Detroit Lions: 5 Keys To Success In 2015

Nov 16, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detroit Lions strong safety

James Ihedigbo

(32) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver

(12) during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals won 14-6. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

2. The Team Must Find Consistency In Pass Defense

The Lions were an average team last season when it came to stopping the pass. They ranked 13th in terms of total pass defense, but it was the passing yards they gave up that often determined the outcome of their games. Last season’s run defense in Detroit was outstanding, giving up over 100 yards only twice, but the pass defense was much more erratic.

Every game the Lions lost in 2014 was a game in which they gave up over 225 yards passing. The team was 3-6 (including playoffs) when surrendering 225+ yards through the air. By contrast, they won every game in which they held teams under 225 yards. This pass defense, as with all defense starts at the line of scrimmage with the pass rush, but the secondary is likely an even more important component.

Last year’s starting secondary, cornerbacks Darius Slay and Rashean Mathis and safeties Glover Quin and James Ihedigbo played excellently. They were able to help the Lions to the second best defense in the league, but still gave up some big games through the air.

Interestingly, their issue was not in giving up big games to big receivers. They played in a division against some of the league’s top receiving weapons: Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett and Brandon Marshall in Chicago, and Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson in Green Bay. While they did give up some big games to these guys, the team’s five regular season losses all came while keeping all opposing receivers under 100 yards. Even in the playoff loss against the Cowboys, the Lions kept All-Pro receiver Dez Bryant and all of the other Dallas receiving weapons under 100 yards.

Detroit’s defense is good at shutting down stars, but they struggle when opposing quarterbacks are able to spread the ball around at a high rate. This suggests that they need to find some more depth in the defensive backfield, instead of relying solely on their starters to shut down opponents’ top threats. Slay and Mathis are solid starters on the edges, but a good nickel-cornerback is needed in order to maintain coverage across the field.

Second year defensive coordinator Teryl Austin may have helped answer this by drafting cornerback Quandre Diggs out of Texas in May. Diggs has showed promise during minicamp, and is expected to compete with Josh Wilson and Nevin Lawson for the nickel-back role on defense.

This improvement and competition at the nickel-back spot may be a great solution for the team’s struggle to find pass-defense consistency. Last year, Lawson and cornerback Bill Bentley were expected to compete for the spot, but both missed most of the season due to injury. Hopefully the team can find some way to cover opposing receivers across the entire field to give themselves a better chance at winning each week in 2015.

Next: Protecting the Stars