Detroit Lions: Will it be the return of the Silver Rush?
By Robert Jones
Now having pointed out the need to make wholesale changes in order to give Patricia a chance to succeed, that doesn’t mean that success is guaranteed. Patricia will still need to improve as a head coach and the domino effect will have to play out on the field with an improved roster.
They will also need to have their weaknesses play like strengths. The offensive line will need to have someone step up and claim the left guard position and play it well to solidify the line. The young receivers that fill out the roster behind Marvin Jones, Kenny Golladay, and Danny Amendola will have to develop and be ready to contribute when called upon.
The same can be said about tight end T.J. Hockenson. He has plenty of talent and upside, but the sooner he can be a positive contributor every time he steps on the field, the faster the offense will progress. And it goes without saying that Matthew Stafford has to bounce back and play better than last year.
On defense, the secondary is stronger. Safety Quandre Diggs is now the leader on the back end. He has two young but enormously talented counterparts in Tracy Walker and rookie Will Harris. Darius Slay will man one corner and veteran Rashaan Melvin would appear to be the favorite on the other side. Justin Coleman is the best in business in the slot.
The linebackers have much to prove. The biggest addition is second-round pick Jahlani Tavai who has impressed everyone, but we still need to see him in actual game action.
Then there is the defensive line. The unit that was picked apart down to the bare bones last year because almost none of the returning defensive linemen fit Patricia’s scheme.
It caused immediate concern and for good reason, but they wouldn’t have done any better by keeping that line intact. The change was necessary and continued into the offseason and even training camp. Good defenses start on the line of scrimmage. They start in the trenches. And fans who are starting to get excited about this defense have good reason to be optimistic about the trenches.