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NFL training camp: Best battle to watch for each team

By John Buhler

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 30: Justin Bethel
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 30: Justin Bethel /
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Detroit Lions offensive tackle Corey Robinson (70) is shown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, January 1, 2017. (Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Corey Robinson (70) is shown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, January 1, 2017. (Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /

Detroit Lions: Cyrus Kouandjio, Corey Robinson, Greg Robinson

While the Detroit Lions largely outplayed the skill of their own football team last year, we can expect a slight regression to the mean for this NFC North football team. It’s not the end of the world. Detroit has the right general manager in place in Bob Quinn and several solid coaches, especially offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.

That being said, it could look worse for the Lions for one reason: their emerging star left tackle Taylor Decker is likely out for the year after undergoing shoulder surgery. While adding guard T.J. Lang from the Green Bay Packers helps up front, who can head coach Jim Caldwell count on to protect franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford’s blind side to keep him up right and in a clean pocket?

Well, it’s not going to be pretty, as the trio of Cyrus Kouandjio, Corey Robinson and Greg Robinson will try to man the Lions’ potential sinking season before it goes completely under water. Corey Robinson has been with the Lions since 2015 after being drafted in the seventh round out of South Carolina. He may have a slight leg up on Kouandjio and Greg Robinson based on familiarity in Cooter’s offense.

However, Quinn made a few panic moves in the wake of Decker’s surgery. Clearly, Kouandjio and Greg Robinson aren’t long-term solutions up front from Detroit, but both did star in the SEC not that long ago. Kouandjio played Nick Saban at Alabama. Robinson was the road grader up front for Gus Malzahn’s national runner-up team at Auburn in 2013. Someone has to step up big time in Decker’s absence if Detroit wants to get back into the NFC Playoffs.