Detroit Lions: Teez Tabor’s unusual offseason training session

Could offseason training with a former Pro Bowl wide receiver give new life to struggling Detroit Lions‘ cornerback Teez Tabor?

Watching Teez Tabor toil on the field for the Detroit Lions in 2018 was a lot like trying to swat an invincible mosquito right in the middle of your forehead. Facepalm after facepalm.

The Lions’ former second round pick from 2017 has struggled mightily on the field in his first two NFL seasons, and time is running out for him to prove that he can turn it around. So, he has taken  a rather unique approach this offseason in hopes of salvaging his tenure with the Lions.

An image recently surfaced of Tabor training with former Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, participating in a “release” routine.

Ochocinco has been known for conducting offseason and in-season training sessions with wide receivers such as the New York Jets’ Robby Anderson and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Antonio Brown. However, such a workout involving a cornerback seems unusual.

Current players training with former NFL notables is commonplace these days. Lions cornerback Darius Slay, for example, spent time in the offseason with Hall of Fame defensive back Rod Woodson as a young player, and has subsequently become one of the NFL’s highest regarded corners.

In addition, prior to posting career-best numbers across the board in 2017, Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones spent time training in the offseason with Hall of Fame wideout Randy Moss. The method of working with former NFL stars of the same position has had some serious payoff for the Lions.

Outside of Slay, the Lions lack one major component in the cornerback room – playmaking. According to Sportrac, the Lions currently have seven corners under contract for 2019 aside from Slay. Those seven have zero combined career interceptions. That includes veteran Nevin Lawson, who has yet to record a pick in five NFL seasons. Yikes.

Good cornerback play isn’t just measured by interceptions, though. Looking at Tabor’s playing time, it obvious that he just doesn’t have the coaches’ trust yet. After his early season struggles in 2018, he appeared in just one game between Weeks 11 and 15 before playing 50 snaps on defense in a win against the Green Packers in Week 17.

When Tabor was drafted in the second round in 2017, it was considered a stretch by Lions general manager Bob Quinn. Considering his disappointing 40-yard dash time of 4.62 seconds in the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine, some considered his selection downright shocking.

Cornerbacks do take time to develop. Many consider it the hardest position for a rookie to grasp.  Only four of the 46 rookie Pro Bowlers since 2010 have been selected as cornerbacks, so there’s a clear learning curve for corners, and it’s steep. The Lions don’t need Tabor to be a Pro Bowler. They can’t however, afford for him to be a liability anymore.

The sight of Tabor training with Ochocinco isn’t stop-the-presses type news, and hardly guarantees anything for Tabor going forward. However, Ochocinco’s pedigree of helping to boost gifted receivers and having an eye for talent has been obvious in the past. After all, he pegged Lions receiver Kenny Golladay as a future star before Golladay had even taken a regular season snap. Could he really help Tabor?

Tabor’s spot on the Lions’ roster is no sure thing going into 2019. Count on the team adding help in the cornerback room at some point this offseason, likely more than once. In order to avoid being labeled as an early round draft whiff, the pressure will be on Tabor to make some legitimate, observable progress soon, and improve his situation and prospects with the Lions. Maybe Ochocinco can work his strange magic again.

Do you think that Teez Tabor can turn his career around and become a contributor for the Lions? Let us know in the comments section below.