Detroit Jock City
Fansided

Five likely winners and five likely losers at Detroit Lions training camp

By Ash Thompson

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 13: Edwin Jackson #53 of the Indianapolis Colts makes a tackle against Michael Roberts #80 of the Detroit Lions in the first half of a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 13, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 13: Edwin Jackson #53 of the Indianapolis Colts makes a tackle against Michael Roberts #80 of the Detroit Lions in the first half of a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 13, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: Kelly Bryant #2 of the Clemson Tigers is pressured by Da’Shawn Hand #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second half of the AllState Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: Kelly Bryant #2 of the Clemson Tigers is pressured by Da’Shawn Hand #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second half of the AllState Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Winner: Da’Shawn Hand

Da’Shawn Hand should have a relatively easy transition schematically from Alabama to the Lions. He has spent years playing two-gap defense and moving from the outside to inside of the line. He has worked with Lions defensive line coach Bo Davis before, the two were both at Alabama during Hand’s early seasons with at the school.

The talent jump from the SEC to the NFL is not as severe as it is from many other conferences, and Hand was a very good player at that level. He will not immediately become an impact starter for the Lions, but He will be in the right place trying to do the right thing the right way. He will be there to do his job.

That is not something you can say about most rookies in the NFL. The veteran advantage is somewhat lost in comparison to the talented rookie.

Loser: Cornelius Washington

Cornelius Washington, on the other hand, was brought in specifically to drop weight and come off the edge, or shoot gaps on passing downs. He had his chance to thrive in a two-gap defense in Chicago, his last stop before Detroit. The reviews were not great. 2017, his only season in a one-gap role, was also his only positively graded season by PFF

Washington has always been a bad fit for this defensive style. He is an athletic player for his size as opposed to a powerful one. Whereas he fit a role in the previous defensive scheme like a glove, it is doubtful that he has a great fit in Detroit now.

Home/Detroit Sports