. Against the Atlanta Falcons’ backups, they stalked their prey and delivered an impressive showing—especially for several players fighting for 53-man roster spots or practice squad jobs.
Before diving into the position-by-position grades, there’s one resounding team grade to hand out: an A+ to everyone involved in handling the late-game injury to Morice Norris. That includes the Falcons organization, head coach Raheem Morris, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium EMS staff, and the team at Grady Hospital. It was a relief to get encouraging news on Norris’ condition later that night and into the next morning.
With that, let’s open the professor’s desk drawer, pull out a packet of gold stars, and hand out grades from a night where Detroit’s defense earned plenty.
A year ago, Al-Quadin Muhammad was grinding for a roster spot with Dallas, and Nate Lynn was sidelined for the year after just 22 promising preseason snaps. Fast forward to now: both dominated in Atlanta, looking like players who can deliver quality rotational snaps for the Lions this season.
Each notched a sack, repeatedly won off the edge, and made life miserable for Atlanta’s backup tackles. Their constant pressure helped hold the Falcons without a third-down conversion until the second half, finishing 1-for-8 on third and fourth downs combined.
This year’s “intriguing UDFA edge” label (Lynn’s label in 2024) belongs to Keith Cooper Jr., a versatile go-go gadget lineman who actually started over Lynn in base looks. He was steady, stout against the run, and had a textbook backside stop for minimal gain.
Rookie Ahmed Hassanein didn’t flash much as a rusher (and went to the spin move a bit too often) but did show hustle on a wide receiver screen chase-down that will get multiple rewinds of the clicker in the film room.
Mitchell Agude and Isaac Ukwu were quieter. Agude had one sharp inside counter rush, while Ukwu was burned on a read-option keeper by Atlanta’s fourth-string QB
The S.S. Tyleik Williams has officially been christened. Still getting his sea legs, the rookie looked ready to help shipwreck opposing offenses, showing strong hands and anchor against single blocks in the run game.
Chris Smith started alongside Williams and played solid, holding ground and keeping linebackers clean to flow freely in run support. Neither Williams nor Smith made big splash plays, but their control of the line of scrimmage helped hold Atlanta to single-digit rushing yards in the first half, and just 13 yards on nine carries by their running backs overall. The Falcons’ quick passing game limited their opportunities to collapse the pocket.
And then there’s the ride you must be this tall to board: The Brodric Martin Mirage Mountain. Martin was the most disruptive of the group, stringing together a three-play sequence of highs and lows—a pass rush win that drew a roughing the passer, a run stop for loss, and a pocket collapse to force pressure.
Myles Adams led the group in snaps but didn’t make a strong roster push.
This was a bounce-back effort from the starters. Zach Cunningham and Grant Stuard diagnosed quickly, filled aggressively, and hit with authority. Stuard even followed up a TFL by breaking up a deep third-down pass against a running back split out wide.
Trevor Nowaske chipped in by setting the edge at SAM and drilling a runner for no gain on one snap as a stand-up backer.
A few passes were completed behind them in zone coverage, but overall this was a far sharper performance than the Chargers game.
Anthony Pittman played only two defensive snaps despite being a game captain. Ezekiel Turner saw time in the second half but didn’t register on my radar or a tackle in the box score.
Avonte Maddox was the standout here. In the slot, he made a third-down stop, set the edge on run plays, and blanketed a receiver on a big game hunting sluggo that fell incomplete. One missed tackle aside, he looks like a capable sixth DB.
It was a rough night for Erick Hallett, recently converted from safety. He was beaten for multiple first downs on slants, missed a tackle in the flat, and gave up a fade touchdown while also drawing a PI flag. His stock is trending down after a strong early camp.
Dicaprio Bootle logged heavy reps again, allowing a few short completions and a contested seam catch in tight coverage.
The defense’s worst stretch was the late first-half two-minute drill — when Atlanta matriculated downfield by targeting Hallett and Bootle.
Nick Whiteside made the most of his snaps with a short gain stop in the passing game and a third-down breakup on a crosser. Tyson Russell was quiet in the best way—no targets, no drama. Both players could propel themselves up the depth chart with more standout performances against the Dolphins this week.
Rock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. Rock-Ya Sin looks like a natural at safety, filling downhill to stop short completions, drawing a holding call in run defense, and matching up with tight ends without issue. He looked comfortable as both single-high and split safety.
UDFA rookie Ian Kennelly started opposite Ya-Sin, tallying three tackles and preventing deep completions over the middle. He was late in support on some sideline throws, though the broadcast angle makes those responsibilities hard to confirm.
Loren Strickland and Norris rotated in for 10 snaps each. Strickland made a screen tackle and even lined up as a dime linebacker once while Norris roamed deep.
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