Detroit Lions’ Glover Quin May Provide Preseason Excitement
By Matt Pelc
talks to a young fan before training camp. Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Feel that football fans? It’s football season! Well, sort of.
We’re just hours away from kickoff in the first football game of the year in the pigskin-loving state of Michigan. It doesn’t matter its just a (don’t call it an exhibition) preseason game, its still football.
Of course that feeling doesn’t last too long deep in the second half where fans are watching players destined to be out of the league or on other teams. Nonetheless, the first preseason game is cause for celebration, and while I am eager to see the dress rehearsal for many Detroit Lions, new and old, one in particular has me eager for the practice games to begin: safety Glover Quin.
Glover’s signing, which came on the same whirlwind day in March that saw the Lions add running back Reggie Bush and defensive end Jason Jones, may have been lost in the star power of Bush. There is no question that if Bush brings what the team and fans hope he’s capable of, he can finally give the offense two-dimensions, and take the pressure of Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and the passing game.
I argue that Quin’s signing (first name pronounced GLOW-ver, last name spelled Q-U-I-N–only one “n”) is even more important for a secondary that has been decimated for years. He has flexibility and can play free or strong safety. Quin’s a typical safety in the fact that he can knock the snot out of someone, but also cover well.
Quietly putting together a solid three years in Houston, where he started all 48 games for the Texans, Glover describes himself as being under the radar, but always comes ready to play.
"“Consistent, tough, smart, under the radar, but a playmaker,” Quin said. “A physical player that’s going to try his best to be out there every single play, every single day.”"
Quin not only brings experience and the potential of great play to the field, he also has shown leadership in tutoring the young players and has a great, positive attitude.
I know, I know–everyone has a “great, positive attitude” in August, however with the Lions of the past, this hasn’t always been the case. Something that has stuck with me for years was when Michael Stone (a.k.a. Stoney), in the glory days of Stoney & Wojo, used to describe the Lions as having “I-75 Eyes.” Meaning that when times got tough around the Pontiac Silverdome, the players would mentally check-out and look forward to the end of the season.
Quin, Bush, and Nate Burleson are among the leaders of the Lions that are constantly positive and seem to offer a different attitude than we’re used to in Detroit.
The Lions were committed to improving their secondary in the off-season. On paper, they’ve been successful. In addition to Quin, they re-signed their best cornerback, Chris Houston, gave oft-injured safety Louis Delmas an incentive-laden contract, picked up former Pro Bowler corner Chris Hope, and drafted promising CB Darius Slay.
Now is the time to see if they gel together, even in practice football. It should be very interesting!