Detroit Lions’ linebacker corps: A work in progress
Did the Detroit Lions’ front office do enough this offseason to address one of their worst positional units of last year, their linebacker corps?
One of the biggest perceived weaknesses on this Detroit Lions’ roster heading into the offseason was their linebacker corps. But has Detroit’s front office done enough to address this need?
Outside of a career-year by Tahir Whitehead, in which he recorded a whopping 132 total tackles, the rest of the Lions’ linebacker unit was practically non-existent in 2016. After Whitehead, the closest linebacker in total tackles for the team was Josh Bynes with 38.
One of the main reasons for this dip in positional effectiveness was the continued injury issues surrounding former Lions’ linebacker DeAndre Levy. After posting an incredible 151 total tackles in 2014, second most in the league that season, Levy has played a total of six games in the past two seasons due to various injuries. The Lions waived the 30-year old in March.
This offseason, Detroit’s front office went about trying to retool their linebacker corps. In free agency, the Lions signed veteran linebacker Paul Worrilow. An undrafted rookie free agent out of Delaware started 43 of his first 47 games with the Atlanta Falcons. In that same span Worrilow averaged 121 tackles per season.
But last year, Worrilow was coming off the bench prior to suffering a groin injury that limited him to 12 games. He recorded 21 total tackles and two pass defends in 2016. Worrilow signed a one-year, $3 million deal with Detroit in March and should compete for a starting role.
In April, the Lions signed linebacker Nick Bellore. The six-year veteran started in 10 games for the San Francisco 49ers last season and recorded 83 total tackles. Bellore figures to provide quality depth for this unit in 2017 as well as be a core special teams player.
The Lions then used a first and fourth round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft on the position. First round selection Jarrad Davis is already a lock to start at middle linebacker come September, moving Whitehead to the weakside. Fourth round pick Jalen Reeves-Maybin shows a lot of potential and figures to be in the long term plans for Detroit.
One Lions’ insider believes the team has done much this offseason to improve one of their weakest areas. But it is still certainly a work-in-progress.
"“The Lions tried to live with linebacker deficiencies last season and got burned. They’re choosing not to live with quite so many any more, and I think that’s the right call,” responded Nate Atkins of MLive.com to a mailbag question. “[Bob] Quinn wasn’t going to fix all three linebacking spots in one offseason, but grabbing Jarrad Davis in the first round and subpackage specialist Nick Bellore in free agency was a decent start. If former Ravens All-Pro Zach Orr‘s medicals check out, he could be another good addition on a prove-it type of deal.”"
Next: NFC North Position Rankings - Linebackers
Until the Detroit Lions hit the field in Week One, no one really knows whether this linebacker corps is much improved, although it certainly appears that way on paper. The play of Jarrad Davis in his rookie season will likely be the deciding factor. But Detroit has added some quality depth as well in players like Paul Worrilow, Nick Bellore and Jalen Reeves-Maybin. I expect them all to be part of a linebacker resurgence in the Motor City this season.