Detroit Lions: Grades by Position Group
By Alex Reno
Dec 22, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) throws a pass while being pressured by Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) during the third quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive Line
Starters: Ziggy Ansah, Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, Jason Jones
Reserves: Devin Taylor, Larry Webster, CJ Mosley, George Johnson, Caraun Reid
Practice Squad: Xavier Proctor
Grade: C+
This group could end up being the best positional group for the Lions, or it could be the most disappointing. There is a whole lot of talent and athleticism here, but you have three new faces, and one starter coming off of a major lower-body injury.
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After missing most of the preseason, Ziggy Ansah is now back at 100 percent and will be looking to develop more as a pass rusher. I’m excited to see what he can do after a fairly impressive rookie year.
The only concern with Ndamukong Suh is his contract which expires in one year. Other than that, we know he’ll be as dominant as ever. Nick Fairley on the other hand…it all depends on how bad he wants to prove everyone wrong. His weight has fluctuated all offseason and he was benched for a couple games as a result.
George Johnson has been a nice surprise to say the least, and he’s really come out of nowhere. I gave him a zero percent chance to make the team prior to the start of training camp, and he’s been on a mission to prove he can still play.
There is plenty of talent and upside here, I’m just not sure whether we’re going to see the results right away with there being so many question marks.