The Detroit Lions added a veteran pass rusher to their roster Monday as their defense has struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks in the preseason.
The Detroit Lions have recorded one sack in their first three preseason games of 2018. As these are exhibitions, there is no need to hit the panic button in Motown quite yet. Still, the Lions clearly believe there is something missing.
In an effort to fill that void, Detroit signed veteran pass rusher Robert Ayers to a one-year deal on Monday. Turning 33-years old next month, Ayers was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March after posting only two sacks in 2017.
But Ayers is just three years removed from posting a career-high 9.5 sacks for the New York Giants back in 2015. A first-round selection out of Tennesse in 2009, Ayers spent his first five seasons as a member of the Denver Broncos. He’s split the past four seasons split between the Bucs and Giants.
Ayers now enters a rotation in Motown that includes defensive ends Ziggy Ansah. Kerry Hyder and Anthony Zettel. None of whom have recorded a sack in the preseason as of yet. In fact, Detroit was the only NFL team not to record a single sack in their first two preseason games this year. Defensive tackle Sylvester Williams broke that streak on Friday night in Tampa.
The Lions have really been focused on improving their defense the past couple weeks, adding defenders like cornerback Sterling Moore and linebacker Eli Harold recently. You can expect the roster moves to continue as Detroit builds towards Saturday’s 53-man cut-down.
The defense’s biggest obstacle is learning new head coach Matt Patricia’s multiple scheme that he brought with him from the New England Patriots. The quicker Patricia and his coaching staff can implement his system, and the players can learn it, the quicker Detroit will find success.