Aidan Hutchinson channels everyone's thoughts about him dropping into coverage

During the opening drive of the Detroit Lions Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Packers faced a 3rd-and-6 from their own 42-yard line. If there's a time to have your best pass rushers coming after the quarterback, this is it.

Instead, Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson dropped into coverage, while linebackers Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell blitzed. Jordan Love hit wide receiver Matthew Golden for a 11-yard gain to move the chains, the Packers finished that drive with a touchdown and a rough day for the Lions commenced.

As noted by Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit, CBS color commentator Tony Romo was critical of the choice to have Hutchinson drop into coverage on that play.

"The reason why you have time is because there’s Aidan Hutchinson", Romo said. "They dropped him (into coverage). Maybe a little too cute there early in the game?” Romo said. “Because when he rushes, I doubt you have the ability to pump fake it, stand in, reset.”

On the Packers second drive, Lions defensive end Marcus Davenport dropped into coverage and after the rush did not get home Love found Jayden Reed for a 26-yard gain.

Hutchinson dropped into coverage a second time later in the game, resulting in an incompletion.

Dropping into coverage is nothing new for Hutchinson. According to Pro Football Focus, he did it 27 times as a rookie, 47 times in his second season and five times in his five games last year. And he has the athleticism to do it, with four career interceptions (three as a rookie).

But when Hutchinson is taken out of the pass rush concept on a given play, and the opposing offense has success, it gets noticed. When it happens in Kelvin Sheppard's first meaningful game as a defensive coordinator, as last Sunday was, questions easily surface.

Aidan Hutchinson feels the same way everyone does about him dropping into coverage

On a rate basis (in terms of pressures) due in some part to Love dropping back to pass very little in the second half, the Lions' pass rush was not awful in Week 1.

Hutchinson and Davenport only dropped into coverage the aforementioned total of three times against the Packers. But what amounts to 66 percent failure rate meant an adjustment was needed, and Sheppard did it.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Hutchinson was asked about dropping into coverage.

"We adjusted as the game moved on and got out of that a little bit more, but just happened to be in those positions in that game, which is obviously not the most ideal situation," Hutchinson said. "The important thing is, we adjusted and we evolved."

Hutchinson was then asked if him dropping into coverage will be a core concept in the Lions' defense. With a smile, he said "I don't think so, no."

For his part Davenport said he doesn't mind dropping into coverage, because "you gotta be able to do a lot of things" and "you can’t give everybody a bead that we’re trying to (pass rush)."

But on third down, and in 3rd-and-long situations especially, Hutchinson and Davenport should be involved in trying to get after the quarterback basically every time, with few exceptions. Hutchinson, unsurprisingly, agrees with that idea.