Author: Paula Pasche

ALLEN PARK — It’s tough to evaluate the Lions defense because one week it looks almost unbeatable and the next it gives up 201 rushing yards to the Cleveland Browns.

That was last week and this Sunday the Lions face the Chicago Bears who depend on the run especially with rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky as a starter.

“That’s a little bit frustrating because then I always go back and the first thing I look at is not our guys, I look at what did I do because I know we can play. I know we can play sound run defense, and we didn’t do it that week, that particular week,’’ defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “So, like every game, good and bad, you go back and look at it and say, ‘Hey, what are some things that you have to do better this week?’ Because obviously if we allow this group this week to rush for 200 yards, it’s going to be a long day just like it was last week. We had a real struggle last week because we weren’t doing a good job in stopping the run.”

The Bears average 121.8 rushing yards per game, but in the last three games they’ve averaged 152 rushing yards. Turns out the Lions defense is not the only inconsistent factor in this game equation.

Overall Detroit’s defense ranks 21st in the NFL giving up 23.3 points per game and they rank 22nd giving up an average 349.7 yards per game.

They miss defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, their top run stopper, who is lost for the season. But the game goes on.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

Five things to know about the Lions defense as it prepares for the Bears:

1. Austin has the utmost respect for Bears running back Jordan Howard who had 23 carries for 111 yards when the Lions played the Bears in Chicago last year.  “I mean, he ran up and down the field on us, and he is a load. He’s got really good vision. He’ll run through arm tackles. If you jump out of your gap, he’s going to find it. I really like the young man and how he runs,’’ Austin said. Obviously it’d be good to see the Lions’ rushing defense play like they did in Week 5 holding the Panthers to 28 rushing yards.

2. Not unlike the defense, rookie linebacker Jarrad Davis has had his moments. “For most young guys, the first year is kind of a roller coaster, up and down. You’re going to see some really good things, and you’re going to see some not-so-good things. And I think he’s still in that area where there’s going to be games where he looks outstanding. And there’s going to be other games he’s going to struggle a little bit,’’ Austin said. “But the thing I like about him is, he puts in the work so that as the season goes on, you’re going to see the big ups and downs won’t be as big. They’re going to be less. You’ll see he may struggle in a game, but it won’t be big. You won’t be saying, ‘Boy, that was a bad one.’ Things like that. You’ll say, ‘OK, he’s maybe not as good today, but wasn’t really an up and down type ride.’ And I think that’s the biggest thing with him in terms of strides that the ups and downs won’t be as big.”

3. The value of having a top corner like Darius Slay is not lost on Austin. “It’s really nice when you have a No. 1 corner so that when you go into a game, you don’t feel out-matched against their No. 1 receiver, and that’s always a good thing,’’ Austin said. “It is what it is. I think that’s the important part. You have a guy out there that can match up with just about any receiver in this league and hold his own. It doesn’t mean he’s going to win every time, but it means that you’re going to go out there, and you’re not going to feel like, ‘Boy, we have to tilt the coverage every time to this guy,’ and do all kinds of tricks and mirrors and all the different things you have to do to try to slow somebody down. So, that’s where he’s really, really helpful, and he’s really grown this year. The thing I like about him, he’s great attitude, great worker, but he just keeps getting better.” Slay has a team-leading four interceptions so far and seems to be having his best season.

4. Defensive end Anthony Zettel’s improvement this season is without question one of the biggest surprises on the defense. Austin had an inkling this would happen when Zettel came back last spring in superb shape. He liked Zettel when they drafted him in the sixth round, but didn’t necessarily foresee this level of play.  “I can tell you that. Kris (Kocurek) and I went and worked him out at Penn State, and we saw a guy that maybe physically was like some of the other guys, and maybe doesn’t measure up. But we saw he was tough, worked hard. I remember in our workout with him, we put him through the ringer, and we were like, ‘Want to do some more?’ He’s like, ‘I got all day.’ And that’s how he works,’’ Austin said. “And so, I think the point where we thought he might end up having a pretty good year was his offseason. He came back in great shape, better shape than he was obviously through last year, stronger, moved better. And during the OTAs and offseason is where you saw that. Boy, he’s a little bit different than he was last year. Not sure how that’s going to show up til we get to the preseason and everything. And he’s just continued to grow. So, that’s really when you saw the difference when he came back this offseason and was in really good shape, really kind of transformed himself as a player.”

5. Austin said he has not made Pro Bowl votes. “I absolutely am not involved with Twitter. So, I’m good,’’ he said. Darius Slay is trying to whip up votes via social media.

ALLEN PARK — Taylor Decker is expected to pull a full load on Sunday when the Lions face the Bears in Chicago.

Last Sunday the left tackle played his first game since he underwent shoulder surgery in June.

With Decker holding down left tackle, and right guard T.J. Lang expected to return after missing last Sunday’s game with a concussion, the offensive line will finally be healthy. It should look like it was envisioned by GM Bob Quinn when he signed Lang and right tackle Rick Wagner as free agents.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

“As you go through a season, a lot of times you have injuries and you get less healthy along the way. To be able to look up and get more healthy, that’s a benefit. We have a bunch of good players on this offense and every week in this league guys are dealing with things, sometimes guys are up, guys are down,’’ offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. “When you have a full complement, whenever that is, that’s good for the team. That’s good for the offense and hopefully we’ll see improvement there.”

Five things to know about Decker:

1. In his first game back he only played 36 snaps in the win over the Browns. He and Brian Mihalik swapped out every other series. Decker had no problem with that plan since he hadn’t played a snap since last January. But it wasn’t easy to shuttle in and out when he’s used to playing every snap. Again, he was good with the plan because rust, indeed, is a real thing. Look for him to be more productive when he’s in for every snap.

