Aidan Hutchinson moved into a comfortable role and naturally produced

Aidan Hutchinson was shifted to a different role in the Lions defense last week against Dallas, and it’s no coincidence better production followed.

With a three-sack game in Week 2 and a lack of production otherwise, the idea of rookie Aidan Hutchinson some different things in the Detroit Lions defense coming out of the bye week was an easy one. Most specifically, moving him to a rush end role and to a two-point stance more often seemed likely.

In Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys, Hutchinson’s role indeed changed. The absence of Charles Harris opened up the weakside defensive end role, and the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft delivered 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits.

Hutchinson’s role as a widened-out edge defender against the run opened up cornerback Jeff Okudah to roam like a safety/linebacker on his way to a career-high 15 tackles against the Cowboys.

Aidan Hutchinson was given input in changing his role in Lions’ defense

On Thursday, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn talked about Hutchinson.

"Man, as a coach, the one thing you have to do, is listen to the player, and that’s something that I try to pride myself in in doing that,” Glenn said. “And Aidan would never just say what he wants to do, but he said, ‘Coach, I think I can be pretty successful doing these things.’ And I’m like, ‘Listen, I get it. I’ve been there before.'”"

Hutchinson talked about the bye week conversation with Glenn, also saying that being in a two-point stance allows him to see the field better and naturally play faster.

"AG called me and kind of just talking about what I think and what I think is best for myself,” Hutchinson said of that bye week conversation. “We just had that conversation and he’s very flexible and right when I kind of expressed how I felt about (moving more into a two-point stance) he was like, ‘We can get that done.'”"

Hutchinson had a lot of success as a stand-up edge rusher in college at Michigan. So being deployed more that way as a rookie probably shouldn’t have taken five games and a bye week. But the adjustment was made, and now Hutchinson has a better chance to consistently be the immediate force everyone expects.