Three key unheralded players in 2016
By Matt Urben
The Lions made plenty of moves this off-season, creating depth and competition all around. Another thing Bob Quinn and the Lions have done is give younger players on the roster a chance to start at key positions.
His moves reflect those of a man who is establishing a franchise focused on developing the unheralded players on the roster into starting-caliber contributors. No other players exemplify this approach better than these three players.
3 Most Important Unheralded Players
Number 1: Tahir Whitehead
Position: Middle Linebacker
Age: 26 Size: 6-foot-2, 241 LBS
Whitehead has become a very good player in Teryl Austin’s defense, over the past two seasons. He initially disappointed Lions fans after he didn’t live up the his pre-draft hype under former head coach Jim Schwartz, after he traded up to get him. Before 2014, it looked as if they had missed on yet another mid-late round pick. He thrived once he was forced in to the starting job in the middle, after Stephen Tulloch’s freak celebration injury. He looked comfortable in the middle, showing great speed when covering some of the quicker tight ends and running backs
Last year, with Tulloch back in the middle–his natural position– the team moved Whitehead to the outside. They needed him to help compensate for the loss of DeAndre Levy, who’s injury kept him out practically the entire season. The Lions re-signed Whitehead this off-season, envisioning him as their middle linebacker of the future, Despite Tulloch oddly still being on the roster, there is no chance he starts if he somehow isn’t released.. The team chose not add a linebacker until late in the draft, so Caldwell and Austin are likely sold on Whitehead long-term.
Number 2: Josh Bynes
Position: Outside Linebacker
Age: 26 Size: 6-foot-1, 235 LBS
Josh Bynes, like Whitehead, has been a valuable and versatile linebacker, under defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. He came from the Ravens and thrived in Detroit’s hybrid 4-3 defense, as a do-it-all backup. His pass-coverage has been one of his best assets since arriving. He excels covering tight ends and has played well as an inside and outside linebacker in his two seasons with the Lions. Bynes is a former undrafted free-agent that has clawed his way into a key role on this defense, whether he starts or not.
Last season, he got more playing time in the middle, with Whitehead playing on the outside because of DeAndre Levy being out for most of the season. Bynes is under contract for next year and is the kind of young, versatile player that Bob Quinn covets. It’s not etched in stone that Bynes will get the other outside starting linebacker job, but he has the versatility to stay out on the field on passing downs. The Lions did trade for linebacker Jonathan Bostic, who will compete with Bynes and Kyle Van Noy for the starting spot. If Bynes can lock down that second outside linebacker spot by the start of the season, lookout for a possible breakout year from the 26-year-old in 2016.
Number 3: Quandre Diggs
Position: Defensive Back
Age: 23 Size: 5-foot-9, 200 LBS
Diggs, as I wrote about yesterday, may be the front-runner to replace Rashean Mathis as a starting corner. He’s undersized for an outside corner and probably better suited for the nickel. However, Diggs should great promise and ball-skills as a rookie. He committed his share of penalties but showed the fearlessness that made him such a play-maker at Texas. As a 6th-round pick, the Lions got great value with Diggs now on the verge of starting.
He will not be given the job and has good competition for the position. Nevin Lawson and Alex Carter will be right behind him if he cannot handle starting opposite stud-corner Darius Slay next season. One thing is for sure, whoever starts on the outside better get used to being thrown at a lot. Quarterbacks will not be testing Slay as much, now that he’s established himself as a top-15 corner. Diggs is a good fit for this role since he has a great track record of getting interceptions in college. He excels at playing the ball in the air and has outstanding athleticism for someone who’s only 5-foot-9.