Detroit Lions: The small stats that could make a big difference this season
Small Stat #4: Games started at linebacker for Jahlani Tavai
Target number: 16 games
Why 16?: I’m pretty certain that considering his youth, the front office incentive for him to get opportunities, and inevitable injuries that decimate every NFL roster, Tavai will see some starts this year. To me though, there’s a noticeable difference if he’s slotted in right from the start versus entering the starting lineup a month in or at midseason.
If it’s the latter, that doesn’t automatically bode well for Tavai’s development or the state of the Lions’ options at linebacker. It could mean that someone is injured, or underperforming, or the staff is still trying to figure out a combination of players that they like at the position.
However, if Tavai is a starter right from Week One (and holds down the job), my interpretation would be different. I’d take that to mean that he had a great camp, outplayed a bunch of peers in a competitive fight for spots (see: Linebacker Power Rankings), and the coaching staff feels like they really have something with him.
Next. The Detroit Lions top 10 plays of the past decade. dark
Trickle Down Effect: A Tavai uprising could make a Jarrad Davis transition (either to a different position or a different team) all the more likely. The line is the defensive unit that everyone agrees needs to be much better, the secondary is the unit that we’re pretty worried about…maybe a great season from Tavai could help a little with each of those areas.