The Lions don’t have the talent on either side of the ball to overcome the horrific coaching by Jim Caldwell. This team has the talent to play around five hundred football, but under the leadership of Coach Caldwell, will struggle to break that barrier and compete for a playoff spot.
As I will go into detail below, the Detroit Lions simply don’t have the talent to overcome the weekly blunders of Jim Caldwell. If they had even an average coach, instead of a bum, they likely could sneak into the playoffs, especially when you consider the injuries in the division.
Using the Pro Football Focus rankings through the season’s first five weeks, the Detroit Lions have
Pro Football Focus grades on a 100 point scale and here’s how to interpret the grades:
- 99.9-90: Elite
- 89.9-85: High Quality
- 84.9-80: Above Average
- 79.9-70: Average
- 69.9-50: Below Average
- 59.9-0: Poor
You can read a more detailed breakdown of the methodology here on their site.
Here’s how the Lions have scored through their first five games:
Quarterback:
| QB | Overall | Pass | Run | Rank | Out Of | Percentile |
| Matthew Stafford | 84.8 | 83.5 | 77.0 | 5 | 35 | 14% |
Matthew Stafford ranks fifth out of 35 qualifying Quarterbacks so far this season trailing only Carson Wentz, Derek Carr, Andrew Luck, and Sam Bradford. He ranks as “Above Average” and is one nice game away from the “High Quality” label. From a former number one overall pick, this is what you’d expect of him.
Position Group Rating: Exceeding Expectations
Running Back:
| RB | Overall | Run | Receiving | Pass Block | Rank | Out Of | Percentile |
| Theo Riddick | 77.2 | 71.3 | 85.2 | 75.4 | 4 | 54 | 7% |
| Ameer Abdullah | 74.9 | 69.2 | 83.3 | 79.0 | NR | 54 | – |
| Dwayne Washington | 63.2 | 63.6 | 54.1 | 62.7 | NR | 54 | – |
| Zach Zenner | 57.9 | 53.9 | 75.6 | 73.9 | NR | 54 | – |
The Detroit Lions only have one Running Back that has played enough snaps to qualify for PFF’s overall rankings, Theo Riddick. Riddick checks in at fourth overall with a 77.2, which puts him squarely in the “Average” catagory. The eye test agrees as well as Riddick has struggled to do much on the ground in limited opportunities. However, he continues to be an ace out of the backfield.
Position Group Grade: Meeting Expectations
Fullback:
| FB | Overall | Run Block | Pass Block | Run | Receiving | Rank | Out Of | Percentile |
| Michael Burton | 85.7 | 85.1 | 70.4 | 60.0 | 57.5 | 1 | 16 | 6% |
Michael Burton is the number one Fullback in football after finishing his rookie year in 2015 as the number three guy on PFF’s list. The Detroit Lions don’t use him much, but when they do, he’s likely to have an impact.
Position Group Grade: Beating Expectations
Wide Receiver:
| WR | Overall | Receiving | Run | Run Block | Rank | Out Of | Percentile |
| Marvin Jones | 79.4 | 78.4 | 60.0 | 73.4 | 16 | 113 | 14% |
| Anquan Boldin | 55.8 | 57.3 | 60.0 | 57.3 | 83 | 113 | 73% |
| Golden Tate | 52.2 | 53.2 | 59.5 | 71.5 | 89 | 113 | 79% |
| Andre Roberts | 52.2 | 52.2 | 60.0 | 56.5 | NR | 113 | – |
This catagory is very disappointing. Both Anquan Boldin and Golden Tate rank in the bottom third of the league. Neither is getting open on a regular basis for Matthew Stafford. Boldin’s 40-time is recorded using radioactive carbon dating and Tate looks scared to go over the middle. To be fair, Boldin’s 40-time likely hasn’t been good for a while, but he’s been able to put up solid numbers anyway. Boldin is exactly what you’d expect out of a mid-to-late 30’s receiver, but Tate is a mega disappointment coming off back-to-back 90 catch seasons. Marvin Jones has been exactly what he was advertised as coming over from the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency. He’s an “Average” receiver, who’s actually out performing that measurement according to my “eye test”. The Detroit Lions are getting exactly what they paid for with Jones.
