Mathis Confident Defense Can Stay At High Level Despite Losses Of Suh, Fairley
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - What the Detroit Lions defense will look like in the 2015 season is a question that cannot be answered until the opener in September. In the meantime, people will debate which elements of that defense mattered most and how the retention - or loss - of various assets will impact the group.
The Lions have some great individuals returning - defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, safeties James Ihedigbo and Glover Quin, linebacker DeAndre Levy and defensive end Ziggy Ansah, to name a few - but most of the conversation this offseason has revolved around those players who are leaving.
Defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley have both departed in free agency. Even though the Lions quickly traded for Haloti Ngata to replace Suh, some find it hard to believe Detroit can replicate the success it had last season.
Cornerback Rashean Mathis, however, said Thursday that he believes the Detroit defense can be better - or at least as good as - it was in 2014.
"Having someone plug in that gap, that's always the key," Mathis said. "In any business field, regardless whether it's sports or not, if you lose a key piece of what made you successful, having someone step up and plug in that gap ... that will be the only way that you're able to be successful as you were before, having someone step up.
"I'm very confident in the guys who we have," Mathis continued. "I'm also confident in our personnel department and getting people in here to help us, and that's what the NFL is all about. You're always going to lose someone. There's no defense or no offense that has stayed the same. As you look around the league, there's big key pieces missing in a lot of places. That's what makes this the greatest game because you're able to plug in and you're able to move on and see how well you're able to adapt to it."
Aside from the defensive tackle spots, there has been relatively little turnover on the defense. While the subtractions of Suh and Fairley are certainly meaningful ones, Mathis said the benefit of having so many other pieces returning cannot be discounted.
"Familiarity is key," Mathis said. "That's never a minus. Having guys that you're familiar with, already be in sync, that's huge. You can never question that, so we're looking forward to that."