2. Decker said those reps were needed. “It’s pretty invaluable to get those game reps, you’re not going to be comfortable until you get them. You can try to emulate, simulate that as much as possible in practice but it’s not the same, it’s not the same speed or intensity,’’ Decker said on Thursday.

3. After surgery and two months with his arm in a sling, it’s good to be back. “I feel like every single day I’m getting better right now, I’m getting more comfortable but I didn’t get a training camp, I didn’t get a preseason or anything like that. I’ve got to accelerate my learning curve to get comfortable. But at the end of the day we’re all football players here so you’re comfortable on the field,’’ Decker said.

4. He doesn’t buy into the concept that at least he’ll have fresh legs with seven games left. “You can be in really good shape, but when you’re actually out there playing football it’s different. You’ve just got to get used to playing football again,’’ Decker said. “You could be in really good shape and I guess have fresh legs but I don’t know if that’s necessarily a real thing.’’

5. There’s no ideal opponent to face in the first games back. “No matter when you return or when you come back from an injury you’re going to play against a good player,’’ Decker said. “Everybody in the NFL is a professional pass rusher so the Bears present a challenge because they have a good defensive front and they have a varying level of rushers — they’ve got guys are more twitchy, more speed, they’ve got guys who are more power and they change it up so they present a good challenge for us.’’

BONUS: The run game had a good day against the Browns in Decker’s first game back, but he won’t take credit for that. “Correlation does not equal causation,’’ Decker said.

ALLEN PARK — Safety Glover Quin has been at Darius Slay’s side for five years. Pushing the young Lions’ cornerback, teaching him, guiding him even off the field and, at times, laughing at him.

“Slay is always cracking us up. Always,’’ Quin said on Wednesday.

It’s been an ongoing growth process between the master and student.

“It’s been extremely helpful, and I think it’s kind of a two-way street. No. 1, it’s been great for (Slay) because Glover’s a great resource. He’s a guy that really does everything right. I’m not saying he’s perfect, but he’s disciplined, he’s dedicated, he’s smart, he’s tough. He works at it, and is a great family man and the whole bit,’’ coach Jim Caldwell said. “And Slay picked that up right away once he arrived here with him, once they got together I should say, and he’s gravitated toward him — goes down in the summertime and works out with him, stays at his house, and goes through his regimen with him.’’

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

Still Quin can pinpoint one moment from three years ago that has been crucial in Slay’s success. It was in Week 6 of 2014 in a game at the Minnesota Vikings.

“We were up on them 17-3 at the end of the game, the game was basically over, we had played a pretty dominant game. You know how teams are at the end of the game, they’re trying to score. I think Slay had a series of plays where he missed a tackle on a tight end in the flat, he got a penalty, a little illegal contact, there were only two minutes left in the game,’’ Quin said.

“I went to him and told him, ‘I need you to stay locked in. You went from having a great game to the last minute now you’ve got a missed tackle, you’ve got a penalty, we have to stay locked in until the clock  is over.’ Those are the situations where you make plays, you get an extra tackle, you get an extra pass breakup, you catch a pick like you did Sunday when they’re trying to score.’’

Indeed in the Lions’ 38-24 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Ford Field, Slay intercepted DeShone Kizer with 1:23 left.

Game over.

“The thing about that happening in 2014, and you look at him Sunday in the same situation, down two touchdowns and they’re trying to move the ball down the field and he catches a pick to end the game. I think that’s growth you see that he’s made over these years, he’s become a great player,’’ Quin said.

Slay remembers that game in 2014 also.

“I flaked out. I was playing a lot and I didn’t give up a catch the whole game. At the end, there was a minute left, we’re up by 3, 2 touchdowns or so. First I got a penalty and then a dude caught a ball on me. (Quin) said, ‘Slay lock in.’ I think he wanted to cuss at me but he didn’t. After that I was like, ‘Oh man, we’re winning.’ It’s a different aspect from a guy playing that long he said anything can happen in that amount of time so I’m more locked in now I don’t play any more like that.

“I could’ve been chilling but I was not, I was locked in. Lesson learned, good lesson learned. I knew he was going to throw the ball and there was an opportunity for this pick so just add them up,’’ Slay said

It’s just one step in Slay’s growth into one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks.

It’s just taken him awhile to get recognition from around the league. It’s what he needs to get to the Pro Bowl.

“I mean I think so, my numbers say (I belong). I lead in pass breakups and picks as a corner. Somebody has got to tell me something different. I travel against the No. 1 guys, I follow them, I don’t hide from nobody. I think that’s what a No. 1 corner is supposed to do, some guys are good at doing their thing, I went against all the best ones so far and I held my own,’’ Slay said.

There is one matter between the two. After 10 games, Slay has four interceptions and Quin is one behind with three.

“There’s not a personal wager, but if I catch one Sunday and we’re four apiece I think we can make a little wager for the next six games and see what happens,’’ Quin said.

It would kind of be perfect if the two were both sent to the Pro Bowl.

Quin was selected in 2014, Slay is still waiting for his first trip.

“In my eyes yes, I’ve put up a lot of good film for the past 3 years to be in there. It’d be crazy if I don’t, definitely this year,’’ Slay said.

Caldwell doesn’t want to get into a Pro Bowl discussion, it’s not his style.

“Those things are things that I think all of our guys, they’re secondary to what their real purpose is. Their purpose is to win games. The more games you win, the better opportunity you’re going to have to get some sort of recognition,’’ Caldwell said. “But the most important thing is that we’re winning games. That’s what we set out to do. That’s what our goal is, and I think he’s been playing extremely well. I still think he’s got a lot of upside just because of his skill set and his ability. And I think all in all, recognition will come in due time.”