Grading the Detroit Lions Free Agent acquisitions
By Mike Payton
Reshean Mathis
Sep 21, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback Rashean Mathis (31) is announced before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Health: The ageless wonder is bound to deal with some minor injuries this season. More likely to miss practice than games.
Grade: 3
Big Play: Mathis can make the big plays when needed. one example was his pick 6 against Buffalo this past season. The Lions needed a spark and he supplied. They lost but Mathis still had a good game.
Grade: 3.5
Dependability: Mathis is depended on to be more than just a body on the field. Mathis is the unspoken captain of the secondary, the mentor, the teacher. The Lions depend on him for those things and he supplies it every Sunday.
Grade: 4.5
Smart Play: As the teacher, Mathis leads by example with his play. If Mathis couldd teach the guys to avoid the illegal contact penalties that would be great. Mathis was flagged 8 times this past season 5 of them were illegal contact.
Grade: 3.5
Impact: Mathis is the backbone of this defense. What he brings to the table is his professionalism and his experience. The fact that Mathis is able to contribute like he does at his age is a testament to his training and his preparation. His mentoring is paying off with guys like Darius Slay who was probably the happiest to see his mentor and friend return. This was a very important move for the Lions because Mathis can train his replacement as well.
Grade: 5
Final Grade: 19.5
What do you think? How would you grade these signings? leave your comments below and be sure to follow me @Lionmike26