Defensive Line Breakdown...

I really like that kid and he’s developing very nicely. He definitely would have broken double digit sacks if it weren’t for all of his injuries (this is a real problem with him, and the only thin I see slowing him down from being a very good pass rusher).

I’m also a little more sweet on Corey Williams. While his penalties were frustrating as all get up, his burst of the snap is elite for his position and can single hand-idly reck running plays when that happens…I’m also real high on Sammie, so I do hope he gets some more reps than last year. It’s awesome, because normally KVB would be the first to get double teamed. Williams certainly demands double teams pretty regularly and SLH did in ’09…but you HAVE to double Suh right!? so yeah, I believe we will continue to see excellent things from that line.

I’m also very interested in Willie Young. He looked fantastic in preseason and Mayhew really talked him up right after the season ended, saying he progressed throughout the season at practice, so with an offseason to get stronger and take after KVb and Cliff, I’m excited to see if he can get some reps in (probably later on in games…)

Detroit’s talent level is alot better with this unit. But what concerns me is the edge rush. It was good at times…but to me more consistancy from the ends is needed to get to the next level. I think overall Detroit has one of the best situations at End in the league. Just that edge presents from both sides seemed lacking (maybe because of injury to KVB). Seems like we can squeeze more sacks out of this unit…..i am not sure would count on Suh racking up 10 sacks a year. A DT doing that consistantly is instant HOF material to me. Give him help with a presents off the edge and this line can go to the next level…and this is a improvement that could very well come from this current group without adding to the roster.

Just look at his numbers when KVB went down. In seven games, he had 5 sacks and 30 tackles. As much as I like Cliff. I think the Jackson has a much higher ceiling.

I’m really looking forward to this coming season, if it happens. While I’m excited to see a number of things I think I’m most excited to see how improved this line will perform.

I also voted Cliff but it was a tossup between LoJack and him. I think LoJack is just getting started and will have the epiphany year that Avril had this year. I think Avril will continue to improve and make for a tremendous presence off the side. Even if his stats weren’t as impressive as they could have been it doesn’t account for all the pressure he applied and all the times he help coral the play to others. I might be showing my homerism but I expect this unit to outperform ’10 and really wow some people.

Of the 3 not mentioned, Flu, Young, and Turner I do have the highest hopes for Young. I like what Flu brings to the table and would rather they keep him over looking to bring in someone else unless it’s a later round sleeper draft pick.
Young might have some potential, but I’m not holding my breath. They seem to like him and that’s good enough for me. Let’s hope he develops. I’m still surprised they didn’t try to convert him to LB.
Turner is a longshot wildcard guy to me. For those saying “who?”, he’s the guy we picked up midseason after KVB went down, when the Bears tried to move him back to their PS. He performed rather well next to Suh back at our farm team, but still went undrafted. He’s pretty small for the position but has shown himself as a capable pass rusher and able to drop into coverage. I’ve moved on from wanting to see Young moved to LB and hope that if they decide to keep Turner around for camp they try switching him over. Odds are he isn’t around on the 53 tho but if they see something out of him perhaps he’ll make it to PS. /shrug We have him as an exclusive rights FA so I would imagine he’ll be brought in to camp on the cheap at the very least.

I would like to see the Lions rotate the linemen more often. The Ends worked out pretty well this year mainly because KVB went down and Turk and Jackson picked up a lot of snaps. I think they played KVB too much. I know the guy never stops, but for the team’s sake and his own, I think we should sub him out more often.

I feel the same way about Suh and Corey. Suh played 70 more snaps than the next highest DT [Kyle Williams of Buffalo]. Seventy snaps is like playing an extra game. I think Sammie Lee has shown in 2010 that he is ready to take on a bigger load, and he should be getting more snaps from both Suh and Corey [who had the 10th most snaps among DTs].

If this team wants to be a serious playoff contender, we need to make sure that our best players have something left in the tank at the end of the year.

But I must say you left out a stat. Turk also had three FF on the QB, he has great potential.

I agree with Turk and LoJack starting with Cliff playing on passing downs.

His run support is better but it is hard to argue against Jackson and McBride since they are so much more well rounded.

Suh is clearly the physical anchor of the D line and KVB is the mental anchor. Having two guys like this on a D line is flat out scary for an O coordinator.

Back to the poll question. I just do not know. Any one of those players mentioned has a chance to be successful and that is a product of a line that can damage you from every position. Most D lines in the league have 1 or 2 weapons. Our starting 4 can damage you from at least 3 if not all 4 positions (C Will was an unsung hero this year but he has some work to do with his concentration, the off sides gotta stop).

Who the hell do you double when you have 5 players lining up against 4 players that can all hurt you when single blocked? Add to that, the anticipated 5-2-4 or 5-3-3 that i expect to see this next season along with the 3-1-3-4. The versatility, strength and talent on this line causes problems all along the O line.

I remember a play where the Lions lined Turk (I think) on LDE and he completely bull rushed the TE that was left on an Island against him. The TE was in the QBs lap so fast there was nothing just he could do. I really hope the Lions do a lot more swapping out of starters this next season all along the D line. The talented Depth is there and a fresher D line plays stronger later into games.

The D line is the one position on the team that gives me those warm fuzzies when I think about its potential. I literally spend a ton of time each week just thinking of the different wrinkles a group of players like this could use to confuse a teams offense.

Not only do you have Suh, you have Avril who’s probably our best pure pass rusher; KVB, a fantastic, non-stop leader; CW, tough, mean and underrated; plus guys like LoJack, Turk and SLH. I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do next season.

If I’m A. Rogers I might be asking myself, just won Superbowl…check, still can can control when I urinate…check, have to face the Lions D-line twice a year….ahhh maybe I should retire? For that matter wonder how Cuntler feels about his boo-boo on his knee now or any other QB that has to face Detroit this year? Please Gunny play some 5-2 shit this year!

Besides another year of experience, recooping injuries, and "gelin’ " better. How do you make this team better.

When Suh was in college had the benefit of great DBs, and we all know what he did his senior year. He’s a run stopper that gets to the QB, because he can, but mostly because he pursues to the last second. If you give him 1 more second, it is like an eternity to this guys.

I say give the D-Line one more second. Make the QB’s struggle to find an open man for one more second, and I will show you some (more) banged up and bruised butted QB’s.

I just get all giddy thinking how much better these guys will be with a better back field.