Two Detroit Lions players who remain underrated both nationally and by fans.
The Detroit Lions are no longer the NFL’s best-kept secret. After 2.5 seasons of play among the best in the league, the general consensus about the Lions is that they continue to have one of the best rosters in football. Are there some that are expecting a step back this year? Yes, of course. You can say that about nearly every successful team. So, the skeptics that point to a quiet offseason and loss of both coordinators was to be expected.
However, for as much praise as the Lions get, there are certain individuals who don’t get the credit they deserve.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
Who is the most underrated Lions player?
My answer: Two names immediately come to mind, one on each side of the ball.
For whatever reason, I think David Montgomery often gets overlooked. I feel like there’s an assumption that big, bruising backs are a dime a dozen, and it doesn’t take much skill to do their job. Additionally, with Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield, it’s often easy to overlook what Montgomery means to the team. But just go back to that Week 1 win against the Los Angeles Rams and watch overtime. Tell me there are more than a handful of players who could do what Montgomery did in that game. Despite splitting the load, Montgomery ranked 13th among running backs in broken tackles, 13th in yards after contact per rushing attempt, and fourth in rushing attempts per broken tackle.
On defense, I think it’s still Alex Anzalone. I believe some Lions fans may even be guilty of underappreciating him, as evidenced by some of the reactions to Al Karsten’s article about giving the veteran linebacker an extension . Anzalone is not only the player who likely knows the Lions’ entire defensive scheme the best, but he’s also playing his best football right now. Al did a great job breaking down how different the Lions’ defense looked with and without him in the lineup. Beyond that, though, he is also a do-everything linebacker. His football IQ makes him a dangerous and instinctive run defender. His coverage ability may be the best on the team. And his tenacious style of play leads to him being an effective pass rusher.
Who on the Lions team do you believe is underrated? Share your thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of the page.