Position Group Grade: Failing to Meet Expectations
Tight Ends:
| TE | Overall | Receiving | Run Block | Pass Block | Rank | Out Of | Percentile |
| Eric Ebron | 57.3 | 75.7 | 30.9 | 63.1 | 31 | 58 | 53% |
| Cole Wick | 66.0 | 62.2 | 69.4 | 60.0 | NR | 58 | – |
| Khari Lee | 53.3 | 54.9 | 51.1 | 62.8 | NR | 58 | – |
| Clay Harbor | 52.2 | 54.5 | 49.0 | 64.1 | NR | 58 | – |
Ouch. Considering the investment in the position, you’d expect the Detroit Lions to be better than this. Eric Ebron has actually met my expectations as a pass catcher, but you might as well not even try to let him block. That has always been his M.O. and that’s why his rating is so damn low. Cole Wick, for a rookie UDFA is actually doing okay. However the scrap heap finds of Khari Lee and Clay Harbor aren’t doing much for me. The Detroit Lions also had Orson Charles for the first four weeks and he was let go without recording an offensive snap. Hopefully this position can be cleared up with the impending return of Brandon Pettigrew.
Position Group Grade: Failing to Meet Expectations
Offensive Line
| OT | Overall | Pass Block | Run Block | Rank | Out Of | Percentile |
| Riley Reiff | 74.6 | 50.9 | 81.5 | 34 | 80 | 43% |
| Taylor Decker | 72.0 | 74.7 | 61.3 | 38 | 80 | 48% |
| Corey Robinson | 66.0 | 64.7 | 63.3 | NR | 80 | – |
They are who we thought they were! Riley Reiff and Taylor Decker have been the average, run of the mill, Offensive Tackles that they were supposed to be. I would argue that Decker is better than he was supposed to be, ranking as the second best rookie offensive tackle in football, behind only Jack Conklin, a Michigan State product. Corey Robinson hasn’t had many snaps as an actual Tackle, but he’s done all-right as the extra lineman/tight end.
Position Group Grade: Meeting Expectations
| OG | Overall | Pass Block | Run Block | Rank | Out Of | Percentile |
| Larry Warford | 73.8 | 72.7 | 77.2 | 36 | 67 | 54% |
| Laken Tomlinson | 46.1 | 76.9 | 37.0 | 62 | 67 | 93% |
| Graham Glasgow | 60.9 | 75.0 | 46.0 | NR | 57 | – |
The Detroit Lions have been bad, bad, bad at the Guard position this year. It’s nice to see that the staff actually stepped up and benched Left Guard Laken Tomlinson last week in favor of the rookie Graham Glasgow, who responded nicely. To call Larry Warford a disappointment isn’t fair, but he’s capable of so much more than being “Average”.
Position Group Grade: Failing to Meet Expectations
| C | Overall | Pass Block | Run Block | Rank | Out Of | Percentile |
| Travis Swanson | 82.0 | 77.2 | 76.3 | 9 | 36 | 25% |
Travis Swanson is having a very nice bounce back year in his third year in the league. I’m not saying to rush out and sign him to a contact extension, but the drafting of Graham Glasgow lit a fire under his ass and has inspired him to improve. If he stays healthy, he could be an anchor for years to come at the center position.
Position Group Grade: Meeting Expectations
Defensive Line
| Edge Defenders (DE) | Overall | Pass Rush | Run Defense | Coverage | Rank | Out Of | Percentile |
| Kerry Hyder | 71.8 | 72.2 | 49.0 | 60.8 | 49 | 95 | 52% |
| Wallace Gilberry | 39.2 | 42.1 | 41.9 | 60.4 | 94 | 95 | 99% |
| Devin Taylor | 38.8 | 40.5 | 46.4 | 62.0 | 95 | 95 | 100% |
| Anthony Zettel | 70.5 | 68.5 | 63.6 | 60 | NR | 95 | – |
| Brandon Copeland | 49.4 | 49.0 | 65.2 | 68.8 | NR | 95 | – |
| Ezekiel Ansah | 48.8 | 49.5 | 58.1 | 61.2 | NR | 95 | – |
| Armonty Bryant | 46.2 | 50.9 | 45.1 | 60.0 | NR | 95 | – |
| Thurston Armbrister | 43.2 | 55.3 | 53.6 | 39.3 | NR | 95 | – |
The Detroit Lions absolute failure to address the defensive end position before the sixth round is coming back to bite them. Kerry Hyder, who was on the practice squad last year is your best pass rusher and you can’t even play him because of how he gets pushed around against the run. The injury to Ziggy Ansah doesn’t help, but there is no excuse for the lack of depth heading into the season. With that being said, Kerry Hyder has been a pleasant surprise. Devin Taylor has been an absolute dud after being handed the job in the off-season. Wallace Gilberry is also done for the year after being placed on I.R. after week four.
