It's anyone's opportunity on the Lions defensive line
Since the Detroit Lions lost Alim McNeill to injured reserve after their win over the Saints, the big question has been about who is going to replace him down the stretch run? On Friday we learned that the competition is wide open for the Lions. "All those guys are getting opportunities." Lions head coach Dan […]
Since the Detroit Lions lost Alim McNeill to injured reserve after their win over the Saints, the big question has been about who is going to replace him down the stretch run? On Friday we learned that the competition is wide open for the Lions.
"All those guys are getting opportunities." Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. You know, he (Quinton Bohanna,) Levi (Onwuzurkie,) Brodric (Martin,) obviously Buggs and Benito (Jones.) They're all in play, and we'll make that decision tomorrow."
It's going to be a big decision for the Lions on Saturday. They're going to have to choose which of these five guys is going to get on the field for them against the Bears.
Quinton Bohanna seems like a lock at this point. The Lions have elevated him for the last three straight games and he started the last two of them. He's played well too. Plus Campbell had good things to say about him on Friday.
"Bohanna is a load in there. When he does things right, he plays with pad level and uses his footwork and stays consistent. He's a load. He's hard to move."
In terms of who will be along side him, that's where the questions really come in. Benito Jones is another guy that's likely to be lock to play Sunday. Jones has played in every game for the Lions this season and he's played a lot. He's averaging about 34 snaps a game.
So really that opens up one spot. The Lions have been going with typically three active interior defensive linemen a game. If Bohanna and Jones are more than likely locks, who's that third guy?
Do the Lions play Isaiah Buggs in this game? Buggs has been a healthy scratch for the last three games in a row and when he's been on the field this season, he's struggled. Could this be his moment to go out there and get some redemption?
Levi Onwuzurike has also struggled this season. He played on Thanksgiving, but did not play against the Saints on Sunday and wasn't active for quite a while before Week 12. The thing is, he wasn't too bad in Week 12. That could help him get a shot.
Then there's rookie Brodric Martin. He's been the Lions' big project all season long and they've been hesitant to put him out there before they feel he's ready. He played one game this season against the Raiders and it didn't go too well. Granted it was only 11 snaps. The thing about Martin is that he's so big that he eats up space. He's the kind of guy that can take on two offensive linemen and give the Lions rushers time to get to the quarterback. I'm very interested to see him play again.
What are the Lions going to do? They'll make their decision on Saturday, but we won't know until 11:50AM ET on Sunday when inactives come out. Should be interesting.
4 Lions that can have the most success against the Bears
Ok, here we go. Round two for the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. The Lions won round one in insane fashion when they forgot how to play football for 55 minutes and then remembered how to do it in the last five. What's this game going to be like? This time around it's in Chicago […]
