The Athletic recently had an exclusive opportunity to sit down, via video call, with Lions coordinators Aaron Glenn and Anthony Lynn for separate, approximately 30-minute film sessions. In them, they broke down the film of a few of Detroit’s key free-agent signings and how they fit the coaching staff’s schemes. The conversation that follows with Lynn is the fourth of a four-part series. Check out the previous installments: Part I (Glenn on Alex Anzalone), Part II (Lynn on Tyrell Williams), and Part III (Glenn on Quinton Dunbar).
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In our first film segment with Anthony Lynn, the Lions’ new offensive coordinator laughed off the notion that he’s exclusively going to be a “ground-and-pound” play caller. But there’s no denying how much Lynn, formerly a running backs coach for five NFL teams over a decade-plus, values having a multifaceted attack out of the backfield.
“I think the way he described (the scheme) to us is multiple with spread principles,” QB Jared Goff said. “I think it’s going to have a little bit of what they did with (Justin) Herbert and the Chargers and a little bit of what (Lynn) did in Buffalo. It’s a nice little mixture of it so far and it’s been good.”
The 2016 Bills, with Lynn as their offensive coordinator (and, briefly, interim head coach) led the NFL in rushing yards and yards per rushing attempt. Lynn’s Chargers then produced an 1,100-yard rusher in 2017 (Melvin Gordon) and a boatload of receptions — LA’s running backs combined for more than 120 catches last year; in 2019, Austin Ekeler alone had 92 (and eight receiving touchdowns).
And Detroit’s top two of D’Andre Swift and newcomer Jamaal Williams could be as dynamic as just about any tandem in the league. Swift is coming off an impressive rookie season: 878 yards from scrimmage, 5.5 yards per touch and 10 touchdowns, in 13 games.
Williams, though, wasn’t far off the pace while serving as Aaron Jones’ backup in Green Bay. He caught 31 passes and averaged 4.9 yards per touch en route to 741 total yards. His addition, arguably, was the biggest coup for GM Brad Holmes during this offseason’s free-agent period.
Lynn makes clear, too, that the Lions have big plans for Williams in 2021 — not just as a fill-in for Swift, but as a true complement and an instrumental part of the offense.
(This Q&A has been lightly edited for content and length. Lynn’s comments begin here; questions from The Athletic are in bold.)
Jamaal is what I’d call a classic “A” back. I like to break the backs down into A and B. My “A” backs are normally my bigger backs. They can run between the tackles, block probably a little better than a “B” back, they can also run the perimeter. I can leave those guys in there for all three downs.
My “B” back comes in, he’s a guy that sometimes I want to use in space more. He’s my speed-in-space guy. I feel like Jamaal would be an outstanding “A” back. I like his energy, I like his pad level and the way he runs the football between the tackles.
As we’re watching this clip right now — this clip is in slow motion but he’s a lot faster than this — you can watch his pad level right here. He’ll get his pads down, run through defenders, he punishes the secondary. These guys are making contact right here at the 35; Jamaal is dragging them 3, 4, 5 more yards. (Yards) after contact is really big with my “A” back.
You see here, third-and-1. This play is clearly designed to get the first down, to get 1 yard. But this big back finds the soft spot and has very good instincts and vision.
Again, after contact, look at the yards he’s creating. That’s what you want to see.
He brings something to the table that some backs don’t in this category: This man has soft hands, really good ball skills, you can use him in the passing game. Comes out here, he knows he’s going to get hit. Good cover guy — Devin White — right here. But his focus and concentration, catches the ball, makes one miss.
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Almost stays inbounds … but he can catch the ball extremely well. He’s underrated as a wide receiver. I like him as a guy that can do anything we’re going to ask him to do on offense. He’s a bigger-bodied guy. He can run between the tackles and help us put games away — short yardage, goal line, four-minute offense and things like that.
Baumgardner: Would he be a mixture of both A and B? You’re talking about the B being a guy who could run around a little bit. He’s not slow.
