Lions Biography
Heralded as one of the best defensive line coaches in the NFL, Washburn
joined the Detroit Lions coaching staff as assistant defensive line/pass
rush specialist in 2013 after serving as the Philadelphia Eagles’
defensive line coach from 2011-2012. Washburn’s stout coaching resume
features six defensive linemen he has coached to the Pro Bowl, including
Jason Babin, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Kevin Carter, Albert Haynesworth, Jevon
Kearse and Ndamukong Suh.
LIONS COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
- The
2014 Lions defensive line was among the best in the league in forcing
opponents into negative plays (sacks and tackles for loss on rushing
plays). Detroit ranked fifth in sacks by defensive line (34.0), tied for
third in TFL on rushing plays by defensive line (26) and second in
total negative plays by defensive line with 60.
- The Lions tied an NFL record for the most games (14) holding
opponents to less than 100 rushing yards in a season. The 14 games
limiting opponents to less than 100 rushing yards is also a franchise
record.
- DE Ezekiel Ansah followed up on his stellar rookie season by
finishing with 7.5 sacks in 2014, giving him 15.5 in his first two NFL
seasons. His 15.5 sacks over the last two seasons rank third among all
NFL defensive players in their second or third seasons behind only DE
Olivier Vernon (18.0) and DE Chandler Jones (17.5).
- In his first season with the Lions after being drafted fifth
overall, rookie DE Ezekiel Ansah led the team in sacks in 2013 with
eight, the second most sacks by a Lions rookie since Suh had 10 in 2010.
- Ansah recorded three multi-sack games, posting two sacks at
Washington (9/22), vs. Tampa Bay (11/24) and vs. Green Bay (11/24). His
eight sacks also led all NFL rookies.
- DT Nick Fairley (6.0) and Suh (5.5) combined for 11.5 sacks last
season and each recorded a safety. The Lions’ two safeties in 2013 are
the most by the team since they had two in 2009.
- Fairley’s six sacks were tied for eighth among all defensive
tackles, and Suh ranked seventh among defensive tackles in combined
sacks and tackles for loss on rushing plays with 11.5.
- The Lions defensive line had their best outing of the season on
Thanksgiving Day (11/28) vs. Green Bay, sacking Packers QB Matt Flynn
seven times, forcing a fumble and recording a safety.
- Rookie DE Devin Taylor also emerged as a valuable asset at defensive
end as he finished the season with 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
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