New DT Tyrunn Walker: Lions 'a perfect fit for me'
When Tyrunn Walker took his free-agent visit to the Lions last week, he said coaches assured him he wouldn't be doing much two-gapping this fall.
That important distinction almost certainly means the Lions won't be switching to a 3-4 defense this year, a question that has lingered since the loss of Ndamukong Suh, and it was enough to convince Walker to sign with the Lions over a three-year offer from the New England Patriots and interest from several other teams.
"They give their D-line an opportunity to go out and make plays," Walker said in a conference call with Detroit reporters Monday. "I talked to some coaches, they was like, we're really not going to do too much two-gapping things as I was doing in New Orleans, we're going to actually get out there and play. That's a D-lineman's dream, so this is a perfect fit for me."
Walked played the last three years in New Orleans and was a valuable reserve on the Saints' defensive line last year, when he played as a backup at virtually every position.
As a sometimes nose tackle, Walked was asked to two-gap, or play the gaps on both sides of his blocker. The Lions typically ask defensive linemen to attack one gap in their 4-3 scheme.
"I watched Detroit a lot and you got to understand that Detroit, for years, I know since I've been in the league and since I've been studying, they've had awesome D-line play from whatever guys they had on the field," Walker said. "It was like a D-line's dream to go out there and play for an organization that lets the D-line go out there and make plays."
Just 24, Walker is one of two new additions to the Lions' revamped defensive front.
Suh and Nick Fairley, key members of the Lions' No. 2-ranked defense last year, signed elsewhere in free agency, and the Lions have so far added Walker and Haloti Ngata as their replacements.
The Lions acquired Ngata, a five-time Pro Bowler, in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens last week, and signed Walker to a one-year deal as a non-tendered restricted free agent.
Walker, who had 19 tackles and 21/2 sacks in 16 games last year, said he doesn't feel any pressure replacing Suh and Fairley, who were two of the best defensive tackles in free agency.
"No pressure at all," Walker said. "I mean, Suh and Fairley, they're great at what they do. We're just coming in - well, I can speak on myself, I'm just coming in and trying to help the team win. So I'm not trying to compare ... Suh and Fairley. What they did for Detroit was outstanding, I'm just trying to come in there and create an impact and do what they ask me to do."
As for Ngata, Walker said he's looking forward to teaming up with a player he called "a future Hall-of-Famer."
"I just try to listen, and especially to veteran guys," Walker said. "A Haloti Ngata's going to be very, very important to my game 'cause I'm going to pick his brain and learn what he knows. I just like to be a student of the game."
The Times Herald
When Tyrunn Walker took his free-agent visit to the Lions last week, he said coaches assured him he wouldn't be doing much two-gapping this fall.
That important distinction almost certainly means the Lions won't be switching to a 3-4 defense this year, a question that has lingered since the loss of Ndamukong Suh, and it was enough to convince Walker to sign with the Lions over a three-year offer from the New England Patriots and interest from several other teams.
"They give their D-line an opportunity to go out and make plays," Walker said in a conference call with Detroit reporters Monday. "I talked to some coaches, they was like, we're really not going to do too much two-gapping things as I was doing in New Orleans, we're going to actually get out there and play. That's a D-lineman's dream, so this is a perfect fit for me."
Walked played the last three years in New Orleans and was a valuable reserve on the Saints' defensive line last year, when he played as a backup at virtually every position.
As a sometimes nose tackle, Walked was asked to two-gap, or play the gaps on both sides of his blocker. The Lions typically ask defensive linemen to attack one gap in their 4-3 scheme.
"I watched Detroit a lot and you got to understand that Detroit, for years, I know since I've been in the league and since I've been studying, they've had awesome D-line play from whatever guys they had on the field," Walker said. "It was like a D-line's dream to go out there and play for an organization that lets the D-line go out there and make plays."
Just 24, Walker is one of two new additions to the Lions' revamped defensive front.
Suh and Nick Fairley, key members of the Lions' No. 2-ranked defense last year, signed elsewhere in free agency, and the Lions have so far added Walker and Haloti Ngata as their replacements.
The Lions acquired Ngata, a five-time Pro Bowler, in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens last week, and signed Walker to a one-year deal as a non-tendered restricted free agent.
Walker, who had 19 tackles and 21/2 sacks in 16 games last year, said he doesn't feel any pressure replacing Suh and Fairley, who were two of the best defensive tackles in free agency.
"No pressure at all," Walker said. "I mean, Suh and Fairley, they're great at what they do. We're just coming in - well, I can speak on myself, I'm just coming in and trying to help the team win. So I'm not trying to compare ... Suh and Fairley. What they did for Detroit was outstanding, I'm just trying to come in there and create an impact and do what they ask me to do."
As for Ngata, Walker said he's looking forward to teaming up with a player he called "a future Hall-of-Famer."
"I just try to listen, and especially to veteran guys," Walker said. "A Haloti Ngata's going to be very, very important to my game 'cause I'm going to pick his brain and learn what he knows. I just like to be a student of the game."
The Times Herald
