July 28, 2022

‘Shocking stat’ Detroit Lions must improve in 2022

Lions News Reports

If the Detroit Lions are going to make a big turnaround in 2022, they absolutely must improve on the defensive side of the football.

During the 2021 season, the Lions had the No. 29 ranked defense in the NFL with a Total DVOA score of 10.8%. That score put them ahead of only the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New York Jets.

Though the defense did improve (according to advanced stats) from the 2020 season, it was still the seventh-worst defense the Lions have had since 1981.

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‘Shocking stat’ Detroit Lions must improve in 2022

On Thursday, Aaron Shatz of ESPN put out an article in which he lists a shocking stat for each NFL team and the stat he included for the Detroit Lions is very concerning.

The Detroit offense was average in broken tackles, according to Sports Info Solutions charting, after being near the bottom of the league in both 2019 and 2020.

However, the Detroit defense had 159 missed tackles in 2021, 17 more than any other defense. Alex Anzalone led the NFL with 23, while four other Lions had double-digit misses (Tracy Walker III with 14, Charles Harris with 11, and AJ Parker and Jalen Reeves-Maybin with 10 apiece).

159 missed tackles in 17 games?!?! That is absolutely insane! But what is really concerning is that the Lions are bringing back four of their top five missed tackle leaders from a season ago, including LB Alex Anzalone, who led the entire NFL in 2021 with 23 missed tackles.

Nation, how much progress do you think the defense will make in 2022? Are you satisfied with Alex Anzalone being your starting MLB this coming season?

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W.G. Brady is a Detroit-based journalist who has been covering the Detroit sports scene for Detroit Sports Nation for several years. He is in his early 30s and has a wealth of experience in the industry. Throughout his career, W.G. has established himself as a respected and knowledgeable journalist known for his in-depth coverage of the teams and athletes in Detroit. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for sports, W.G. has become a go-to source for fans and readers looking for the latest news and analysis on the Detroit sports scene. He has a good reputation in the sports community and is respected for his unbiased coverage of sports events. W.G. is known for his ability to uncover hidden stories and provide unique perspectives on the teams and athletes he covers. He has a good understanding of the city of Detroit and its sports culture, which he uses to inform his reporting and analysis. He continues to be a respected journalist in the Detroit sports industry.