Aidan Hutchinson feels uncaged in third season with Detroit Lions (2024)

Aidan Hutchinson feels free.

Like he has been unleashed.

Like he has been liberated by new Detroit Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams.

“I feel this year already feels different with the new D-line coach, a couple new additions in the room,” Hutchinson said. “This is the best I've seen us performing in camp up to this point. It's my third camp out here. So it's really fun to watch.”

The new style features less thinking, more causing havoc.

Less worrying, more relying on instincts.

Fewer rules, more aggression.

Just fire off the ball and go.

Nothing but violent separation.

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“If I’m being honest, I think a lot of it is the new coach we got — ‘T’ has been one of those guys, he just, everything we do, we just pull the trigger,” Hutchinson said. “All we’re really focused on is getting off the ball, striking blocks and the rest of it will take care of itself. I feel like that mindset is very liberating for a lot of D-lineman; they’re not focused on not being so ... not to be so strict about this block, that way, but if we’re just going as hard as we can, we’re going to create a lot of different pressure.”

Lions head coach Dan Campbell can sense the change.

Not just in Hutchinson, but the entire defense.

Campbell can feel it.

Like something powerful being let out of a cage.

Nothing but violence and intensity.

“I’m very encouraged because I can — I talk to (Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn), obviously, daily, but I told him, I said, ‘Man, I can just — you can feel it when you’re in my position,’ ” Campbell said.

Because that feeling is spreading.

It started with the defensive line, and it’s spreading through the linebackers.

“Man, I can feel the defense,” Campbell said. “I feel our front. You can feel the front is being disruptive. Man, we have violent separation. The backers and playing off of them, downhill, fast, all of them. And then our DBs are challenging and they’re running well, pretty good athletes, and so we’re in a good place. And so, man, I just feel like we’re challenging each other the right way. That’s what you want, right? And you want this back and forth. And so, I love where we’re at."

Why Hutch is heading for something more special

When you hear Hutchinson talk, you start to think: Man, he might be able to reach a higher level.

Which is pretty amazing to consider.

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Hutchinson had a fine rookie season. He played in all 17 games, had 9½ sacks, three interceptions and forced two fumbles.

Then, he became a Pro Bowl player in 2023 after recording 11½ sacks, 33 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles and an interception.

But that sets up some interesting questions and thoughts:

Can somebody with 101 QB pressures get even more?

Can Hutchinson do better — and be more impactful — than the 18 pressures that he got in the playoffs?

I say yes.

And so do his teammates.

"Aidan has been doing his thing times two this year,” defensive tackle Alim McNeill said. “You could come out here every day and you are going to see a better Hutch."

So, his teammates are convinced: Hutchinson is still ascending.

Still climbing.

Still getting better.

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Another reason why he's going to be even better

There is another reason to think Hutchinson can get to another level.

The Lions have remade their defensive backfield, which should help the line.

If the defensive backs make it harder for receivers to get open, it should give Hutchinson even more opportunities to smash quarterbacks.

“Yeah, Brad and Dan, they brought in some guys in this year and they've been great so far,” Hutchinson said. “So I'm just hoping everyone stays healthy and we get this train rolling and keep getting better together.”

Hutchinson spends time evaluating himself, watching film, trying to find new areas to improve.

“There's a lot of growth in those first few seasons," he said. "And this year, I mean, I feel like I've taken things to a new level physically and emotionally. I think if you just consistently do things over a period of time, you're gonna get better, you know, and I watched the film. I do a lot of self scouting, so I'm always my own biggest critic.”

But there is one thing he won’t watch: January's NFC championship game against San Francisco.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “I remember that game crystal clear.”

As he said this, you could hear the disdain in his voice.

That part won’t change.

Which is yet another reason why he's poised for an even better season.

Contact Jeff Seidel:jseidel@freepress.comor follow him@seideljeff.