The Detroit Lions added a superb winner coach to their team before the 2025 season, the former Baccaneers defensive coach of Tampa Bay, Kacy Rodgers.
River Wells is a writer of Tampa Bay Buccaneers who covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Onsi team. He recently answered five questions from the Detroit Lions to discuss the hiring of Rodgers by the Lions, who had been with the Buccaneers since 2019.
Before Tampa Bay, Rodgers worked with New York Jets as a defensive coordinator from 2015 to 2018 and with Miami Dolphins as a defensive line coach from 2008 to 2014. He worked with the coach of the coach Lions Dan Campbell with dolphins from 2011 to 2014, Campbell being the bout coach of the team until 2015.
Last season, Tampa Bay ranked third in the NFL for the opponent’s ground yards and 10th in the league for the bags per game. Rodgers worked with Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey with the Buccaneers, and will now have the chance to train Aidan Hutchinson and Alim Mcneill.
1.) What do Lions get from the new defensive line coach, Kacy Rodgers?
Well:: Kacy Rodgers has been leading the NFL defensive line since 2003 – it has a lot of experience in many teams. He has been with Todd Bowles since 2008 at different stops, so it will be interesting to see how he moves away from Bowles for the first time in a long time.
2.) How would you assess his passage with the Dolphins of Miami and the Buccaneers of Tampa Bay?
Well:: It went well, I would say. Rodgers released three pro Bowlers in Miami with Cameron Wake, Randy Starks and Paul Soliai, and he did a similar job to Tampa Bay with players like Vita Vea.
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3.) What are its strengths and weaknesses?
Well:: His strength absolutely facilitates a defense against the race – Tampa Bay was sixth in yards by race and third in yards per game in defense in 2024, and these figures were similar in the last campaigns. Obtaining the internal pressure of the line was difficult in the past, so it was something to watch, but it was not a problem in 2024 – Vita Vea carried out 7 bags and calijah Kancey made 7.5.
4.) The lions were good against the race, but have trouble generating constant pressure and recording bags outside of Aidan Hutchinson. Will Rodgers be able to help generate pressure and reach the quarter-tree?
Well:: Tampa Bay’s rushers had trouble year after year. This could be largely due to the lack of development of the OLB coach George Edwards, who has been part of the team for some time with very few results, but the trios of Rodgers have had problems with This in the past when it was a question of rushing to four. Aidan Hutchinson was built in a laboratory to play football, so everything will be fine – if the rush towards the passes begins to decrease to strait otherwise, that could say something on Rodgers.
5.) How will Aidan Hutchinson improve his collaboration with Rodgers?
Well:: Hutch is already a monster – I have often seen this rotation move in my nightmares (Hutchinson succeeded four bags against Tampa Bay in September). Rodgers brings a lot of experience and could show him certain things he does not know, but with the difficulties encountered by the Edge Rushers of Tampa Bay in recent years, Rodgers may not be able to help him develop a lot more. Fortunately, he was already a candidate for the Dpoy before his injury.
