The Detroit Lions three biggest questions going into the Raiders game
By Ash Thompson
The pass rush
The Lions do not have a lot of accomplished pass rushers. Ziggy Ansah just came off the PUP list, so there is not much of a chance that he will be on the field for more than a glimpse. It will be nice to get a look at him. We are, however, going to get a look at the rest of the assembled pass rushers.
Anthony Zettel and Kerry Hyder have both had very promising stretches. Zettel opened last year with a great series of games. He was on pace for 16 sacks after four games.
Hyder finished 2016 with eight sacks. He led the team’s pass rush as Ansah languished with a serious ankle injury. Reports are saying that the Achilles tear Hyder suffered in the first pre-season game of the 2017 campaign has not had any lasting effects.
Devon Kennard was brought in to be the blitzing linebacker the Lions have never really had. The scheme change opens up an entirely different role for linebackers. Lions fans who do not watch a lot of other games will see something very different than they are used to.
Beyond that, we really have no idea what defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni is going to do to generate a pass rush. The first pre-season game is not the moment that we are likely to see the full array of tricks in his bag, but some basics will come to light.