ALLEN PARK – As the man who recorded the interception that sent the Lions to the NFC Championship Game earlier this year, Derrick Barnes has heard plenty of love from Lions fans since January. He’s happy about that. But he also wants to be known for more.
In a conversation last week in the Lions’ locker room, the Lions’ linebacker reflected on that pick, a position change, becoming a father and more. Here’s our weekly five questions feature with Derrick Barnes: What’s been the process for changing linebacker positions over the last year from middle linebacker to strong-side linebacker? “I wouldn’t say it’s too much different. When you’re playing inside, which I still do from time to time, but when you go from playing inside to the SAM your eye progression changes.
When I’m inside linebacker, you can see the whole field, you can see the motions and turbos. I feel like playing the SAM, you have to key in on your keys. I feel like last year when I first started playing SAM, I kind of caught myself trying to see the whole field.
SAM position, you can’t do that. You have to focus on your job and the man that’s in front of you. Keying in on the line of scrimmage, that’s going to tell you everything you need to know at that position.
I think (Aaron Glenn) does a great job with the scheme as far as allowing the SAM to do that and not have to see everything at once.” You’re doing more pass rushing in this new role. How much do you enjoy being able to ge.