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Faceoff - ILB Jordon Dizon, Detroit Lions
Posted 7/22, exclusive to Footballguys.com
Upside - by Anthony Borbely
The Detroit Lions selected LB Jordon Dizon in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft as they try to improve one of the worst defenses in the league. Dizon is somewhat undersized at 230 pounds, but makes up for the lack of bulk with tremendous speed and athletic ability. The Lions wanted to upgrade the MLB spot that was manned last season by journeyman Paris Lenon. They are hoping Dizon can grasp the Tampa-2 defense relatively soon and begin the season as the starting MLB.Dizon was highly productive in college, finishing with 463 career tackles, which was the eighth most in NCAA history. Dizon capped off a great career by leading the NCAA in tackles last year with 173. Dizon has superior instincts and not only located the ball, but brought down the ball carrier. Many things can be taught, but instincts are not one of them.
Last year, Paris Lenon started for the Lions at MLB and despite his athletic limitations, he had a career year with 118 tackles, including 88 solos. However, the Lions felt a need to get faster at the MLB spot and Dizon certainly fits the bill. Dizon is a smallish MLB at 230 pounds and some question if he has the size to withstand the rigors of being an NFL middle linebacker, but they said the same thing about Zach Thomas, Gary Brackett, and Jonathan Vilma. Size did not seem to stop those LBs from being highly productive. The Lions are confident that Dizon can play at this level.
Jordon Dizon was a tackling machine in college and now he will attempt to bring that production to the NFL. The Lions expect him to earn the starting job, with Paris Lenon moving to the strong side. The Lions are not expected to have a good defense and should spend a lot of time on the field. If a LB with average skills like Paris Lenon can be productive in this defense, there is no reason to believe Dizon can't. A low end LB2 seems reasonable as a rookie with top 20 upside depending on how fast he learns the Tampa-2 defense. Dizon knows how to get to the ball and he was highly productive in college. That is exactly the kind of LB I want on my fantasy teams.
Downside - by Aaron Rudnicki
It's hard not to get excited about Dizon as the starting MLB in Detroit considering it is a position they've been trying to fill for years with limited success. Paris Lenon was an adequate option last year and finished with an impressive 88 solo tackles, but the team believes that Dizon will provide an upgrade. There are some valid reasons for concern, however, with regard to Dizon's prospects for this year.First, even though we've seen quite a few LBs achieve immediate success in recent years, it's certainly not a given that all of them will be successful. Dizon is entering the same defense that Barrett Ruud did a few years ago in Tampa but it took him several years to emerge as a full-time starter. Dizon doesn't have a veteran like Shelton Quarles to compete with, but Lenon's experience could give him an edge.
Second, even though he has been adding weight this offseason, Dizon is a short and undersized linebacker so there has to be some concerns about his strength and durability. He should have the range to be an effective MLB but can he get off blocks and hold up over an entire NFL season? The trade of Shaun Rogers to Cleveland this offseason should also make things tougher. Without an elite DT like Rogers up front to protect him, Dizon will have to sift through a lot more traffic than Lenon faced.
Dizon is a high-energy player who should become a focal point of the Lions defense and IDP teams for years, but Matt Millen's track record when it comes to draft picks is probably enough to scare most people away. I think he's a player who could produce some very good numbers if things break right, but he also carries significant risk. There are safer options available who will produce similar numbers.