Detroit Lions: Midseason Rookie Progress Report

The man who made them Detroit Lions might be gone, but the Detroit Lions' class of 2015 still has a lot of expectations to deal with.

Can Laken Tomlinson be the future foundation of a stout, attacking offensive line? Is Ameer Abdullah going to learn how to protect the ball? Was the best addition in this year's class undrafted?

None of these questions will be answered here. The season is eight games old. The outlines of these young players' careers are only starting to take shape, and there's a lot of shading and color yet to come.

So don't consider this the full picture. It's more of a sketch of how each rookie has progressed and where things could be going.

RB Zach Zenner

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When Zach Zenner dropped through the draft and into the Lions' lap, #Draft on Twitter sent the digital Paul Revere around to every fantasy draft across the 50 colonies. And it's easy to see why.

The three-time 2,000-yard rusher from South Dakota State garnered some love in the preseason for his ability to make people miss with his trademarked stutter-step. He went from fringe roster possibility to a lock in three games.

Zenner didn't see much time early, picking up 11 snaps in the first four weeks, per Pro Football Focus.

But then he got his chance to shine. Joique Bell was out, and Zenner picked up 45 yards on 13 carries for a 3.5-yard average. Despite that poor average and the porous offensive line, there were a few carries that showcased his ability to extend runs.

Unfortunately, the Bears ended his season with cracked ribs and a punctured lung. Next training camp will see him fighting for carries with another current rookie to be named later.

OT Corey Robinson

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Corey Robinson is the only drafted rookie to spend the entire season on the practice squad.

The lanky seventh-rounder looked overmatched in the preseason, as one might expect. He held his own against the scrubs in the final game against the Buffalo Bills, but it was clear he needed time to develop.

Considering the play of LaAdrian Waddle and Cornelius Lucas, it'll be interesting to see if Detroit opts to kick the tires on Robinson sooner rather than later.

There's really nothing to lose at this point. Why not give the kid some time against the big boys?

CB Quandre Diggs

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The hype surrounding Texas product Quandre Diggs was raging out of control after minicamp. Veterans and media members alike were praising him and discussing whether he could overtake Nevin Lawson and Josh Wilson for the starting nickelback spot.

Everything dissipated quickly during training camp, though.

Whether it was the pads or the full complement of players on the field, Diggs struggled to keep up with the experienced competition, only seeing regular-season action when the top two options were banged up.

Diggs didn't impress during his 156 snaps. He has been beaten for a pair of touchdowns and missed a couple of tackles, but few rookie cornerbacks excel. There's no need to worry about him yet.

FB Michael Burton

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Fullback Michael Burton has been the most consistent rookie from the beginning.

In fact, he's been one of the better fullbacks in the league. Pro Football Focus has him graded out as the second-best at his position behind Patrick DiMarco of the Atlanta Falcons.

Whenever Detroit has had success on the ground—which has been rare for the league's worst rushing attack—Burton has been on the field. He makes contact and sustains his blocks long enough for running backs to use them.

And he's run with tenacity when given the opportunity. Martin Mayhew may have to watch from afar, but he can be proud of his last fifth-round selection in Detroit.

DT Gabe Wright

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Gabe Wright's role was supposed to be the end of the rotation at defensive tackle, providing a deep pass-rushing reserve behind Haloti Ngata, Tyrunn Walker and Caraun Reid.

Obviously, that hasn't been the case. Walker's season ended early with a broken leg, and Detroit signed Andre Fluellen to take his place. The nine-time Lion didn't play in a single game until Week 5, yet Fluellen has still played one more snap than Wright, per Pro Football Focus.

Fluellen's season is done now. While Wright should be lined up for more playing time moving forward, Detroit claimed C.J. Wilson off of waivers, per Justin Rogers of MLive Media Group, so the rookie will have to earn the extra minutes.

On the field, Wright hasn't done well anchoring against the run. He needs to add more functional strength to his base, although he has shown flashes against the pass with his quick first step.

CB Alex Carter

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Michael Burton has been able to dispel any concerns about his draft status; Alex Carter has not.

Although, to be fair, it's hard to prove yourself when you can't get onto the field.

Carter couldn't practice for the first half of the season because of an ankle injury sustained in the preseason. In fact, he made his practice debut this week.

With Rashean Mathis' decline becoming more obvious every week, Detroit shouldn't keep Carter off the field for long. Once he's up to speed enough to make an appearance, the Lions must throw him out there and let him get a few reps on film for the next regime.

RB Ameer Abdullah

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Save for a few people in incredibly deep leagues or Lions fans who refuse to see the truth, Ameer Abdullah is no longer a viable fantasy option.

Abdullah is Detroit's leading rusher with 225 yards, which is more of an indictment of the team than a statement bolstering the rookie's stock. Plus, his average is a pedestrian 3.6 yards per carry. That level of efficiency doesn't measure up to Alfred Blue, Rashad Jennings and some dude named Antonio Andrews.

And Abdullah's pass-catching skills have been kept in check because of Theo Riddick's prowess. Abdullah has 13 receptions for 113 yards and one score, and there's no reason to think he can unseat Riddick, who has probably been Detroit's best back.

While a new coaching staff might find a way to better utilize the rookie, Abdullah will stay on the sideline until he goes to the Tiki Barber School of Ball Security. His four fumbles this year have awoken the ghosts of his predraft issues.

Also, the Barber comment wasn't completely satirical. The former Giants running back averaged nine fumbles for four seasons before he was able to correct his form and total just nine in his last three years.

OG Laken Tomlinson

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Laken Tomlinson's season arc has taken the exact opposite curve of Abdullah's.

The young guard only played in the season opener because of an injury to Larry Warford, and it didn't go well. He often looked confused as to his assignment, although he only allowed one hit and one quarterback hurry, per Pro Football Focus.

Tomlinson's next start didn't come along until Week 4 against Seattle. Between that Monday nighter and the following game against the Cardinals, he was responsible for seven quarterback hurries and a hit.

The last three games, however, have only seen him allow a grand total of four pressures, and he was opening holes in the run game. The latter happened because he was able to fire off the line more often instead of trying to execute the laterally moving stretch play. The former was just improvement.

As was stated in the beginning, it's too early to know for sure if Tomlinson can combine with Warford to create a power duo at guard. But the early—or recent—results have been encouraging.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter @BrandonAlisoglu.