Because of his versatility in the passing game, he can be a mixture. We can use him some in the passing game. I didn’t realize until I studied him a little bit more in free agency that he was that good of a receiver. This young man has excellent hands and he has some really good route savvy.
Baumgardner: They moved him (in Green Bay), I think. They moved him some, let him motion and do a bunch of different stuff. It seemed like he could do a lot.
Primarily, he was a complementary back in Green Bay. When he came in, he was their zone master. Anytime they were going to run zone schemes, this young man was in the game. I know he can run that concept really well. We’re more multiple, but I do believe with his skill set he’ll fit right in with what we’re gonna do.
Burke: This might be asking you to give away too much, but do you see opportunities to play him and D’Andre together, put two backs on the field and let him get out in space or let him play from the slot? Is that something that could be on the table?
I’m not so sure just yet that he can go play in the slot and win against nickels in this league. But if you want to match us in personnel, you put 21 personnel on the field — two backs, one tight end — and they want to match you in base defense, then that’s where I think he can create some matchup issues going up against linebackers. Especially Mike linebackers. We have to look at those things and put those kids in the best position.
I don’t think that’s giving away anything. I think that’s just the way you could use that personnel grouping. Yes, you could look up and see two halfbacks on the field. When you have a back of his size — I think he weighed in here at 229 — he could possibly do some lead blocking. You can use him in multiple ways. As long as he’s willing.
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Baumgardner: He seems like it. I’m sure you guys like him.
I love his personality. A lot of energy, a lot of passion. He just walks down the hallway and loves (talking to people). I can’t wait to get him around the teammates, just so they can feel his energy. When we were watching him in free agency, everybody just kind of responded to this young man every time he touched the football. That was kinda cool to see.
Here's a brief glimpse of #Packers Jamaal Williams dancing through the years. Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/HWDjSj6kpU
— Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) March 15, 2021
Baumgardner: Do you think that Jamaal and Swift can sort of be interchangeable, in a sense? We just talked about it a little bit, but they both can do a lot of different stuff.
I don’t see them as being interchangeable, I see them more as being complementary. Swift is more of a speed-space back; Jamaal can be more of a between-the-tackles and sometimes perimeter.
Burke: So, you said he was the Packers’ zone back. Does he have to be on the field for zone calls or can you use him across the board?
I think we can use this young man across the board. We’ve had multiple conversations. He’s sent me video clips of him working out and things that he’s doing. There’s nothing that he can’t do, to be honest with you, if you get him in the right matchups.
Baumgardner: How high priority was a guy like that when you got here and you guys got talking? It seemed like you did need another guy like him. He seemed like the perfect fit for what you needed.
I felt we were fortunate to get him. We didn’t know what his number was going to be and it worked out, and I’m glad it did. But we needed some help in the backfield, and we still do, in my opinion. (Since this interview, the Lions have released Kerryon Johnson, drafted Oregon State running back Jermar Jefferson and signed UDFAs Rakeem Boyd and Dedrick Mills.)
I know we have a good 1-2 punch with him and Swift.
Burke: You mentioned him being better as a route runner than you thought. What jumped out for you that made you change your opinion?
You started watching him catch the ball — and they didn’t run a lot of different type of routes with him in Green Bay — but his hands are very good. He has natural receiving skills. Watching him this offseason, he does a heck of a job. He has a camera, wherever he’s at, filming his workouts.
I’ve been impressed with some of his work, like, “Wow, I didn’t know you could run that route, young man.” He’s been telling me. All you have to do is ask Jamaal — there’s nothing that he can’t do better than anyone else. I love his confidence, but it showed up on tape. It really did.
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Burke: Do you like that, when a guy is recording himself and posting all his routes on Instagram and all that?
(Laughs) I don’t know if he’s putting it all on Instagram, because I’m not on Instagram. But he’s sending me everything on my cell phone. It’s pretty cool.
(Photo: Logan Riely / Getty Images)