Detroit Lions: Studs and duds from big Week 6 win over Jaguars

Stud: RB D’Andre Swift

Rookie running back D’Andre Swift had a brilliant day for Detroit. Racking up over 100 yards rushing with two touchdowns, we saw the full range of his abilities today. He demonstrated the skill to find holes and burst through them as he did for a 52-yard gain early in the game, he can get to the edge and turn the corner and pick up yardage for his team and he showed he could be a reliable red-zone runner.

Adrian Peterson has primarily been the go-to back in red-zone situations through four weeks but Swift showed he could be physical between the tackles. That was really impressive as I had concerns about that when he came into the league; facing goal-line defenses where the box is stacked is difficult but he showed today he is more than capable.

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It’s also hard not to admire his character and how his teammates have rallied around him after the Week 1 drop. The rookie has shown tremendous fortitude in coming back from that and he is now improving week by week. The Lions look to have found the franchise back they’ve been looking for over the last 20 years.

Dud: Jahlani Tavai

Jahlani Tavai was considered a reach when the Lions picked him in the second round in last year’s draft. So far, he is making that decision look even more puzzling. Tavai is a strong, physical presence. But he is a woeful tackler.

He whiffed on a tackle as he tried to take James Robinson down. He also got juked out of his boots by Minshew as the quarterback rushed for a touchdown. He didn’t just struggle with tackling and stopping the run. He also looked poor in coverage. There were several instances where he got beaten by his man and had Minshew not been under pressure. Those throws would have been completed.

Linebackers have to be strong tacklers, possess strong eye discipline and be a factor in the run game. Jahlani Tavai hasn’t demonstrated any ability to do that and he could be another second-round bust for Detroit.