What Ricky Jean-Francois adds to the Detroit Lions roster
By Ash Thompson
Ricky Jean-Francois is no flashy pass rusher off the edge. He doesn’t shoot gaps to apply pressure up the middle. He provides depth and stuffs the run. He signed a one year deal with the Detroit Lions.
Ricky Jean-Francois has signed a one year deal with the Detroit Lions today. The veteran defensive tackle has been linked to the Lions throughout the offseason. Upon hearing reports that a deal was imminent with the Lions, he took to Twitter to report it as “fake news”
Apparently, something has changed in the interim. Jean-Francois signed this afternoon . He is a six foot three inch, 313-pound man with the ability to shore up the Lions defense.
He is not the edge rusher that Lions fans have been screaming for. He is not the three-technique that ill-informed prognosticators have been saying the Lions need. He is another big body who clogs the middle of the field.
There are only three reasons for a player to visit a team and not get a deal, only to visit again later. The first is that the team did not like the player’s salary demands, and one side or the other has blinked. The second is that the team did not like the player’s medical, and the player now expects to pass the team’s re-check. The third is that the player wanted to go somewhere else and that ship has sailed.either way, the Lio s eventually got their man at a price both sides agreed to.
More from Detroit Jock City
- Tigers Sign Manager A.J. Hinch to Long-Term Extension
- Lions vs. Bears Week 14 Opening Odds Disrespect Detroit
- Former Tigers Celebrate Jim Leyland Hall of Fame Call
- This Pistons Team Could be the Worst in Detroit Sports History
- 4 Free Agents Tigers Should Sign During Winter Meetings
Jean-Francois has graded out with PFF as a positive run defender for eight straight seasons. His pass rush grade has been negative for six straight seasons. The Lions need another middle clogger to spell Sylvester Williams. Neither he nor Jean-Francois is a three-down player or a high volume snap eater.
This is a depth move. RJF is competing with Josh Fatu, Jo Jo Wicker, Christian Ringo, and Toby Johnson for the fourth and fifth defensive tackle spots. Undoubtedly he has spent the time between that rumored Lions contract and now seeking a better deal. He would not be coming back to Allen Park if there was one.
For his part, Jean-Francois sees a roster he is likely to actually make in Detroit. He spent last season partially in Green Bay, and partially in New England. In spot duty, he made 12 tackles in 12 games between his two stops. He did not record a sack.
Next: 5 lions veterans who need to impress in training camp
He is not the solution that the fans or media want for the Lions, but Jean-Francois is something that the team needs. He has spent time in Matt Patricia’s defense. He has a familiarity with the coaching staff that few Lions players share.