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Will the Lions’ failure to address their pass rush in the draft hurt them?

By Mansur Shaheen

Sep 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) is helped off the field by defensive end Wallace Gilberry (95) during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) is helped off the field by defensive end Wallace Gilberry (95) during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Lions addressed many of their pressing needs early in last week’s NFL draft. Jarrad Davis was selected in the first round to help replace DeAndre Levy, and a pair of cornerbacks selected add help in the secondary. What need did they not address?

The terrible pass rush.

The Lions only sacked the quarterback 26 times last season, tied for second-worst in the NFL. Kerry Hyder was a surprising force on the defensive line, but that was about it. Ziggy Ansah struggled with injuries and never got going. There was an utter lack of pass rush from the interior as Haloti Ngata saw his age catch up to him, and A’Shawn Robinson still growing into his role as an NFL starter.

Both linebackers drafted by the Lions, Davis and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, are more accustomed to staying back in pass protection or as QB spies. Neither are exceptional pass rushers. Arkansas’ Jerimiah Ledbetter was the first pass rusher the Lions drafted in the 6th round. Ledbetter most likely isn’t ready to start yet.

Ledbetter
Sep 10, 2016; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter (55) tackles TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Deante Gray (20) during the first quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Ledbetter is undersized for a defensive tackle.  He does not have the physical tools to play as an edge rusher either. Unless he makes drastic changes to his body this offseason, he won’t be ready to make an impact for the Lions this season. The Lions drafting him knowing he would not make an immediate impact, though.

In free agency, they added Akeem Spence and Cornelius Washington. Spence is a good pick up from Tampa Bay, but he isn’t much more than a rotational piece in the Lions front seven. Washington will spend most his time sitting behind Hyder.

With limited options left in free agency, the Lions are putting a huge bet on their existing personnel developing. Ansah will have to return to form and Detroit will hope that Hyder’s breakout year was not a fluke. Even if the edge rushers perform as expected, there will not be a lot of pressure coming from the interior.

Haloti Ngata is reaching the twilight of his career. He has seriously regressed in back to back years since his arrival in Detroit, and may not even have the starting job entering the season. Robinson is still young and developing, but he will need to make a huge jump this season to be the pass rusher the Lions desperately need.

Detroit entered the draft with a lot of needs on defense, maybe too many even. They did not address possibly one if their largest issues last year. With limited options on the roster and a lackluster group of remaining free agents available, the Lions may yet again find themselves with one of the league’s worst pass rushes in 2017.

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Next: Lions to Play Jarrad Davis at Middle Linebacker

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