Detroit Lions: Snacks was a treat for the run defense

The Detroit Lions traded for Damon “Snacks” Harrison ahead of Sunday’s game, and he’s turned out to be a treat for the defense when he’s on the field.

The Detroit Lions defense was pushing in the middle of the pocket, blowing up the protection for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Unlike other moments during this game, Wilson was boxed in from the sides as well. Down he went. Sack. Courtesy of the man nicknamed Snacks.

Damon Harrison, the newly acquired defensive tackle, came away with the pressure and the sack, which was one of only two sacks in the game. When a play was being made on defense, it seemed he was on the field.

Harrison posted seven solo tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. Reportedly the first defensive tackle in Lions franchise history to produce those numbers in a single game. The crazy part, it was his first game wearing the Honolulu blue with less than a week to learn the defense.

The team made the trade looking to shore up its poor run defense, something they’ve been trying to do for almost a year. Landing Harrison seems to be an immediate improvement.

According to Lions writer Tim Twentyman on Twitter, Seattle averaged 3.2 yards per carry with Harrison on the field. When he stepped out for a breather, the rate skyrocketed to 5.6 yards per carry.

Harrison’s impact for this Detroit Lions defense was immediately felt. And he was only on the field for a little more than half the defensive plays at 63 percent of the snaps. Looking forward, he will have more than a week under his belt in the team’s locker room, learning the defense and building chemistry with his teammates.

Could Harrison fill the hole left by former Lions defensive tackle Haloti Ngata? So far, all signs point to yes. But the Lions defense still has to put together more consistent outings. On Sunday, they made Seahawks running back Chris Carson look like Marshawn Lynch was still playing for Seattle. The only thing missing was a lewd gesture while jumping across the goal line and some Skittles.

Watching the game, it was easy to see the Seahawks gameplan was completely opened up by the established ground game. Play action and options kept the Lions guessing all afternoon. Had this matchup been played a few weeks later and Harrison being immersed in the Lions defensive playbook, the outcome could have been different. But we’ll never know.

Today, Lions fans get to be excited about the potential the new addition brings to the defense. A boulder in the middle of the line that’s capable of swallowing up running backs and blockers. And a force that can break down the offensive line’s protection of the quarterback.

In another week or two, you might see a major difference in opposing teams trying to run the ball against the Detroit Lions. With the NFC North rankings still muddled, a playoff spot is certainly still attainable. For that reason, fans should hope “Snacks” is the answer to this team stopping the run.