Michigan Wolverine Derrick Moore Already Chasing Aidan Hutchinson’s Ghost
Some guys talk about taking the next step. Others show up already pissed they haven’t taken it yet. Detroit Lions second-round pick Derrick Moore falls squarely into that second category, and honestly? That’s exactly what this pass rush needs.
Moore missed Hutchinson at Michigan by just one year, but he spent his entire college career chasing Hutch’s shadow. Specifically, he was gunning for Hutchinson’s single-season program record of 14.0 sacks. “Yeah, that was definitely one of my goals, trying to get to that single-year sack (record),” Moore told DetroitLions.com. “Unfortunately, I finished with 10.”
Unfortunately? Kid, 10 sacks is a hell of a season. But here’s the thing that should get Lions fans excited about this pick: Moore put up those 10 sacks in just 440 total snaps. Hutchinson’s record-setting 2021 season? He played 794 snaps. Moore was getting to the quarterback at nearly the same rate while playing 44% fewer snaps.
The Chip Block Effect is Real
Now Moore gets to line up next to the guy whose record he was chasing, and that might be the best thing that could happen to his development. Hutchinson drew chip blocks on 22.2% of his pass rushes last season, the third-highest rate in the NFL. That’s a lot of extra attention that won’t be going toward the rookie.
Moore gets it. “Even being across from him now, I’m just trying to compete with him at the same time, because now it’s like, ‘Alright, who is going to be the fastest to get to the quarterback?'” he said.
That competitive fire mixed with one-on-one opportunities? Brad Holmes might have found something here.
A Pass Rush That Desperately Needs Help
Let’s be honest about where this defense stands. The Lions finished 30th in time to pressure last season. Thirtieth. That’s not getting it done, and everyone in Allen Park knows it.
Moore brings the kind of mentality this unit needs. “To be a part of this defensive unit with him, I’m looking forward to learning a lot from him, grow with him, and also dominate with him,” he said.
Dominate. Not contribute. Not develop. Dominate. That’s the kind of talk you want to hear from a second-round pick who’s already proven he can get to the quarterback at an elite level.
They’ll get their first look at this pairing during organized team activities later this week. No pads yet, but it’s a start. And if Moore’s track record of chasing Hutchinson’s benchmarks means anything, he’s not planning to ease into this thing.
Think this kid has what it takes to turn our pass rush from embarrassing to elite, or are we setting ourselves up for another year of watching quarterbacks eat lunch in the pocket? Drop your take below.
I love the energy Moore is bringing already. 10 sacks on way fewer snaps than Hutch is legitimately impressive, and the fact that he’s talking about dominating instead of just contributing? That’s the mentality we need on this defense. This pairing could actually be special if it stays healthy.
Look, I want to believe this works, but we’ve gotten excited about defensive prospects before and they haven’t always panned out. Moore looks good on tape and the stats are interesting, but let’s pump the brakes until we actually see him go up against NFL linemen week in and week out. Hope I’m wrong though.
What I love about this regime is they’re actually trying to build something real instead of just throwing names at problems. Moore’s mentality reminds me of guys who actually wanted to prove something, and pairing him with Hutch makes sense. We’ve waited a long time for this kind of smart roster building.
The fact that Moore was chasing Hutch’s record at Michigan and now he gets to line up next to him in the NFL is just perfect. This kid has that chip on his shoulder and he’s not going to back down. If these two can stay healthy, our pass rush could go from one of our biggest weaknesses to actually dangerous.