Detroit Lions: Fixing the defense, Matt Patricia charges and roster moves

Defense

Next year at the draft, I would be shocked if we don’t see Bob Quinn address the linebackers and speed of the secondary. The depth along the defensive line is also a concern, but much hinges upon end, Ziggy Ansah’s health, and whether or not he stays for the long-term.

Part of what made Matt Patricia a good candidate was his ability to generate pass rush and keep opposing teams from scoring without having many great players. Two New England Patriots were selected to the Pro Bowl in 2017, in case you wondered.

The Pat’s ranked seventh in sacks. They were fifth in points allowed, too. At one early point in last season, Patricia’s defense was giving up a lot of yards and points, but really rallied to keep teams out of their end zone, and less productive.

In that way, the Patriots and Lions are similarly built. The Lions have few defensive stars, and rely heavily upon their offense, their quarterback in particular, to lead the team to victory.

Obviously, the biggest discrepancy is the difference in the running games of the two teams, where the Lions were last, and the Pat’s were ranked 10th. Thus, why the added emphasis on fixing the run game, while the defense is largely left to scheme changes for new production.

Roster move

Lastly, the Lions released running back, Tion Green, Thursday. Do you approve of the move? Did the Lions need to give him a longer look?

What do you think about fixing the defense? Did the Lions do enough to compete for an NFC North title?

How about the charges from Coach Patricia’s past? Does this change your view of him or the organization? Does he need to do anything to reassure you of his innocence?

Next: Detroit Lions: 15 best first-round draft picks of all-time

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