As the NFL preseason comes to a close, we have an idea of what the Detroit Lions will look like on the offensive (ugh) and defensive (mehh) sides of the ball. While we know who some of the impact players on this team will be (Matthew Stafford and Ezekiel Ansah), there are a lot of uncertainities surrounding these two players on both sides of the ball. With that in mind, here is a look at two players who could potentially impact the Lions’ 2016 season and beyond.
Marvin Jones, Wide Receiver
As you may know, a certain Lions legends at wide receiver named Calvin Johnson decided that it was time to hang up his cleats after nine seasons in the #81 uniform. With Calvin’s retirement, there was an undeniable hole at the wide receiver position and the offense as a whole. Enter Marvin Jones, a wide receiver from Cincinnati who put up decent, albeit, unimpressive numbers for the past four seasons. Due to these decent stats and Jones’ role in the Cincinnati offense as a third option, some people questioned the Lions’ decision to sign Jones to a 5 yr/$40 million contract. However, if there was one stat that did pop out on Jones’ resume, it’s his ability to find the endzone. In 2013, Jones caught 10 touchdown passes during the season, including a Cincinnati record 4 touchdowns catches in one game. If you have paid attention to him during this preseason, you would see that Stafford constantly went to Jones when the first string offense played and Jones constantly made plays akin to what Johnson did for the offense. While it is a stretch to say that Marvin Jones will make the Lions forget about Calvin Johnson anytime soon, it’s not a stretch to say that Jones could be the Lions’ next playmaker. If we see Jones put up a season with 1000+ receiving yards and 10+ touchdown catches, we may be looking at a suitable replacement for Calvin Johnson.
A’Shawn Robinson
Many people in the NFL industry applauded the Lions for snagging defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson in the 2016 NFL draft. If you have seen this Alabama defensive tackle, you will see that he closely resembles a man-made wall, which was his role in the Alabama defense during their 2015 championship run. Robinson was one of the best defensive players in the NCAA last year, especially with his ability to defend the run. The Lions are banking on Robinson’s ability to defend the run this year and more as they try to fill the void left by Ndamkoung Suh a season ago. They are also hoping that Robinson develops more of his pass rushing technique, something that was unused by the Alabama coaching staff. With Ezekiel Ansah rushing for the Lions, that should free up some blocks for Robinson. If Robinson can take advantage of this opportunity, he could become one of the biggest steals of the 2016 NFL draft for the Lions.
Admittedly, not much is expected out of the Lions this year as many expect them to finish 3rd or last in the NFC North. However, with new General Manager Bob Quinn at the helm, it’s not so much about winning this season as it is identifying what players fit the Lions new philosophies and what positions need to be addressed in order for the Lions to move forward as a franchise. The Lions are banking on Marvin Jones and A’shawn Robinson, two vastly different players that come from successful football programs, to become impact players for the Lions. If these two players live up to that expectation, they could fast forward the rebuild the Lions are facing and bring them closer to the elusive Super Bowl we have been waiting for.
