Our 2017 roster review will reexamine the Lions’ roster and how it played out last season. We’ll take a look at expectations, performance and potential role in the future.

Today, we continue our discussion with Detroit Lions reserve defensive tackle Rodney Coe.

Rodney Coe

Expectations before 2017

There weren’t any. Coe came out of Akron in 2016 and went undrafted, landing with the Dallas Cowboys. From there he would have stints with the Buccaneers, Jaguars, and Seahawks (several times) before finally ending up in Detroit in late December 2017. Coe didn’t measure coming out in 2016 so I can’t say for certain why he’s stuck around like he has despite bouncing from team to team, but it’s likely athletic upside.

Actual role in 2017

2017 stats: 1 game played

Coe actually dressed on game day once in 2017 for the Seattle Seahawks, though he would not record a stat. That would be the extent of his time on a field, however, as he spent time on more rosters last year than he spent games active for a team. Working with Marion Hobby, Todd Walsh, and Doug Marrone in Jacksonville and then the Seahawks’ established defensive coaches is promising for an incoming player to Detroit who is looking at a whole new defensive staff.

Outlook for 2018

Contract Status: ERFA

Coe joins one of the weakest units on the Lions roster coming into 2018 and if he makes it to camp he will have plenty of opportunities to work his way into the rotation. New defensive line coach Bo Davis, defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, and, of course, head coach Matt Patricia are likely going to put their own spin on the defensive front and we won’t know how guys like Coe fit into those plans until we actually see them in action. That said, using a shotgun approach to the team’s weakest defensive unit can’t be a bad idea and an exclusive rights FA deal is very cheap.

Poll Will Rodney Coe make it through training camp with the Lions? This poll is closed. 2% He’s a beast, starter material! (Also, I’m from Akron) (37 votes)

25% Why not? We’ve seen Zettel, Hyder, and others make waves! (312 votes)

43% Weak position, so we need all the camp guys we can get! (542 votes)

28% I just read an entire article on Rodney Coe and I still don’t know who he is, so no. (354 votes) 1245 votes total Vote Now

Previously: DE Dwight Freeney, LB Tahir Whitehead , DE Ezekiel Ansah, S Tavon Wilson, CB Nevin Lawson, LS Don Muhlbach, LB Paul Worrilow, WR TJ Jones, TE Darren Fells, OT Greg Robinson, DT Jordan Hill, CB DJ Hayden, S Don Carey, LB Nick Bellore, G Don Barclay, RB Mike James, C Travis Swanson, QB Jake Rudock, G Zac Kerin, LB/DE Brandon Copeland, RB Zach Zenner, DT Haloti Ngata