Stephen Tulloch Signs With Lions, According To Report

Quietly, the Detroit Lions have built one of the better defenses in the NFL. Adding Stephen Tulloch to their linebacking corps, as the Chicago Sun-Times' Sean Jensen reports, is just another way of doing that. Terms of the deal have not been released.

Tulloch, a longtime Tennessee Titan, will be reunited with his former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in Detroit. Schwartz coached the Titans' defense for the first three years of Tulloch's career, from 2006 to 2008.

But Tulloch didn't fully bloom until Schwartz left for Detroit. In 2009, Tulloch had 121 tackles and 13 starts; in 2010, he started all 16 games for the Titans, recording 160 tackles in the process.

That production should translate in Detroit, especially in run support: Tulloch will be expected to serve as the Lions' starting middle linebacker, and has the speed to pursue ball-carriers effectively. And with Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley occupying blockers up front, Tulloch might find middle linebacker slightly easier in Detroit.

For more on Tulloch and NFL free agency, check out SB Nation's comprehensive 2011 NFL free agency section. For more on the Lions, visit SB Nation Detroit and Pride of Detroit.