Will the Detroit Lions really get defensive with their top draft pick?

We all remember how porous the Lions defense was to start the year. They couldn’t stop the run no matter what they did and it showed up in opponents carrying the ball around and through them like they weren’t even there.

Let’s be honest, the average pedestrian off the street would have had a better chance of being struck by lightning and eaten by a nomadic T-Rex then being touched by the Lions defense if they happened to be on the field with a football in their hands.

But the undisciplined and downright stupid play of this unit has changed. Matt Patricia has followed up every loss this season with a post-game press conference admission that they need to coach this team better.

Maybe there was actual truth to that statement since it seems like the lights have finally gone on and these Lions defenders are playing like, well… an NFL defense. Now despite the success they have had as a unit over the last six games, they still need to be better and they have definite holes to fill.

The need for a premier defensive end who can rush the passer and a prime time cornerback head the list, but it doesn’t stop there. The Lions still need more help at linebacker and in the secondary as well. Plus additional depth on the defensive line, considering that Ezekiel Ansah, at least, will probably not be back.

Yet Matt Patricia seems to finally be showing his worth as a coach since his defensive charges are playing rather well on that side of the ball despite the obvious needs they have.

That leads me to be much more willing to say that Patricia may very well still be the answer to the 60-year long head coaching conundrum.

Now we have all been anticipating the Lions getting that blue-chip defender with their first pick and along with some more help that will be brought in during the offseason, turning this unit into an upper echelon defense that can help win a championship.

Yet, suddenly the waters have been muddied…