One of the more curious subplots involving the Detroit Lions defense this season was the case of linebacker Tahir Whitehead.
After starting at the SAM linebacker spot to begin the 2014 season, he moved over to the MIKE spot Week 3 when Stephen Tulloch tore the ACL in his left knee. He played terrific there all year there. He was the team’s second-leading tackler behind DeAndre Levy in 2014 and helped the defense rank second overall.
But after a slow training camp and an unproductive preseason, Whitehead lost his starting spot to begin the 2015 season.