ALLEN PARK -- When the Lions drafted Teez Tabor in the second round last year, they did so knowing he would take some time. They laid out from the beginning that cracking the secondary would be a challenge during a developmental rookie year, and they had the strength in numbers to keep from needing him to.
But coaches often say the biggest jump in a player comes between his first and second seasons. Expectations naturally heightened for this year. Detroit let D.J. Hayden walk in free agency and hired a defensive-minded coach in Matt Patricia who would employ many defensive backs on the field at once.