Delmas is the leader of the secondary.
Its quarterback.
Delmas is the guy who gets everyone in the right position.
Watch any Lions game and at some point you’ll see No. 26 making a play in the backfield, along the sideline and deep down the middle of the field.
He’s everywhere.
The problem the last month for the Lions is that Delmas has been everywhere but on the football field.
He sprained the MCL in his right knee early in the first quarter against the Packers on Thanksgiving. He had arthroscopic knee surgery on the knee Saturday.
Lions coach Jim Schwartz hasn’t ruled him out for Saturday’s game against the Chargers but Delmas didn’t practice on Tuesday.
The Lions have certainly missed Delmas’ speed and playmaking ability over the last four games. But it’s his familiarity with the scheme and the players in front of him that they've missed the most.
“(Oakland receiver) T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the slot running those out routes (Sunday), with Louis in the game, he would have told me to jump it and ‘I got you’,” said corner
“With the other safeties, you know, they might not understand, or have the same athleticism that he has.”
How Houston explains it, the biggest difference between having Delmas in the lineup and not having him is that corners are more apt to take chances and go for a big play with him back there because they know Delmas is athletic enough to cover for them on the backend.
That’s one of the reasons the Lions have 18 interceptions on the season.
Houston is tied for the team lead with four, including two he’s taken back for touchdowns.
“With Louis back there you all are talking and you see something and you’re communicating and you can (take chances),” Houston said. “With the other guys you just have to play what’s called.”
Houston didn’t mean that as a knock on
That’s why coaches always talk about how important it is for a secondary to play together and build chemistry. A good secondary always seems to know where each other are on the field and what their job is.
Is it just a coincidence the Lions have given up over 300 yards passing in three of their last four games with nine touchdowns and three interceptions?
It should also be noted the interceptions were against Vikings' rookie quarterback Christian Ponder.
“He’s the leader on defense in the secondary and makes sure everyone is in the right spot,” said corner
Delmas is also one of the team's best tacklers against the run.
The Lions need a win Saturday against the Chargers to clinch a playoff spot and the secondary with have its hands full again with quarterback Philip Rivers and the Chargers' high-potent passing attack.
Whether they'll have the services of their best safety or not is still yet to be determined.
