Detroit Lions’ linebackers dominated the Colts, should do the same to Jets

Last season the Detroit Lions’ linebackers were the weight hanging around the team’s neck, but the 2017 preseason has shown something completely different.

Reasons to cheer for the Detroit Lions‘ linebackers were few and far between in 2016. They were ravaged by injury, to the point where by the end of week two a converted defensive lineman was in coverage for the final drives that let the game slip away. Bob Quinn added veteran and rookie depth this offseason and it showed on the field against the Colts.

Early on Jarrad Davis looked like he was in full command of the defense. He got other players lined up where they needed to be, and provided the best pass coverage from the Lions linebackers since 2014. Davis showed a level of awareness in zone coverage that has been lacking since DeAndre Levy roamed the field beside Stephen Tulloch. even when he was not making the tackle himself, he was right there to make the hit if the first tackler failed.

Tahir Whitehead was flying around the field in both run support and pass coverage. Free from the shackles of herding his teammates, Whitehead looked like a completely different player than the guy trying to do everything at once last year.

Antwione Williams alternated between great and subpar play, but asking more from a day three pick entering his second season would be a bit much. He was better against the run than the pass, and better in man coverage than zone, particularly when in the middle of the field. Chasing players to the flat, he showed closing speed that was not there last year. He has clearly done some work.