When Tahir Whitehead was drafted, former head coach Jim Schwartz raved about him, but many weren’t sure where he fit exactly. Like DeAndre Levy before him, Tahir has been asked to move back and forth from inside to outside linebacker as needed by the Lions due to injuries and scheme adjustment. Also like Levy, he’s made the move each year without complaining. This season, he’s playing what looks like his long-term position — middle linebacker. Fortunately for the Lions, Whitehead has played best when playing inside.
While Whitehead is still developing his instincts, he has been impressive in coverage, particularly without DeAndre Levy.