Embed from Getty Images Mercifully the 2019 Detroit Lions season has come to an end. At 3-12-1 the Detroit Lions were done in by a woefully underperforming defense and a rash of injuries. The Lions were in nearly every game, but could not put teams away. That is the bad in a nut shell. So let’s take a look at some good that the team and fans can take away.
For starters the Lions actually found talent in the later rounds of the NFL draft. Rookie defensive back Amani Oruwariye, became the first Detroit Lions player since 2010 to record two interceptions in their rookie season. Oruwariye looks like a solid player moving forward.
Defensive back Tracy Walker, became the fifth DB in Lions franchise history to total 100 tackles in a season. Walker’s feat is even more impressive as he did it in 13 games played.
Danny Amendola, Marvin Jones Jr. and Kenny Golladay, had 60+ receptions for 675+ yards each. That is a franchise first.
Rookie running back Ty Johnson was the first Lions RB since 1991 to record at least 50 rushing yards in the first half of a game while averaging more than 20.0 yards per attempt.
Lions running back Kerryon Johnson recorded the eighth most rushing yards by a Lions player with 1,104 in their first two seasons. Only Detroit Lions legends Billy Sims and Barry Sanders had more.
Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay, caught a touchdown pass in all four games against AFC teams. Golladay, totaled 5 TD catches in all. Only Lions great Calvin Johnson had more (6 in 2011.)
Speaking of Kenny Golladay, he lead the NFL with 11 receiving touchdowns. Joining Detroit greats, Herman Moore and Calvin Johnson as the only players in Lions history to post 1,100 receiving yards and 11 receiving TDs. Golladay also had 16 receptions of 25+ yards, the most by a Detroit Lions since Calvin Johnson in 2012.
Since the NFL began recording pass defenses, Lions cornerback Darius Slay became the only player in NFL history to have six consecutive seasons with 12 pass defenses and 2 interceptions.
It is not much. But there is the good in a lot of bad. The Detroit Lions have a lot of offseason work to do, in order to put a better defense on the field. The team will pick at #3 in the first round of the NFL draft and has $50 million in cap space to make improvements.
