Checking in with Detroit Lions fans for our latest SB Nation Reacts survey: What are your expectations for Za’Darius Smith’s Lions debut?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Detroit Lions fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Each week, in our SB Nation Reacts Survey, we will provide readers with a question or two specifically geared toward Detroit Lions fans, with an article exploring the results released later in the week. In this installment, we have two questions: the first being a recurring weekly question, and the next being designed for Week 11:
1. Are you confident the Lions are headed in the right direction? (weekly poll)
2. What are your expectations for Za’Darius Smith’s Lions debut?
Fans confidence in the direction of the Lions (8-1) has landed between 96 and 99% over the last seven weeks and currently sits at 99% after dispatching the Packers in Week 9. Now, after a comeback win over the Houston Texans on “Sunday Night Football,” it’s time to vote again.
Our second question centers on the highly anticipated debut of Za’Darius Smith in the Lions’ defense. Through his first nine games with the Browns, Smith was credited with 27 pressures and 5.0 sacks, which averages out to three pressures and just over a half-sack per game—numbers we used to create our three options for this week’s survey question:
What are your expectations for Za’Darius Smith’s Lions debut?
- Fewer than 3 pressures
- 3+ pressures, no sacks
- 3+ pressures, 1+ sack
Could Smith’s lack of experience in the Lions scheme limit his early impact? Will he hit the over on his average in pressures but fail to record a sack? Or will he run the table and get the whole enchilada?
There will be a bunch more articles breaking down the Lions and Jaguars throughout the week, but for now, it’s time to vote in the polls below and keep an eye out later in the week for the results.
