Detroit Lions 2021 Midseason Report Card: Evaluating the 0-8 start

Defense- 2.3/5 Stars

After the Week 6 loss to the Bengals I said this, but I will say it again here. The performances by the defense this season have perfectly encapsulated what many expected this season to look like for the Lions. Aaron Glenn’s unit has played with grit and tenacity to overcome injuries, and they have put together stretches of really solid football.

However, they also have had stretches of the opposite. The Week 8 game against the Eagles stands out in that regard.

Nonetheless, the defensive performance through eight weeks has been about as good as anyone could have hoped for. The Lions have four starters who are rookies, and a fifth who is a rotational piece. And the player with the highest draft pedigree of that bunch is the rotational player. This is not to dismiss the contributions of Levi Onwuzurike. I have been a huge fan of his because he does things like this.

It speaks to how much the Lions are relying on their young guys that they currently have two undrafted free agent rookies starting at corner. Not to mention a fourth-round rookie starting at linebacker. This team is building for the future, and right now that means getting their young players a lot of snaps. While there will be plenty of bumps in the road, the Lions will be better off for it in the future.

Best defensive player: S Tracy Walker 

Walker has been a man on a mission this year, in the run game and in pass coverage. He will surely eventually reel in an interception this season, as he is around the ball a lot and the law of averages demands it.

Walker has been by far the best defensive player for the Lions, especially with Romeo Okwara out for the year. He has also been one of the most fun Lions’ players to watch this year.

Worst defensive player: S Will Harris

After praising one safety now I will criticize the other. Harris has been really bad this year. And it goes beyond him being bad in coverage or missing assignments. The guy simply cannot defend the run in any capacity. He usually can’t get a hand on a runner in open space because his angles of pursuit are awful, and when he is in position to make a tackle he whiffs far too often.

During games, folks on Twitter will tell you exactly how Harris is playing–not well.