ALLEN PARK >> The Detroit Lions defensive line was good, not great, in 2023. This year, they believe they’ve found the piece that can take the unit to the next level.

Where the unit thrived last season was against the run. After ranking near the bottom of the league in both rushing yards per game and per carry allowed a year earlier, Detroit vaulted near the top of the league in 2023, limiting opponents to 88.8 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry. Both represented the team’s best marks since 2014.

The pass rush wasn’t nearly as consistent. Despite leading the league in pressure rate — thanks, in part, to a blitz-heavy scheme — the Lions struggled to get the quarterback to the ground, finishing with 41 sacks. That was the team’s most since 2018, but still only tied for 23rd in the league.

Where the team truly lagged was individual improvement. Young starters Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill took natural steps forward in their development, but complementary pieces Josh Paschal, John Cominsky and Charles Harris were stagnant or took a step back with their production.

Ultimately, the totality of the performance led to the dismissal of position coach John Scott Jr. after just one season. To replace him, the Lions added Terrell Williams, one of the league’s most respected defensive line teachers. It’s why defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is confident the Lions will have more success getting to the quarterback this season.

“Listen, everybody wants sacks,” Glenn said. “We have a guy that’s going to do a heck of a job, no matter what the situation is, and I’m talking about Hutch. He’s going to get his numbers just because of who he is. The thing we want to make sure we do is make sure we try to make sure other guys get those numbers, too. I feel like we have one of the best, if not the best d-line coach in the league. He’s going to do a hell of a job being able to help the technique part of how you’re able to do that.”

Equally important, the Lions can rely on with Williams not allowing the run defense to regress under his watch. Previously the defensive line coach in Tennessee, the Titans defense allowed fewer than 4.0 yards per carry each of the past three seasons.

Finally, the Lions will look to Williams to better develop their young talent, namely defensive tackle Brodric Martin, last year’s third-round pick who spent most of his rookie year as a healthy scratch.

“I can tell you this, Terrell, I’ve got a lot of confidence in Terrell Williams as our D-Line coach,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “…He’s been working with him, a ton of one-on-one, individual. Look the kid wants it. He’s working and he’s improving. He’s another guy, we’ve just got to get him reps, and training camp is going to be pivotal for him with the pads on.”