Projecting The Detroit Lions 2013 Depth Chart
Defensive End:
Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
2012 Overview:
The Lions brought five defensive ends to their 2012 rotation — Kyle Vanden Bosch, Cliff Avril, Lawrence Jackson, Willie Young, and Ronnell Lewis — with high expectations for the unit. After a 17 sack output for this unit — which was thought of as one of the top in the NFL — it was time to shake things up heading into the offseason.
Left Defensive end:
1. Ezekiel Ansah:
Ansah has the tools to become a tremendous defensive end, but the question remains, just how quickly can he become that. He has shown he can play at OTA’s, now he has to prove he can do it in full pads. There’s no question the left side is Ansah’s to lose as we approach training camp.
2. Willie Young:
Young under-performed last year — after he showed flashes of brilliance in 2011 — and he knows it. Now with an inexperienced rotation, he will have every opportunity to play himself onto the field. Young has the versatility to play both defensive end positions, which will make an exciting pre-season as he looks to gain playing time in 2013.
3. Ronnell Lewis:
Lewis was unable to crack the Lions rotation last season — with only one snap taken at defensive end — while being a healthy scratch for the final seven games. The Lions need him to step up this season with all the turnover across the defensive line.
Right Defensive End:
1. Jason Jones:
The Lions coaching staff made it clear they were changing the way they approached their defensive ends. It started with the team withholding a contract offer to Cliff Avril, then signing Jones, and culminating with the two draft picks.
“We couldn’t do that with Cliff. It didn’t fit his skill set,” Jim Schwartz told detroitlions.com of his team defending the run. “We put Cliff in what we thought was the best position for him to be effective for him to help us. It didn’t necessarily put Nick Fairley or Ndamukong Suh in the best position, but that’s coaching.”
The Lions will begin to look at controling the line of scrimmage with the pairing of their two stud defensive tackles and Jones.
2. Devin Taylor:
Taylor is a monster, standing 6-foot-7, 275 pounds. So far at the Lions OTA’s, he has sat out with a nagging hamstring injury. The fourth round selection has the opportunity to make an immediate impact if he proves himself this fall.
2013 Preview:
When Schwartz and Mayhew came to town, they made it known how highly they value the defensive line. This offseason, they lost the top three defensive ends from a year ago. They cut ties with Kyle Vanden Bosch, while Lawrence Jackson and Cliff Avril left via free agency. With a dynamic duo in the middle of the Lions defensive line, it will help ease the transition for the Lions young incomers.