Over the next two weeks, we'll be reviewing each position group for the Detroit Lions in multiple ways. We'll continue with the offensive tackles Friday.
Every morning as part of the Roar, we'll have a quick statistical breakdown of that position group (regular season only).
The Detroit Lions offensive tackles as a whole: It was a year with more injuries than Detroit would have liked at tackle. Starting right tackle LaAdrian Waddle and his top backup, Corey Hilliard, both ended their seasons on injured reserve. Left tackle Riley Reiff had to miss a game. By the end of the season, the Lions had Reiff, Cornelius Lucas and combo guard/tackle Garrett Reynolds as their main tackle options. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew would have been used in an emergency situation. As a tackle group, Pro Football Focus faulted the tackles for 15 sacks and 57 hurries of Matthew Stafford.
The tackles as individuals:
Riley Reiff: He turned into a mainstay at left tackle in his third season in the league and graded out better than any other Detroit offensive lineman this season according to PFF. He allowed Stafford to be hurried 27 times, hit five times and sacked twice, according to PFF. Reiff, according to ESPN Stats & Information, did not commit a penalty all season. He is one of less than a handful of tackles to play in at least 10 games this season and not commit a penalty.
LaAdrian Waddle: He played in 10 games this season with multiple injuries before a left knee injury ended his season, causing him to have surgery this week. He committed six penalties this season, with three of them being declined. According to PFF, Waddle allowed 12 hurries, two hits and five sacks on Stafford.
Cornelius Lucas: He ended up starting games at right tackle and left tackle this season after being an undrafted free agent out of Kansas State. He committed four penalties this season -- three in the regular season and one in the playoffs. He played better in his two games at left tackle than he did the majority of his time at right tackle, but still handled things well for a rookie. He was charged with 15 quarterback hurries, three hits and five sacks on Stafford according to PFF.
Corey Hilliard: He suffered a LisFranc injury on his right foot in the season opener against the Giants and played with the injury the majority of the game. He was then placed on injured reserve, ending his season. PFF blamed him for one hurry on Stafford in limited action.
Garrett Reynolds: Will be handled with the interior linemen next week.
And now, a look around the Interwebs in search of Lions news and other tidbits:
Joique Bell and Waddle had surgeries this week. Mel Kiper Jr. has the Lions going defense in his first mock draft. Our season review continues with tight ends from a statistical point of view, a review and outlook and a peek at potential targets in the draft.
Due to injuries and the Super Bowl, there's a chance Matthew Stafford heads to the Pro Bowl, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Rashean Mathis keeps bouncing back, writes Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News.
Justin Rogers of MLive looked at all of Stafford's sacks this season.