The 10 keys for the Detroit Lions to return to the playoffs

Defense

Alright, let’s take a deep look at the other side of the ball and what needs to happen on defense.

Matt Patricia has completely changed the way defense will be played by the Lions. In his new multiple set defense, versatility will be a big asset and players will be asked to do a variety of things.

The Lions did not put as much effort into assembling pieces for this defense as they did the offense and that may ultimately prove to be a problem. Unless…

5) Teez Tabor

Tabor was the offseason star for the Lions. He was given the majority of the first-team reps opposite of Darius Slay during offseason workouts and looked the part.

If he can take a big step forward this year, Tabor is a play-maker. His college tapes are filled with big plays and whoever starts opposite Slay will get picked on more often because of Slay’s abilities. If Tabor (or whoever wins the starting spot) can hold their own and make just a couple of big plays this year, then the secondary should be very good which will help a suspect front seven.

4) Jarrad Davis

Davis had a fine rookie campaign last year despite his struggles in pass coverage. This year he is expected to be the leader of this defense. Under the tutelage of Matt Patricia, Davis has an outstanding chance to have a breakout sophomore season.

The linebackers are really the heart and soul of this defense and the sooner this unit ‘gets it’, the sooner they have a chance to make the strides necessary to make this defense work.

Davis is at the center of that conversation. He doesn’t have to be perfect, but he does have to be good and show continual improvement throughout the year.

3) Ezekiel Ansah

There is no question that Ansah is the Lions best pass-rusher when he’s healthy. the problem is how often he’s not healthy. Consider this; it was already announced yesterday that he will begin the season on the ‘pup’ list.

That doesn’t mean he can’t or won’t be back in the lineup relatively quickly, but the more time he misses the more they will miss him off the edge.

This defense can use Ansah in a variety of ways and all of them spell doom for opposing quarterbacks. If he’s healthy. His presence is obviously huge to the success of this defense.

2) A’Shawn Robinson

All the recent talk about Robinson is that he is Patricia’s preference to be the team’s starting nose-tackle in any three-man fronts.

Robinson has much more ability than he has exhibited so far, but he has the right man or men to try to get him to that next level. Between Patricia and defensive line coach Bo Davis who coached Robinson in college, it is their responsibility to turn that potential into production.

In a defense like this where the 3-4 concepts are very strong, the nose tackle is the most important position against the run. The nose man much shut down the middle of the line while still occupying enough blockers to create opportunities for the linebackers.

Success on the nose is the number one difference between being really good or really bad on a defense that will mostly be predicated on 3-4 concepts.

1) Matt Patricia

As important as the nose-tackle will be, the truth of the matter is that how well this defense plays will be directly correlated to the job Matt Patricia does.

Yes his assistants are being paid well to do their job and implement Patricia’s defense, but how well Patricia handles his assistants and any opportunities to step in and teach his defense to this group will ultimately be the difference in their success.

It seems far-fetched that this defense will be dominant or even really good, but if they can be hard working and stingy, then that should be good enough when coupled with the Lions offense.

As the players report today and prepare to hit the field tomorrow for the start of training camp, the season stretches out before them with opportunity. An opportunity to prove many wrong and make a run at the playoffs. An opportunity to get that elusive first playoff win since 1991 and only the third overall since 1957. But to do it many things will have to go right.