The Bad
Ok, so 2016 wasn’t all sunshine and roses in the D. The Lions did blow a two-game lead in the division with three games to go and failed to make a mark against the few decent teams they played. The defense was a mess and thank God these are player awards because discussing the coaching staff is not good for my blood pressure. We had some fun but in the end, it wasn’t exactly a successful season. Here’s to the bad apples that spoiled the bunch.
Biggest Disappointment
Laken Tomlinson looked like the perfect pick at 28th overall for the Lions in the 2015 draft. In need of interior line help, Tomlinson had shot up boards as the draft grew closer and looked like a player who could contribute early. An intellectual with an eye on the medical field post-NFL career, Tomlinson didn’t give up a single sack his final two years at Duke. Fast forward two years and those attributes still haven’t translated to the NFL. He failed to get on the field early and when called upon to start this season, showed little improvement, often getting manhandled at the line. He was outplayed by rookie third-round pick Graham Glasgow and was usually a weak link on the Lions subpar line. Whatever the reason, Tomlinson has not been able put it together at this level and the clock is ticking. His lack of development has stunted the growth of a Lions offensive line in desperate need of consistency.
Worst Hands
This should surprise a total of zero fans as Eric Ebron has always had issues securing the ball. Ain’t no one tryna catch these hands cause these hands can’t catch. Sadly, among a group of pass catchers that had way too many drops, Ebron still managed to stand out for his exceptional ability to let perfectly placed balls hit the ground. He led the Lions in drops with seven despite being only fourth on the team in targets. Ebron’s 8.2% drop rate was worst in the NFL among players with more than 50 targets. To add some positional context, THREE NFL tight ends saw more than 50 targets without dropping a single pass. Ebron may never be Jordan Reed (89 targets, zero drops) but can he at least approach Cameron Brate (81 targets, zero drops)? The former 10th overall pick has a case for each of the first three negative awards on this list and it’s all about those hands. A tight end who can’t block and can’t catch? Woof.
He Is Who We Thought He Was
Riley Reiff was never the most consistent left tackle. He was serviceable but unimpressive and known to occasionally get blown by at the line like a statue. He drew fans ire from time to time but there was a thought that he was simply playing out of position and better suited to right tackle. The Lions selection of Taylor Decker in this year’s draft made that a possibility. Unfortunately, a change in scenery (or at least sides) changed little. Reiff was the same up and down tackle he’s always been, capable of sealing the edge with aplomb one play, but getting blown up instantly the next. He’s not an awful tackle and certainly not the biggest problem on Detroit’s line but he’s far from a difference maker and let’s face it. He is exactly who fans thought he was. It will be interesting to see if the Lions view him as a priority in free agency but I think he’ll be playing elsewhere in 2017.
Best Jekyll & Hyde Impression
Marvin Jones had 482 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his first four games as a Lion. He had 448 receiving yards and two touchdowns his next TWELVE games. Jones had as many games with less than 20 yards (4) that he did with 80+. Hot & cold, up and down, traditional seesaw phrases just don’t do his tumultuous season justice. He went from Minitron to Houdini by the week. It’s hard to quantify how much play-calling and quarterback play affected his numbers but that kind of production is wildly inconsistent for the highest paid receiver on the team. After those first four games, there was no three-game stretch of even 50+ yards. Jones showcased plenty of playmaking ability throughout the season but the Lions need a more reliable every week effort from him. Especially at that price tag.
Worst Route “Attempt”/Miscommunication
C’mon Man! This play summed up an awful day for the Lions where nothing went right at Soldier Field. Golden Tate wasn’t reading the same book, let alone on the same page as Matt Stafford who clearly expected Tate to break off his route. The ball was out to the sideline immediately but Tate was doing his own thing straight up the field giving Jacoby Glenn the easiest interception he’ll ever grab. That turnover deep in Chicago territory would haunt the Lions in a three-point loss where many Lions looked checked out.
Weakest Link(s)
The Lions defense was so porous at all levels, it’s impossible to single out particular areas or players. That’s right, the entire embarrassingly awful Detroit defense is up for this grandiose award. Couldn’t stop the run, couldn’t rush the passer, couldn’t cover, couldn’t get off the field, and really just couldn’t do anything productive. I could fill this “awards” section with members of the Lions defense but that would be so very redundant. 30th in yards per drive, 26th in points per drive, and 30th in allowing successful drives. Yuck. That sounds pretty bad on its own but that’s actually being generous. By DVOA which adjusts for competition, the Lions had the worst defense in the NFL by a mile. The separation between Detroit’s defense and 31st ranked Cleveland is six times the average separation of spots 2-31. We’re talking historically bad. Bad as in bottom five in the past 15 seasons behind teams like the 0-16 Lions and last year’s Saints. Likely the worst defense to ever make a playoff appearance. And people thought this team was good? Oy Vey. That defense needs a top to bottom overhaul. Expect Bob Quinn to make that a priority both in the draft and free agency.
