Exit Interviews: Detroit's safeties stake claim as NFL's best duo, with an extension and addressing depth on offseason docket
Wrapping up the Detroit Lions’ 2024 season, we’re doing a position-by-position evaluation of the roster. Today, we’re focusing on the play of the team’s safeties.
The straightforward stats
Brian Branch: 109 tackles (eight for a loss), 1.0 sack, 16 pass defenses, four interceptions, one forced fumble
Kerby Joseph: 83 tackles, 12 pass defenses, nine interceptions
Ifeatu Melifonwu: Three games, 10 tackles, 1.0 sack
Advanced metrics
Despite perceptions that their safeties were better suited for one role over another, the Lions mixed and matched the usage of Joseph and Branch throughout the season. Joseph, the ball-hawking centerfielder, only aligned as a free safety half his snaps, spending the majority of his remaining reps in the box or covering the slot. Branch moved around more, especially with his late-season shift back to nickel, seeing between 226-328 snaps in the slot, box and deep.
With their impressive ball production, both delivered passer ratings in the low 70s when challenged in coverage. That said, Branch was asked to play far more man-to-man, seeing more than triple the targets in those situations. Still, the versatile defender flourished, limiting opposing quarterbacks to 60% completions on those 40 throws.
Neither of the starters blitzed a ton, but Branch and Melifonwu were effective at disrupting the pocket when asked. Branch registered 10 pressures, including the sack and five QB hits, on 31 rush attempts. Melifonwu, who missed most of the season with injuries, picked up where he left off in 2023 with five pressures on eight blitzes.
In terms of tackling, Branch saw a significant boost in overall production with the increased playing time, although his whiff rate went up while playing farther off the ball more frequently, jumping from 7.5% to 8.4%. Joseph’s tackle total remained remarkably steady (82, 82, 83 in his first three seasons), but he set a career-best with a 5.7% miss rate.