Detroit Lions Who've Turned Heads in Offseason Workouts

The Detroit Lions have one more week of OTAs left, but players and units are already starting to stand out.

Yes, I'm changing the game a bit here. The headline doesn't say we're specifically looking at players. It says "Lions." That leaves the door open for groups instead of individuals.

Plus, if you're a fan of the team, you'll be so thrilled with the update that you'll forgive me for my transgression. Click through to find out how gracious you truly are.

DE Ziggy Ansah

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is moving forward with a renovated defensive line. That doesn't mean the unit will be worse, despite losing its top three defensive tackles.

Ziggy Ansah's development will be the key to maintaining a top-level line. If he can ascend to blue-chip status to become the cornerstone that Ndamukong Suh once was, it will give Austin the focal point he needs to scheme around, as offenses will have to account for Ansah on every play.

So far, so good, according to head coach Jim Caldwell, per Kyle Meinke of MLive.com:

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Since I've been here, because of the fact that his familiarity with the concepts that he's dealing with, last year was new for him. Obviously, you can see growth and development in that area.

Oftentimes you can see where players play a little more slowly when they don't quite understand everything to a tee. You see that pick up over time. He's one I certainly think you can see he's not thinking nearly as much. He's reacting, he's playing and I think in the long run we'll all benefit from that.

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Ansah has grown into a good-to-great run defender and did provide the second-most hurries (34, compared to Suh's 37, per Pro Footall Focus) on the team in 2014. If he picks up a half-second or so by playing more instinctively instead of thinking through his moves, he could convert those hurries into sacks. That will give Detroit the uptick in pass rushing it will need to maintain a high level of play.

RB Ameer Abdullah

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Detroit needed a boost in its ground attack after finishing with the fifth-least rushing yards in the league (with 1,422). Ameer Abdullah won't be under the type of pressure Reggie Bush was as the second overall pick in the draft, but few second-rounders will be counted on as much as Abdullah will be.

Abdullah missed the first week of OTAs in order to attend the NFL Rookie Premiere. It appears that he hit the field with a flash that left Matthew Stafford impressed, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press:

"I think as a runner he's got great balance," Stafford said. "He's obviously a low-to-the-ground guy, but he seems to hide pretty well behind there and he's got good vision. ... Out of the backfield, catching the football, he's great. He's got great hands and has a good feel for route running."

The shifty runner from Nebraska has the potential to push Joique Bell for carries and Theo Riddick for catches. He has more power than his smaller frame (5'9", 205 lbs) would suggest, and he didn't drop a pass over the past two years, per NFL.com.

However, much like his new teammates did last year, he has to pick up a complicated system on the fly. We're a long way from September, but a good start is encouraging for the Reggie replacement.

WR Lance Moore

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

There's a hope floating around the Internet that Corey Fuller takes a huge leap forward or T.J. Jones comes out gangbusters. Both scenarios are in play, but both are far from guaranteed.

The Lions knew this. They didn't leave their third receiving spot to chance, signing veteran Lance Moore to bolster the odds of a hit.

And Moore is making the most of his opportunity, per Mike O'Hara of DetroitLions.com:

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Moore has been sure-handed, and his route-running has seemed effortless in the OTA practices that have been open to the media.

Moore made two good catches in Thursday’s drill. One was on a long, looping throw from Kellen Moore. Lance Moore’s left shoe came off a few strides before he caught the ball between two defenders. Moore never slowed down. In fact, he barely broke stride as he bent over to pick up the shoe as he jogged back to the huddle.

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Don't dismiss Moore out of hand because of his paltry 2014 production (14 receptions). This is an offense in which he doesn't have to think because it's second nature to him. That edge, plus his proven hands, could be enough to knock one youngster off the roster.

The Offensive Line

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

The Lions don't share many of their trade secrets with the media or public, but they couldn't keep quarterback Matthew Stafford's enthusiasm under wraps. He gushed to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com about the revamped offensive line:

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They look extremely athletic. Anytime you have a bunch of young guys in there, I kind of equate it to young running backs. You watch them run and they just have no regard for their body. They go out there and they run and they play hard and they play physical and o-line, I think, is the same way.

It’s fun to watch these guys just move around and the athletic ability we have up there right now at this point is pretty awesome.

"

When I say Stafford's glee couldn't be contained, I meant it:

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EXCLUSIVE: Matthew Stafford all smiles about the addition of OL Laken Tomlinson pic.twitter.com/3vvaTmMfkt

— Kyle Meinke (@kmeinke) May 1, 2015"

While MLive.com beat writer Kyle Meinke was having a bit of fun, there couldn't be a bigger development for the Lions. The offense never had a chance to gain enough speed for takeoff last year because the offensive line wrapped five large anchors around each wing and one around Stafford's neck.

The defense will probably still be a top-10 unit. The offense will need to make up the difference, but it won't happen if the line can't improve upon its 2014 performance (3.6 yards per carry, 45 sacks).

The Offense

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Did I lay the foreshadowing on a little too thick there?

Granted, the offensive line's performance doesn't have the same sway in OTAs, but the rest of the unit seems to have taken a cue from the big boys up front.

Wide receiver Golden Tate explained the improvement to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com:

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Offensively, I feel like we know our assignments now. We know how it’s supposed to look. Now we can dial in on really understanding the coverages. What pass or what play does Matt (Stafford) really like in this coverage? Being able to know a different signal without it being too much, and being confident that we’re both going to be on the same page. Just things like that. Simple things.

"

This was every fan's hope coming into the offseason. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi's system is a complex one, and it would require time before everyone stopped thinking about where to be instead of just running their routes.

Now that everyone knows where they should be, the unit can start clicking and producing. If that happens, Detroit will improve its ceiling from wild card to division title and beyond.

All advanced stats, grades and positional rankings are courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist who has written about the Lions on multiple sites. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter about how wrong he is @BrandonAlisoglu.