Detroit Lions have an extra advantage in facing Patriots rookie Bailey Zappe

Facing a rookie quarterback in his first start is an inherent advantage, but the Detroit Lions also know plenty about Bailey Zappe.

The Detroit Lions defense has been mostly awful through four games, and the numbers make awful feel like too plain of a word. But their Week 5 opponent, the New England Patriots, will be down to their third-string quarterback–rookie Bailey Zappe.

NFL reporter Jordan Schultz passed along the news Friday.

With Mac Jones (ankle) out and Brian Hoyer leaving the game with a concussion, Zappe saw his first NFL action in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers. The record-setting fourth-round pick out of Western Kentucky completed 10 of 15 passes for 99 yards with a touchdown in the game, while also taking three sacks.

The Patriots will surely make the ground game the focus of their game plan on Sunday with Zapper making his first start. But the playbook could be opened up a bit more than it was last week when he was pressed into emergency-style duty.

The Detroit Lions have extra knowledge of Bailey Zappe

The Lions coaching staff led one of the teams at the Senior Bowl back in February, and they got a close look at Zappe on the American squad.

This past week, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke about Zappe.

"Highly intelligent,””I mean, he picked up the offense very quickly. Very composed. Just had a good command of the huddle. Teammates respected him. You could tell they listened to him, and he kind of plays that way.”"

Zappe set FBS single-season records for passing yards (5,987) and passing touchdowns (62) in his lone season at Western Kentucky last year, but a lack of ideal NFL size (6-foot-1) and arm strength dropped him to the fourth round of the draft.

Campbell talked further about the Patriots approach with Zappe under center.

"I thought they did a good job with him of just trying to get him settled in and being smart and not putting him in a bind, continue to run the football, do things to get the ball out, and then a little play-action,”  And I know, if he’s the guy, he’ll be much more settled… But he’s certainly — he’s got the FBI (football intelligence) for sure."

The Lions have a somewhat inherent advantage Sunday facing a rookie quarterback in his first start. But they also got a close look at Zappe during the pre-draft process, which can only help the defense find a get-right opportunity.