One of the first things I heard from someone who was in Detroit with Joe Barry -- not part of the defensive staff -- was that he did not have a talented group. A lot of coordinators can say the same. So I took a look at the Detroit Lions' defensive starters from that 2008 season just to see what they did before and after Detroit. Within two years, seven of the 11 were out of football. This group, including the backups, combined for zero Pro Bowl appearances during their careers.
It goes deeper. Of the top 26 players on the defensive depth chart, 16 were out of football within two years and only four would go on to become full-time starters for more than one season in the ensuing years -- defensive linemen Cory Redding, Shaun Cody (a backup in '08) and Cliff Avril (a rookie) and linebacker Paris Lenon.
In short, it was a bad group.
Does that excuse everything as far as the rankings? Heck no. And it does not mean Barry will now succeed. I know there's a lack of trust in the Washington Redskins' organization and that's highly understandable. They don't get the benefit of the doubt and I'm not going to make excuses for a defense I didn't watch up close. But what it does mean is that the Detroit Lions' situation was a disaster that extended beyond the coach.
The Lions were last in points allowed and total yards that season. They also were last in yards per play, yards per rush and yards per pass attempt. It was not pretty and I have no clue what will happen here; I know that the Redskins need a talent infusion -- and that was true regardless of whoever became the coordinator.
Here's the list of most common starters for the Lions in 2008:
DE Jared Devries: He spent 11 seasons with Detroit but was done after 2008. Started 32 games in his career.
DT Chartric Darby: Played nine seasons in the NFL and was a full-time starter from 2004-08. But after this season, in which he started 15 times, he played in only two more games in the NFL.
DT Cory Redding: He's currently in his 12th season (playing with the Indianapolis Colts) and spent the first six in Detroit. The Lions made him the highest paid defensive tackle in the league after the 2006 season. He was traded to Seattle in 2009. At least he could play: He's started 70 games since leaving the Lions.
DE DeWayne White: He made 13 starts in four years with Tampa Bay before joining the Lions in 2007 and starting 30 of the 36 games in which he played through 2009. He did not play after the '09 season.
LB Ryan Nece: Spent six years in Tampa Bay before joining the Lions in 2008. He started no games in 2007 with the Bucs, but made 10 starts in '08. He did not play after 2008.
LB Paris Lenon: Last played in 2012 with Denver. Once played in the XFL and NFL Europe. Lenon became a full-time NFL starter with Green Bay in 2005 and joined the Lions a year later. He started every game through 2008 for them, then left for St. Louis. He started 64 games over the next five years with three teams.
LB Ernie Sims: Spent his first four years with Detroit, starting 56 of the 59 games in which he played (all 16 in 2008). He played for three teams from 2010-13 (Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Dallas) and started 39 games in that span -- but only spent one year in a full-time role. He did not play this past season.
CB Brian Kelly: Played his first 10 seasons with Tampa Bay, with 79 starts (but only six in 2006-07). He intercepted an NFL-best eight passes in 2002. But he was out of the NFL after the 2008 season.
CB Leigh Bodden: Started 38 games in his first five seasons with Cleveland before being traded to Detroit before the 2008 season. Played in 2009 and '11, starting a combined 15 games.
S Daniel Bullocks: Played in 31 games with 22 starts in 2006 and '08 combined. Out of the NFL after 2008.
S Kalvin Pearson: Started 12 career games, including 10 in 2008. He appeared in 12 games a year later and never played again.