5 New Orleans Saints Who Need to Help “Cage” the Lions
By Bob Rose
Nov 27, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (98) rushes against Los Angeles Rams guard Rodger Saffold (76) during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Sheldon Rankins, Defensive Tackle
Rankins has been getting more dominant each week, showing why the Saints invested the number #12 overall pick on him in last spring’s 2016 NFL Draft.
There were times in last week’s victory over the Rams that he seemed to single-handedly take over the game in the trenches.
Detroit does not have a formidable running game, but it will be important for Rankins and his linemates to shut it down and make the Lions offense one dimensional, then provide interior pressure on quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The combination of Rankins, Nick Fairley and Tyeler Davison have given Saints fans reason to pay attention to the interior defensive line for the first time in a very, very (since the days of Norman Hand and LaRoi Glover in the 2000 season / Jim Haslett Era) long time.