ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions return almost everybody on offense, including a quarterback that was among the six best passers by every statistical measure last season. His top four receivers are back too. There's a first-round pick at left guard and two new tailbacks.
This offense could be very good.
The defense, meanwhile, was mostly pedestrian last year. They haven't substantively addressed their pass rush either, and top defensive end Ezekiel Ansah still hasn't practiced in 2018.
On paper, this looks like an offensive team. Yet when the sides squared off Saturday in an intrasquad scrimmage at team headquarters, it was the defense that dominated, holding the first-team offense to three field goals in six possessions.