Position Group Grade: Failing to Meet Expectations
| Interior Defenders (DT) | Overall | Run Defense | Pass Rush | Coverage | Rank | Out Of | Percentile |
| Haloti Ngata | 49.6 | 48.7 | 69.6 | 51.3 | 60 | 114 | 53% |
| Tyrunn Walker | 49.0 | 50.6 | 56.5 | 60.9 | 63 | 114 | 55% |
| AShawn Robinson | 43.3 | 44.0 | 43.2 | 60.0 | 92 | 114 | 81% |
| Khyri Thornton | 42.6 | 48.0 | 48.6 | 60.0 | 99 | 114 | 87% |
| Stefan Charles | 44.7 | 45.0 | 59.8 | 60.0 | NR | 114 | – |
Ouch. That’s a lot of money for absolutely zero production at Defensive Tackle. It’s one thing to get zero pass rush out of a Defensive Tackle that is classified as a “Space Eater”, but those same guys (Ngata, Robinson, Thornton) aren’t stopping the run.
Robinson is the only one that I excuse from my criticism. He hasn’t played much and is just a rookie. The rest of these guys need to step their game up, and quickly.
Position Group Grade: Failing to Meet Expectations
Linebackers:
| LB | Overall | Run Defense | Coverage | Pass Rush | Rank | Out Of | Percentile |
| Kyle Van Noy | 77.1 | 68.8 | 77.0 | 51.7 | 29 | 84 | 35% |
| Tahir Whitehead | 36.6 | 69.1 | 34.2 | 48.0 | 80 | 84 | 95% |
| DeAndre Levy | 58.0 | 47.2 | 72.7 | 71.9 | NR | 84 | – |
| Zaviar Gooden | 49.2 | 45.0 | 70.7 | 58.1 | NR | 84 | – |
| Antwione Williams | 38.9 | 52.2 | 38.3 | 56.2 | NR | 84 | – |
The Linebacker Position is a supreme disappointment. Your Middle Linebacker, who never leaves the field on defense, is rated as a 36.6 out of 100. That’s not bad, that’s just horrendous. Kyle Van Noy is overachieving in my mind, earning positive coverage ratings, but Whitehead’s poor play just makes me frown. Top that with DeAndre Levy’s inability to get healthy and stay healthy, and the Detroit Lions are having to rely on practice squad types and a fifth round rookie. You wonder why the defense sucks, your answer is right here.
Position Group Grade: Failing to Meet Expectations
Defensive Backs:
| CB | Overall | Coverage | Run Defense | Pass Rush | Rank | Out Of | Percentile |
| Darius Slay | 87.2 | 86.4 | 79.8 | 67.2 | 4 | 117 | 3% |
| Nevin Lawson | 69.2 | 70.3 | 56.9 | 60.0 | 62 | 117 | 53% |
| Quandre Diggs | 41.9 | 41.6 | 69.0 | 59.2 | 107 | 117 | 91% |
| Johnson Bademosi | 67.5 | 67.1 | 65.2 | 60.0 | NR | 117 | – |
Darius Slay is living up to his contract extension and Nevin Lawson isn’t as bad as we as Detroit Lions fans feared. Quandre Diggs isn’t doing well in his second year as he did as a rookie, but he’s been hurt a lot by a lack of quality linebacker play, helping him with crossers over the middle. This position group as a whole can improve, but they are playing better than the talent that they have.
Position Group Grade: Meeting Expectations
| S | Overall | Coverage | Run Defense | Pass Rush | Rank | Out Of | Percentile |
| Glover Quin | 81.5 | 80.9 | 71.8 | 68.4 | 13 | 83 | 16% |
| Tavon Wilson | 75.7 | 77.1 | 55.1 | 60.9 | 41 | 83 | 49% |
| Rafael Bush | 69.6 | 68.7 | 59.6 | 59.7 | 61 | 83 | 73% |
| Don Carey | 62.3 | 61.9 | 60.1 | 60.0 | NR | 83 | – |
| Miles Killebrew | 49.0 | 57.2 | 50.1 | 52.3 | NR | 83 | – |
I am very happy with the safety play so far this season. Glover Quin continues to be a rock in the deep field and the two scrap heap signings that the Detroit Lions made to play Strong Safety are both panning out. I know Tavon Wilson is a former second round pick who hardly started, but he’s playing some damn good ball. Rafael Bush isn’t great, but he wasn’t supposed to be. I’m not worried about these guys at all.
Position Group Grade: Exceeding Expectations
With this many position groups under performing, not due to coaching, but a lack of talent, the Detroit Lions will not make the playoffs under Jim Caldwell again.
