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Will the Detroit Lions linebackers leap forward in 2018?

By Michael Kirkland

NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 15: Jarrad Davis #40 of the Detroit Lions tackles Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 15, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Lions 52-38. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 15: Jarrad Davis #40 of the Detroit Lions tackles Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 15, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Lions 52-38. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images /

The Detroit Lions’ linebackers struggled in 2017. Youth, health, and depth were issues. Will that be the case again, in 2018? Let’s take a look.

As we inch toward the end of July and Detroit Lions training camp, July 27th, we need to kill some time. Here at Kick in the Crotch Weekly  (what I’ve dubbed my long-suffering Lions fandom), we try to help as much as we can. You’re desperate for football, and I can give you a quick fix.

This is the third installment in evaluating the six main position groups of the Lions roster. Already covered, offensive line (OL), and defensive line (DL). This week the linebackers (LB) are up. Are the linebackers better, is the depth better than 2017, and who is likely to make the 53-man roster?

The six main groups of the Detroit Lions roster are: offensive line (OL), defensive line (DL), linebackers (LB), quarterbacks and running backs (RB), defensive backs (DB), and wide receivers and tight ends (WR). I’ll handle the special teams players in with the last group.

Recap of 2017

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The Detroit Lions ranked 27th in yards as a defense. They ranked 21st in points per game. The biggest theme from 2017 was breaking in rookie middle linebacker, Jarrad Davis.

Tahir Whitehead and Paul Worrilow, were put around Davis as the other starters. Whitehead lined up on the weak side, and Worrilow on the strong side. They never seemed to quite function well together.

For much of the season, Davis showed his first-round talent, but he struggled in coverage and juggling the weight of calling the defense.

Tahir Whitehead took over play calling, and Davis made improvements. Davis started (14) games inside, and Worrilow started (8); much like the offensive line, injuries and lack of depth plagued the Lions’ linebackers.

Jaylen Reeves-Maybin, NIck Bellore, and Steve Longa provided the depth.

Pro Football Focus Grades

Pro Football focus grades every player, and here we are using their grades as a way of evaluating their performances from 2017. It is not the only way to look at player performance.

PFF Grades:

Tahir Whitehead: 79.6 (average)
Paul Worrilow: 60.1 (below average)
Jarrad Davis: 46.1 (poor)
Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 73.6 (average)
Steve Longa: 40.5 (poor)
Nick Bellore: 65.6 (below average)
Devon Kennard: 71.0 (average)
Christian Jones: 45.3 (poor)

As you can see, PFF didn’t grade our rookie, first rounder very well. A lot was asked of Davis coming in. Getting comfortable with coverage and the NFL as a whole is a tall task, taller when you’re a high pick.

As we would expect, Whitehead, who moved outside after a mediocre year playing middle linebacker, was the highest graded ‘backer.

At the end of the year, the Detroit Lions decided to part ways with Whitehead and Worrilow, while moving Nick Bellore to offense as a fullback.

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