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Lions Feel Dizon is “Insane” on Defense

Jordon Dizon (Photo: University of Colorado)

Size matters… doesn’t matter… depends on who you talk to.

As Detroit continues to work on the Tampa Two, you can see where the team is trying to pick players who resemble those who have excelled in the defense before, such as Derrick Brooks. Lion defensive coordinator Joe Barry has repeatedly said that quickness and instincts rank higher in his grading system than size, although you have to be big enough in areas to compete.

Lion draftee Jordon Dizon has those qualities and has the stats to prove it. His 463 tackles in college were made with speed, quickness, and instincts Barry has labeled as “insane”. While the team wouldn’t mind Dizon adding some weight, they don’t want it to deter who he is and what he does.

“I want him to be as big as he can with still having the movement and the speed and the instincts that he has,” Barry explained during minicamp Saturday. I don’t care about size. I care about instincts, I care about speed and I care about a guy being able to make plays. He can do all those things.”

On a defense as dismal as the Lions fielded last season, making plays, especially on third down, will be a welcome change and something to strive for. Dizon looks to have the tools to play the middle and when the Lions plug him in there is yet to be seen. Rookie minicamps are helpful but without the full squad present, everything remains hopeful speculation. But if the plan works out, this draft may have provided Detroit with two fast, hard hitting, and instinctive playmakers in Dizon and Army’s Caleb Campbell.

Many of the experts, including Mel Kiper (I only tend to agree with him when it suits me), think the Lions reached a little early on Dizon, the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year. However, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like Dizon and what he brings. Dizon was going to get selected, more than likely in the second round, but perhaps closer to the bottom he felt. Mel gave his opinion during a draft chat and gave his insight on Dizon when asked if the Lions valued him too high.

“I had him going the last pick in the second round to the Giants. I had him going in the second round. He went a little higher than I thought, but he fits their scheme. He can cover, he has range and he can run.”

Will Marinelli and his staff be around long enough to fully implement their defense and their “guys”? Wins and loses are going to play a part, but how fast can they bring this thing together? We’ll keep a close eye throughout the minicamps and OTA’s leading up to training camp and sit with optimistic fingers crossed as Lions fans usually do.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 4th, 2008 at 10:35 am and is filed under Detroit Lions, Football, NFL, NFL Draft, Blogroll. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.