Report Card: Grading the Detroit Lions at the quarter mark
Defensive Line
Regarded as the deepest and most talented position group on the team entering 2019, this group ironically ranks as the most disappointing and underachieving unit after four games. What’s the deal?
Injuries have certainly been a factor. After an impressive rookie season, Da’Shawn Hand has yet to play in 2019 after suffering an arm injury in training camp. His versatile game and perfect scheme fit have been sorely missed up front. Undrafted rookie 3-technique Kevin Strong is a nice story, but he has been unremarkable filling in for Hand. Hopefully, Hand is ready to go against Green Bay.
Trey Flowers, the Lions’ marquee free-agent acquisition this spring, also missed most of the offseason recovering from shoulder surgery. Whether his sluggish start to the year was slowed by this recovery remains unknown. Flowers has looked more like his disruptive self the last two weeks, routinely in the face of opposing passers, stuffing running backs all along the line and even forcing a fumble against the Chiefs.
Still, the Lions will need more going forward from their highest-paid defender. He’ll likely never be a consistent double-digit sack man, (it’s always been a rarity on Patricia-led teams) but he’s only on pace for four takedowns, simply not enough.
Late addition Mike Daniels is also currently shelved with a foot injury, meaning that others will have to share the load until he gets back. That could fall on two players, in particular, one who has underperformed.
Perhaps the biggest reason for concern is the lackluster performance of nose tackle Damon Harrison thus far. Harrison was a transformative force after being acquired by the Lions midway through last year, most noticeably in their improved run defense.
That hasn’t carried over this year, as the Lions are surrendering the tenth most yards on the ground per game, the ninth most yards per rushing attempt, and are tied for fourth in rushing scores allowed. Harrison can’t be expected to fix it all himself, but he’ll need to be much better going forward, and show he was worth the contract extension awarded to him by the Lions before the season began.
One bright spot has been interior lineman A’Shawn Robinson, who continues to flourish in a contract year. He has been a steadying presence in the middle of the line and has even recovered to fumbles. He’s not a star, but his performance keeps this unit’s grade from slipping any lower.
Grade: C