Detroit Lions: It’s Time for Miles Killebrew to get Reps at Linebacker

With the abundance of injuries in the linebacker unit, it’s time for the Detroit Lions to get Miles Killebrew reps at his more natural position.

The Detroit Lions are in trouble.  An already thin linebacker group just got dramatically thinner on Sunday. Injuries at this position have been an issue since training camp: Jon Bostic and Josh Bynes were placed on injured reserve and Bynes was eventually released. But losing three linebackers in week two, has the potential to be even more devastating.

On Sunday starting linebacker, DeAndre Levy didn’t dress for the game. Then his replacement, fifth round rookie, Antwione Williams exited after only 22 snaps. Next, Kyle Van Noy expanded his role to nickel formations, until an injury put him on the sidelines.

Recently acquired Thurston Armbrister was the next man up. Predictably, he struggled in coverage and looked lost in zone. No surprise for a career special teamer who has only been on the team for two weeks. After nine snaps, it was clear it wasn’t working and Teryl Austin needed to make another change.

In steps Brandon Copeland, a former linebacker in 2015 with the Lions, who converted to defensive end this offseason. Copeland took some reps at linebacker this week as a refresher. These reps were likely “in case of emergency” reps, but the Lions found themselves in just that “emergency” situation on Sunday.

There’s a lot of questions surrounding this unit, for this week and beyond. Health, depth, and overall talent are all legitimate concerns.

Enter Miles Killebrew.

Killebrew has the body type and natural skill set to play at linebacker. Specifically, his skills translate perfectly to the newly popular “Money Linebacker” position. This isn’t a position the Lions currently feature on defense, but with the situation they’re in now, it’s a position they need to consider adding.

Prior to the 2016 draft, I wrote about how the Lions should add the “Money Linebacker” position to their scheme. I highlighted six players in the draft who would fit the position for the Lions, and Killebrew was on that list.

From a pure measurables standpoint, Killebrew is as close to Deone Bucannon (the money linebacker prototype) as anyone in the league. The following numbers are taken from NFLDraftscout.com:

But measurables aren’t everything. It’s equally important to evaluate what happens on the field. Bleacher Report’s NFL Draft lead writer, Matt Miller, studied Killebrew’s game and had this to say:

"Killebrew is a classic strong safety and will be best suited to an in-the-box position, but he’s versatile enough to play nickel linebacker in the middle of the field."

It’s important to note that the Lions play in a nickel formation 75-80% of the time. Miller would go on to make a “Pro Comparison” for Killebrew. The player he compared Killebrew to? You guessed it, Deone Bucannon.

Killebrew isn’t going to fix the Lions linebacker problems this week, but with time, a position change could improve the groups weaknesses (health, depth, and talent level). That’s why he needs to be getting reps now. He’s going to need time to adjust to the position, and for a unit that is desperate for help, the Lions can’t afford to wait to see if he’ll develop into a safety.

Next: Detroit Lions Week 2 Game Ball: Devin Taylor

Will this change happen? It’s hard to say. And realistically, based on this coaching staff’s history it likely won’t happen. But, if they don’t recognize Miles Killebrew for the player that he is, they are limiting both his and the linebacking unit’s potential.