Haloti Ngata: New additions should bolster Detroit Lions’ pass rush – Detroit Free Press

Lions defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said he decided to play in 2017 only after cleared by a neorologist. By Dave Birkett, DFP.

Haloti Ngata rushes Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson during the third quarter of the Lions' 26-6 loss in the playoffs in Seattle on Jan. 7, 2017.(Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, DFP)

For the Detroit Lions to have a better defense this fall, they'll need to get more out of their pass rush.

And after watching the moves the Lions made this off-season, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said they're set up to dothat.

"I love the guys that we brought in," Ngata said. "Some of the rookies that we got, I love. Meeting those other two, (Akeem) Spence and Jordan (Hill), theyre great guys and love working with them so far. I think theyre going to help us a lot this year."

The Lions tied for 30th in the NFL with 26 sacks last season, their lowest total since their 2-14 season of 2009.

Top pass rusher Ziggy Ansah missed three games with a high ankle sprain and battled the injury much of the season, and the Lions struggled to consistently generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks in his absence.

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Kerry Hyder led the Lions with eight sacks last season, and no one else had more than 4.5.

"Definitely Ziggy being healthy is going to be huge because hes an awesome person at getting sacks," Ngata said. "Thats definitely going to help. I think some of the guys that we picked up with Cornelius Washington and some of the inside guys we brought in, explosive guys, thats definitely going to help."

Washington, who had two of his three career sacks last year with the Chicago Bears, has never been a dominant pass rusher but still should compete with Hyder for the starting left end job opposite Ansah.

Ngata and second-year pro A'Shawn Robinson are expected to start at defensive tackle, with Spence, Hill and Khyri Thornton as rotational backups.

The Lions spent the early part of the draft rebuilding their back seven anddid not take a pass rusher until Day 3 when they grabbed Arkansas defensive tackle Jeremiah Ledbetter in the sixth round and Eastern Michigan defensive end Pat O'Connor in Round 7.

Both players will have to win roster spots in training camp.

"The things that weve kind of done this off-season with the draft and the guys weve picked up, Im excited," Ngata said. "Especially with all these young draft picks we got with linebacker and DBs, and its going to be a lot of fun to see how they can help us. Well see with some of the guys we picked up in the off-season on the defensive line, see what we can do and hopefully be a better defense this year."

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Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@davebirkett.

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Haloti Ngata: New additions should bolster Detroit Lions' pass rush - Detroit Free Press