Lions Assistant Coach Wayne Blair: Defensive Identity Is 'Violence'

Versatility is the name of the game for the Detroit Lions’ defense headed into the 2023 campaign.

The Lions, in fact, possess multiple defensive backs that can play both cornerback and safety – most notably, Brian Branch and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Additionally, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s unit is equipped with defenders that can line up both on the inside and the outside of the defensive line, like John Cominsky.

According to Detroit defensive quality control coach Wayne Blair, these aforementioned multi-faceted defenders allow Glenn “to open up the playbook.”

“Skillset is something that definitely plays to our advantage. Kind of like I said, a ‘Swiss-Army knife’ definitely makes things all the better,” Blair told Tim Twentyman during the latest episode of the “Twentyman in the Huddle” podcast. “So, if you have a guy that has that ability to cross over from a defensive end to an outside linebacker or a strong safety that can play nickel or corners that are able to play on the left and right side, I think that definitely again opens up something more for AG (Aaron Glenn), to help call things that are definitely geared towards our athletes’ skillsets.”

One of the “Swiss-Army knife” players that Blair fell in love with a season ago – in his first year in the Motor City – was Cominsky.

In his inaugural campaign in Detroit, Cominsky went on to record a breakout season. The versatile defensive lineman amassed career-high marks in games played (14), total tackles (30), tackles for loss (five), sacks (four) and quarterback hits (12). He also produced a career-best three passes defensed and his first career forced fumble.

For his efforts, the 27-year-old was rewarded this past offseason with a two-year, $8.5 million contract extension.

Blair, for one, was very pleased that the Lions decided to re-sign the man who’s affectionately known inside the team’s locker room as “The Commish.”

“For me, as a coach, he’s been instrumental in my development, as far as becoming a coach, because he knows all of the different positions, understands being able to play violent,” Blair said of Cominsky. “‘Commish’ is just one of those guys that has been instrumental, as far as helping AG to be able to fill in pieces to the puzzle. Just a know-it guy, not in the sense of a know-it-all guy, but just a guy that understands blocks, understands protections and he is also like a ‘Swiss-Army knife’ within that defensive line, a guy that can be inside, he can be outside.

“He’s just a wonderful human being. You know, I damn near get teary-eyed about it, because he’s one of those guys that takes the time to just follow up and follow through, and dots all his ‘i’s,’ crosses all his ‘t’s,’ slashes all his ‘q’s.’ And again, he’s just somebody that was very, very needed to be re-signed, and we did that.”

Cominsky embodies the toughness and versatility that Detroit intends to bring on the defensive side of the football this upcoming season. He, consequently, is an integral element of the identity of the Lions’ 2023 defense, referred to as “violence” by Blair.

“Just outright violence and dictating the tempo of every down and distance. So, violence is the word,” Blair said, when asked to describe the team’s defensive identity.

Detroit general manager Brad Holmes brought in a variety of players over the offseason in an effort to upgrade the defense, ranging from Gardner-Johnson and fellow free-agent acquisitions Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley to Branch and fellow draft pick Jack Campbell.

They’ll join a unit that includes several returning impact defensive linemen, such as Cominsky and second-year EDGE rushers Aidan Hutchinson and James Houston.

It has Blair excited about the defense’s prospects going into the ‘23 season.

“I definitely love where we are trending, beginning with the front seven,” Blair expressed. “All of those guys that might have ended the season on IR, unhealthy, all of those guys are back now. Factor in, now you have those rookies that are coming in, those undrafted free agents. I’m very excited about the direction we’re going in, (and) what we’re going to end up bringing to the table for the NFC.”