The slightly too early Detroit Lions All-Decade defense
Lions All-Decade Defensive Ends
Defensive Ends: Ezekiel Ansah (2013-18), Kyle Vanden Bosch (2010-12)
Now that Ziggy has moved on, I have a feeling that he’ll be a little more appreciated in retrospect than he ever was in action. Injuries usually prevented him from giving more, but at his best, Ziggy was a nightmare to block.
Making All-Rookie in 2013, finishing with 14.5 sacks in his Pro Bowl 2015 season and another 12 in his last fully healthy year (2017), tell me you wouldn’t be thrilled if hugely expensive FA signee Trey Flowers came anywhere near that.
3 years later - Re-evaluating the Detroit Lions’ 2016 draft class. light. Trending
Similar to Jeff Backus last week, I needed to break the ‘four years’ rule for KVB, since defensive ends have rotated through Detroit just as fast as their counterparts on the offensive line. Vanden Bosch came to Detroit at the tail end of a productive career (three Pro Bowls as a Titan), leading by example and immediately helping to change the defensive mentality.
A player known for his limitless motor was right at home in the Motor City, and the defensive transformation from 2010 onward began with KVB and his red contact lenses (and another guy who I’ll get to in about three seconds, depending on how fast you can read).