Detroit Lions: Pass rush must improve to see 2018 success

After a lackluster preseason, the Lions need to improve on many things to get back to the playoffs, and rushing the quarterback is one of those things.

The preseason is finally over, and as exciting as it was to watch our beloved Detroit Lions, it was made evident in last week’s 35-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns that this team still has a lot of work to do.

One area that perhaps needs to be improved upon first is the pass rush. Detroit’s pass rushers haven’t exactly looked like world beaters this preseason, as they’ve only two sacks all preseason: one from Sylvester Williams and one from Christian Ringo.

As little as the starters played this preseason, two sacks in four games is still a very disappointing statistic. It’s more of the same mediocrity from last season, as the Lions were only able to amass 35.0 sacks last season, or a mere 2.2 sacks per game.

While that sack-per-game mark is just below the league average, it was not enough for the Motor City defensive line to be seen as a threat by opposing offenses, and it’s a unit that needs to seen as more intimidating in 2018.

In order to be seen as more intimidating in 2018, the pass rush needs to become more consistent, and that starts with its former Pro Bowl defensive end Ezekiel Ansah.

While Ansah was able to reach the quarterback 12 times in 2017, nine of those sacks were in three games. As good as Ansah has shown to be in spurts, his success has been sporadic and he needs to stay healthy for an entire season in order for the Lions defensive line to improve.

Entering his sixth season in the league, Ansah’s role has shifted and he is seen by many as the leader of this unit. It’s always good for leaders to be confident, and that’s exactly what Ansah is, as he told Tim Twentyman of Detroitlions.com his expectations:

"Obviously, it’s going to be a dynamic scheme. We’re going to do any and everything, so just wait until the season and you’ll find out. I’m excited about it.” Ansah said after practice Tuesday.“I just have to take care of my job. There’s going to be four, five, six pass rushers that are going to be in at the same time and everybody has to do their job. We’re going to be straight.”"

That new scheme could be everything the Lions need since head coach Matt Patricia was known in New England for tailoring his scheme to fit the players he has. Considering how sub-par the Lions pass rush has been in recent seasons, a new scheme may be exactly what they need to succeed.

What may also help is some fresh faces that weren’t around to contribute in 2017. The Lions acquired dynamic rusher Eli Harold in the offseason, and he’s excited to get a chance to compete, especially against his former team in Week 2.

And while he has been quiet so far this preseason, Kerry Hyder Jr. returns after missing all of 2017 due to injury. Hyder burst onto the scene out of nowhere in 2016, posting 8.0 sacks in 2016 and proving to be a formidable rusher opposite of Ansah. Look for him to return back to his successful ways in 2018.

Harold and Hyder Jr. are both well and good, but for this unit to truly improve, they’re going to need contributions from more than just those three. The addition of Sylvester Williams in the offseason should help put some pressure up the middle, and third-year defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson is due for a breakout season.

If Patricia’s new scheme can manage to get contributions out of all of these players, there’s no doubt that the defensive line will improve from its quiet 2017. In other words, the pieces are in place for the Lions to have a good defensive line. Patricia just has to find a way to put them together.