Questions, answers — and a few “I don’t knows” — with the Detroit Lions nearing the end of the first week of free-agency:
Have the Lions neglected the defense to focus on the offense?
I wouldn’t call it neglecting the defense. It has been a case of taking what’s there and spreading the wealth to that area. In that regard, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew has been a good quarterback.
Mayhew has followed the plan he set out since the end of the season. The Lions have taken care of their own — re-signing free agents and restructuring contracts to help keep their core of good players.
It just happens that the bulk of that has been on offense. They have re-signed left tackle Jeff Backus and backup quarterback Shaun Hill and renegotiated the contract for Calvin Johnson to lock him up through 2019.
Is it smart to focus on the offense, considering the problems the defense had late in the season?
The Lions have a good, young, explosive offense. Now they have 10 of the 11 players back who were starters from midseason on, along with third receiver Titus Young and No. 2 tight end Tony Scheffler.
The only exception is tailback Kevin Smith, and it’s debatable whether he fits into their plans. There is an expectation that Jahvid Best (concussion) and Mikel Leshoure (Achilles) will be back.
It would have been a bigger mistake to do anything that could have had a negative impact on the offense. When you have something good, keep it good.
But what about the defense? Hasn’t it been neglected?
So far, that looks to be the case. The defense has lost one starter to free agency. Cornerback Eric Wright signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I don’t think that’s a big loss. His play last season was up and down. But he was a starter for a reason, and he has to be replaced.
A lot will ride on whether middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch re-signs. He was solid most of the season and had some big moments as a playmaker, such as an interception late in the game in the victory at Dallas.
It looks like the Lions have let the market settle on Tulloch. I wouldn’t be surprised if he re-signs in the next few days, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if he lands elsewhere.
In this case, this is one of the “I don’t know" answers, but nobody knows right now or it would have been done.
Anything on the immediate horizon for the defense?
It has been reported that safety Oshiomogho Atogwe and linebacker Tim Shaw have scheduled visits for this week.
Cornerback Jacob Lacey visited last week. Lacey started 27 games for the Colts the past three years and had five interceptions. However, he isn’t very big: 5-foot-10, 177 pounds.
Atogwe was with the Redskins last year after six seasons with the Rams. He has 25 career interceptions, which indicates he can be a playmaker.
No matter where it comes from, the defense needs help on the back seven (linebacker and secondary).
Realistically, where will the help come from?
Look at the draft first. There is a group of cornerbacks with first-round talent, but it’s not a strong pool of linebackers.
What does that leave?
Trades, and Mayhew has padded the roster with mid-level trades for starters. Guard Rob Sims, cornerback Chris Houston, defensive tackle Corey Williams, Scheffler and Hill all were acquired in trades for low-round draft picks.
The trade market is a likely way to add a young veteran on defense.
The most controversial move by the Lions has been re-signing Backus. Is that a surprise?
No at all. Fans and some in the media have been ragging on Backus for a long time. There’s no reason to think they would stop now.
Is the criticism fair?
Fairness isn’t the question. The issue is whether it’s warranted. Backus takes a lot of heat from people who think Matthew Stafford needs protection. The truth is, all quarterbacks get pounded. It’s the nature of the position.
In Stafford’s case, the Lions threw 666 passes last season, the most in the league. They gave up 36 sacks — tied for 16th. That means the Lions were above average on pass protection, and Backus is part of the group that protected the quarterback.
