Really good film study of Gabe Wright by the Detroit Free Press

quote:

---

As seen last year, Wright wasn't nearly disruptive enough when the offense concentrated on controlling him. However, if surrounded with other veteran talents where he is not the focal point of the defense, he can make an impact shooting gaps in the trenches. Wright must improve his consistency, and playing a low number of snaps and fighting for playing time in the rotation should force him to compete on every snap instead of occasionally stalling when his first move was negated.

With the Lions, Wright has an opportunity to make an immediate impact because of the team's youth and inexperience behind Ngata. Walker, 25, has only one career start in 23 games, while 2014 fifth-round pick Caraun Reid recorded just two tackles in limited action as a rookie. Wright will be battling Reid for the top backup spot and faces real expectations to perform because of the losses of Suh, Fairley and C.J. Mosley. Austin expects to have the Georgia native in the DT rotation right away, and already has him pegged for 25-30 snaps per game.

Wright brings intriguing skills to the interior defensive line and is an obvious scheme match because of his mobility and burst off the ball. The question is whether he can regain his 2013 form and produce for a unit that, outside of Ngata, is raw and unproven.

If Wright can take advantage of a rare opportunity to earn major playing time as a rookie, he may surprise everyone and lessen the blow of the player who used to don the number 90.

---