Detroit Lions biggest surprise just around the corner
By Robert Jones
There are certainly other names that have been mentioned like Devon Kennard, Luke Willson, Quandre Diggs, Michael Roberts and even this years first round pick Frank Ragnow as possibilities to break-out, and who knows maybe many of them will, but perhaps the biggest surprise will actually be a player that many Lions fans have decided to forget about; Teez Tabor.
Last year, Teez Tabor underwhelmed general managers around the NFL by running a 4.75 in the 40 yard dash at the combine. Despite the fact that almost every front office man knew what types of instincts and ball skills Tabor brings to the table, he still has to be able to run with NFL receivers.
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In the second round of the 2017 NFL draft, Lions general manager Bob Quinn selected Tabor without a second thought.
When asked about it, Quinn pointed out that as he watched more and more film on Tabor not only was impressed with Tabors ability, but also no one was running away from him. As some like to say, ‘film don’t lie’.
The Lions then proceeded to bury Tabor on the bench letting him spend the majority of the season learning his craft without having to deal with the effects of being burned on the job while figuring this league out.
Late in the season Tabor left the bench and started to get minutes. Then something amazing happened; most people never even realized he was on the field.
It’s an old thought process that when you don’t notice a corner back during a game, then that means he’s doing a good job because nothing is happening in his territory. It’s usually when receivers are running relays past a corner back or he makes a spectacular play that we hear his name called.
Tabor had his name called very little. He didn’t do anything really spectacular nor did he get burned to a crisp. He basically played well enough to prove he wasn’t the bust many fans thought he was.