Our Defense and players last year

[Kreton]

In response to the reasons why the defense isn't that great I am going to put up some numbers that show that our defense wasn't as bad as many seem to think.

Overall Defense.

To me the definitive measure is points. The Lions ranked 15th. I am not saying that is good, but that is not that bad.

But to get another idea PFF ranked defenses last year using different criteria and overall they have Detroit ranked 11th.

Now this is going to blow some minds. In terms of pass coverage. PFF has Detroit ranked 10th.

Individually

DEs who played at least 50% of snaps. Willie Young ranked 13th in the NFL. Ansah ranked 24th.
DTs who played at least 50% of snaps. Suh ranked 2nd. Fairley ranked 25th.
OLB who played at least 50% of snaps. Levy ranked 5th. Noone else played 50% of snaps.
ILB who played at least 50% of snaps. Tulloch ranked 4th.
CB who played at least 50% of snaps. Mathis ranked 25th. Houston ranked a sorry 69th.
S who played at least 50% of snaps. Quin ranked 11th. Delmas ranked 25th. (ihedigbo if we get him ranked 14th)

 

[Kreton]

Ranking our CBs overall regardless of snaps.

1. Mathis
2. Greenwood
3. Green
4. Bentley
5. Slay
6. Carey
7. Empty space
8. Houston

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

Ranking our CBs overall regardless of snaps.

1. Mathis
2. Greenwood
3. Green
4. Bentley
5. Slay
6. Carey
7. Empty space
8. Houston

UGH -- it is not good when your best CB last year was the 33 year old guy released by Jacksonville and you didn't pick him up til August.

 

[gandydancer]

This defense still helped along with a high ranking (scoring) offense lose 9 games.

 

[RobBase]

The Lions defense allowed the 5th most points in the 4th quarter in the NFL.

No depth in the secondary resulted an mere 33 sacks from the d-line despite being one of the best front 4's in football because nobody can cover on the Lions. Corner remains the no.1 priority.

 

[Kreton]

The Lions defense allowed the 5th most points in the 4th quarter in the NFL.

No depth in the secondary resulted an mere 33 sacks from the d-line despite being one of the best front 4's in football because nobody can cover on the Lions. Corner remains the no.1 priority.

WR seems to have been the #1 priority.

 

[RobBase]

WR seems to have been the #1 priority.

I would have put WR at 2 or 3 on the list of off season priorities, but I meant going into the draft either way. I don't see how a team with Calvin Johnson can say WR is their top priority.

 

[Kreton]

I would have put WR at 2 or 3 on the list of off season priorities, but I meant going into the draft either way. I don't see how a team with Calvin Johnson can say WR is their top priority.

Whether anyone can see how or not, the Lions made WR their priority this offseason. Houston/Slay might be the guys that this staff thinks are the right guys going forward. This offseason I havent heard the Lions even be rumored with any FA CB. The draft is a crap shoot. And Mathis doesn't seem to be getting much interest from this staff. Regardless of popular fan opinion, the Lions don't seem to see CB as a top priority at least during FA.