For this first time in the 13-year history of the honor, the Defensive Rookie of the Month award has been bestowed upon a Lions player: former Western Michigan safety Louis Delmas. Delmas, who overcame incredible adversity to be a defensive difference-maker, is on track to continue that success into his Lions career.
Delmas provided one of the few bright spots in the Lions’ opening-week loss to the New Orleans Saints; a fumble return for a TD that briefly got the Lions back in the game. He also helped bottle up Redskins’ Pro Bowl TE Chris Cooley, holding Cooley to just 3 catches and 38 yards in the Lions’ streak-snapping 19-14 victory.
While a fan vote plays a part in awarding the honor, it’s unknown just how big of a part it plays. While it’s safe to assume that whoever else had input into the award didn’t grade the finalists on every snap they played, and Delmas’s SportsCenter clip probably sealed the deal for him, it’s still remarkable to have a Lions defensive rookie recognized by the league for his impact playmaking three weeks in.
And all this from a draft where the Lions “didn’t address the defense”!
Discuss it here, in The Den!
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