4 Keys to Success for Michael Brockers in 2021

Defensive end Michael Brockers has become one of the bigger names in the National Football League, but this offseason, he was traded to Detroit in exchange for just a 2023 seventh-round draft pick.  

The lower-round pick, which is going to be many moons from now, is reflective of the fact Brockers is now 30 years old. It certainly is not what fans would call a "blockbuster trade." 

If anything, Brockers is only in Detroit because new Lions general manager Brad Holmes last worked with the Rams. That is the way the league works - - new regimes try to build a new situation with who they are most familiar with.  

We saw this when Detroit affectionately became the "Detroit Patriots," with the last regime which came to Detroit from New England.  

It is interesting evaluating Brockers because outside of seeing a highlight here or there or seeing him on the screen at some sports bar, I did not know much about him. To me, he always seemed to be one of the Rams' "big-name" star defenders. 

In my review of Brockers from 2020, I chose one game from the beginning of the season, one in the middle and one at the end. 

While watching the Dallas game from Week 1, it quickly became obvious Brockers is a good fit as a 3-4 (three down defensive linemen and four linebackers) DE.  

Brockers looks the part lined up. He comes off the ball, and looks like this big, lumbering presence with long and active arms. Brockers gets after it, and he looks fluid. He just lacks any explosiveness at the point of attack, and he is not flashy as a pass-rusher and he is a limited-area run defender. He battles, but he has trouble disengaging way too often - - both against the run and the pass. 

Occasionally, he comes off a block laterally to make a run stop or chase the quarterback down. However, he is anything but a playmaker. 

The one thing Brockers does well is occupy space, which is exactly what a DE is supposed to do in the 3-4, so that the linebackers can scrape in and make plays. He still gets moved off the ball too much on runs at times, which is also a concern. 

The Lions did the Rams a favor by taking him off their hands, because Brockers is not an ideal 4-3 DE at this point.  

When analyzing what a player needs to do to be successful, one must realize what and who the player is on film. Brockers is what he is. He is not going to put on a Lions helmet and suddenly "tear it up" as a pass-rusher.