How CB Jeff Okudah’s lockdown play allows Detroit Lions to mold defensive identity

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) looks for a flag after attempting to catch a ball against Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (1) during the first half of an NFL football game , Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)

ALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah has earned a ton of praise for his lockdown coverage through the team’s first three games.

The Lions are feeling so good about Okudah’s return from an Achilles injury that they had the cornerback travel with Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson last week. Pro Football Focus had Okudah allowing two catches for only 9 yards when covering Jefferson. That showing came after Okudah handled Commanders wideout Terry McLaurin in Week 2, not to mention helping blank Eagles pass-catcher DeVonta Smith in the opener.

And with cornerback Amani Oruwariye’s recent play heading in the wrong direction, it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see Okudah travel with opposing team’s top wideouts moving forward. Okudah allowed seven catches for only 63 yards through the first two games, per PFF. He was docked for surrendering five total catches for 43 yards in coverage during last week’s loss. The Lions haven’t utilized a cornerback the way they did Okudah the previous two weeks since All-Pro Darius Slay was still sporting the Honolulu blue. And head coach Dan Campbell is already seeing how a shutdown cornerback like Okudah can make life easier on the rest of the defense.

“Yeah, I mean the more that you feel like he can get over there and you tell him that we need you to go play this receiver and, man, just get up there and go compete,” Campbell said. “Use your ability, be aggressive, finish at the catch point, those are the things he does well. And he’s playing at -- he is playing at a high level and he’s got a lot of confidence right now as it pertains to those things.

“So, from that regard he’s really -- he’s really come a long way. And it helps because now you can start to do some things coverage-wise that take pressure off other areas.”

The Ringer helped put Okudah’s impact on how defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s group wants to play in context. The Lions ranked 21st in man-coverage rate last season (25.1%), and they’re tops in the league through three weeks while seeing a massive shift (43.6%). That, of course, has allowed them to blitz much more, sitting third in the NFL with a 38.4% blitz rate to this point. Glenn’s unit was 13th in blitz rate last season at 26.4%.

“I definitely see the versatility and the things we’ve been calling the last few weeks, so it has continued to build that trust. Hopefully we add more things in there,” Okudah said. “Honestly, I’m just doing whatever the team asks me right now. Just building that reputation of being someone who is dependable, consistent week in and week out. That’s probably one of my top priorities.

“Anytime you get put in a one-on-one to erase a guy from the field, it obviously helps the coordinators and what they’re going to call. I feel like I’m capable. But at the same, I want to earn the trust of all my teammates first.”

Related: Ask Kyle: Jeff Okudah, Amani Oruwariye are trending in opposite directions

Related: The latest on how the Detroit Lions will try to proceed without Tracy Walker

It’ll be another tough task this weekend, with the Seattle Seahawks bringing receivers D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to town. The season-ending injury to starting safety and team captain Tracy Walker is adding to the weekend’s difficult task. Okudah said he feels the team is well prepared to fill Walker’s role in his vocal leadership and not only the safety’s production.

Metcalf is as talented as they come, not to mention a rare physical specimen at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds. When asked what he needs to do to stop Metcalf, Okudah said: “Get in the weight room. Stretch those hamstrings out. It’s going to be a nice battle.”

The Tacoma News Tribune reports Metcalf wasn’t buying all the way into the shutdown cornerback talk for Okudah, saying: “He’s got a safety behind him. He’s not really locking people down. But he’s a good corner.” Now, the Lions certainly focused on taking away Jefferson in Minnesota, shifting a safety over to Okudah’s side to contain the game-breaking receiver. One has to wonder if that quote will make it in and around the halls this week in Allen Park, though.

Metcalf has been slow to get it rolling with new starting quarterback Geno Smith. Lockett is one of the game’s most underrated and refined weapons at his position. He has 16 catches for 135 yards and one score. Lockett has caught 21 balls for 211 yards and no touchdowns.

“Two great receivers, so we’re going to go back to the drawing board and see what has worked against them in the past,” Okudah said. “Hopefully try and emulate that on Sunday.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

X

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

If you opt out, we won’t sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.