Detroit Lions 2014 Mid-Season Report Card: Defense

Oct 19, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) and the defensive line during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Ford Field. Detroit won 24-23. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

It All Starts Up Front

The Detroit Lions No. 1 defense revolves around the run stopping ability of the teams talented defensive line. They group up front has also don’t a stellar job of getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

At the midway point of the 2014 season the Detroit Lions have recorded 23 total sacks. The defensive line has accounted for more than 75 percent of those negative plays. Ezekiel Ansah leads the group with 4.5, but five different linemen have dropped the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage at least two times.

Against the run, the front four have allowed an average of just 3.3 YPC to opposing teams.

The loss of DT Nick Fairley to an MCL injury will hurt the stout group, but there is depth there. I don’t expect them to miss a beat in the former Auburn Tigers absence.

Defensive Line Grade: A+