Detroit Lions need this defender to have a big year
The Detroit Lions need for this former second-round selection to finally live up to his draft status and put in a career-performance in 2018.
When the Detroit Lions lost five-time Pro Bowler Haloti Ngata to a season-ending bicep injury in their Week Five defeat at the hands of the Carolina Panthers last season, their defense was never quite the same.
So, when Ngata opted not to re-sign in Detroit this offseason, opting instead to join the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles via free agency, it was a major loss for the Lions’ defense.
Enter in Matt Patricia, former defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, as the Lions’ new head coach. His mere presence is expected to lift Detroit’s defensive unit to new heights this upcoming season. But in order to do so, Patricia is going to need to address the team’s issues along the interior of their defensive line.
That likely means trying to get a career-performance out of third-year defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson. Selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Alabama, Robinson was once touted as a possible first-round pick. But a poor showing at the Scouting Combine plus his lack of production in college scared away many teams.
The Lions, and particularly new general manager at the time Bob Quinn, took a chance on Robinson, drafting him 46th overall. And through his first two seasons in the NFL, he has underwhelmed. As a 16-game starter last season, the pass-rushing defensive tackle was only able to record half a sack.
Robinson did post 53 tackles, six pass defends, an interception and a defensive touchdown last season, all impressive numbers from the defensive tackle position. But the Lions defense ranked a lowly 27th last season, allowing an average of 355.8 yards per game to opposing offenses.
With the loss of Ngata, suddenly Robinson is in the spotlight at the center of a new defensive scheme led by Patricia, one of the brightest defensive minds in the NFL. Along with free agent signees Sylvester Williams and Ricky Jean-Francois, the Lions must see much-improved play from their interior defenders.
According to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com, the Lions need Robinson to live up to his lofty draft status now more than ever.
"“On the inside, Detroit must figure out how to replace top run defender Haloti Ngata. A’Shawn Robinson is the leader to do it, though the former second-round pick didn’t exactly inspire confidence with a ho-hum sophomore season in 2017. The ability is there, but he just didn’t make the step forward many expected. And with Ngata out, Detroit needs him to do it more than ever.”"
Next. The Detroit Lions All-Time Defensive Team. dark
Even during his time at Alabama, A’Shawn Robinson only showed glimpses of being a dominant defensive player. He is still a traits prospect who has yet to live up to his potential. The fear is he never will. But with a new defensive-minded head coach motivating him, could this be the season Robinson finally becomes the player every Lions’ fan desperately wants him to be?