Through the draft and free agency, the Detroit Lions have one of more improved pass-rushing units in the league according to PFF
It seems like year after year, fans are begging the Detroit Lions to improve their pass rush. When you are letting quarterbacks like Mitchell Trubisky look like a Pro Bowler, you know there is some serious room for improvement. After this offseason, it looks the Lions might’ve quietly improved their pass rush.
Pro football focus’ Ben Linsey listed the five teams who most improved their pass rush this offseason and the Lions checked in at number three — just below the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins.
The Lions struggled to rush the passer in 2019, ranking at the bottom of the league with a dismal 29.2-percent pressure rate. The standout player was Trey Flowers, who “played well, generating a pass-rushing grade of 78.8 with 62 total pressures in a full season of action”.
Flowers can’t do this all himself, but fortunately, based on the moves made this offseason, he will have some help in 2020.
Devon Kennard registered seven sacks last season — tied for the team lead with Trey Flowers — but his ability to cause consistent pressure left something to be desired. The Lions released him this offseason and drafted his replacement in Julian Okwara.
In theory, Okwara should provide a boost to the Lions’ pass rush, after registering elite pass-rushing grades during his 2018 and 2019 college years. Expectations should be tempered for the rookie, but he has the length and athleticism to be a disruptor on the edge opposite of Flowers.
One of the biggest offseason moves the Lions made was signing former Patriot Jamie Collins to bolster a questionable linebacking corps. Collins has established a reputation in the league as one of the better pass-rushing linebackers, and last year was no exception as “his pass-rushing grade of 76.8 was a top-five mark at the position”. Even though it is expected that Collins will play multiple roles on the defense, he provides a pass-rushing repertoire the Lions have been sorely missing.
The Lions’ defensive line will almost be unrecognizable in 2020, having said goodbye to A’Shawn Robinson, Damon Harrison, and Mike Daniels this offseason. In turn, the Lions signed one of the better pass-rushing nose tackles in another former Patriot Danny Shelton.
Even though Shelton has made a career as a run stuffer, this past year, he was able to elevate his pass rush. His “73.3. pass-rushing grade in 2019 was the highest of his career” and ranked among the Top-15 pass-rushing defensive tackles. With a similar scheme in Detroit, the transition should be seamless for a potential repeat performance.
Pass rushing has been the Achilles heel for the Lions but this offseason the Lions were able to bring in players who should be able to contribute immediately. In theory, the Lions have upgraded their pass rush and if all the pieces click how they are supposed to, they should have a defense that will make them tough to play against.
