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Is Bob Quinn’s plan for the Detroit Lions working? Comparing 2015 to 2019

By Michael Kirkland

ALLEN PARK, MI - FEBRUARY 07: General Manager Bob Quinn of the Detroit Lions speaks at a press conference after introducing Matt Patricia as the Lions new head coach at the Detroit Lions Practice Facility on February 7, 2018 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ALLEN PARK, MI - FEBRUARY 07: General Manager Bob Quinn of the Detroit Lions speaks at a press conference after introducing Matt Patricia as the Lions new head coach at the Detroit Lions Practice Facility on February 7, 2018 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Oruwariye is a Detroit LIons rookie CB
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Detroit Lions Secondary

Then:

Darius Slay, Glover Quin, Nevin Lawson, Quandre Diggs, Rashean Mathis, James Ihedigbo, and Isa Abdul-Quddus were the main players used. Don Carey, Dwight Bentley, Crezdon Butler, Isaiah Johnson, and Josh Wilson made up the reserves and special teams players.

Now:

Slay, Tracy Walker, rookie Will Harris, Justin Coleman, Rashaan Melvin, Tavon Wilson, and Quandre Diggs (until trade deadline) were the 2019 Detroit Lions starters. Jamal Agnew, Mike Ford, rookie Amani Oruwariye, Dee Virgin, and rookie Mike Jackson round out the corners, with Miles Killebrew and C.J. Moore as the safety depth.

Verdict: Better, faster

This is an area where we have noticed a big upgrade in talent from the 2015 Detroit Lions, who lacked speed and playmakers in the back end. Almost every guy is faster and more skilled than his 2015 counterpart. The problem is that the scheme has asked these men to cover for too long in a man-cover heavy playbook.

Another problem is that man-coverage also relies upon defensive backs turning their body towards the man that they are covering, leaving increasingly athletic quarterbacks unattended by any of them. This has burned the Motor City Kitties in several important fourth-quarter situations where a quarterback ran for big yardage while DB’s were locked on a man downfield.

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