Ex-Lions DT Akeem Spence's 'big goal for this week:' Sacking Stafford

Dave Birkett | Detroit Free Press

Akeem Spence has one objective when he plays his old team this week: Sack Matthew Stafford.

“I just look at it as another opportunity to go out, compete against some former friends and actually get the chance to put Matt down,” Spence told reporters Wednesday. “That’s my big goal for this week.”

The Detroit Lions traded Spence to the Dolphins for a 2019 seventh-round pick back in May, and the gregarious defensive tackle admitted he welcomed the change of scenery.

The Lions had just hired Matt Patricia as head coach and were in the process of overhauling their defense, and in Miami, Spence has reunited with former Lions defensive line coach Kris Kocurek in a system he’s intimately familiar with.

“I was kind of uncomfortable in (the new scheme) because I had never been in a 3-4 in my career and really didn’t know how I was going to adjust,” Spence said. “They were bringing in their guys. I’ve been in the league long enough, so I kind of saw everything for what it was and I’m kind of happy everything worked out the way it did. Getting back in a 4-3, doing what I love to do, as opposed to being in a 3-4.”

A starter the final 11 games of last year after Haloti Ngata suffered a season-ending bicep injury, Spence had one of the best seasons of his career in Detroit. He tied career highs with 39 tackles and three sacks.

In Miami, Spence has 13 tackles through six games and has played as part of a three-man rotation at defensive tackle along with Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor.

Asked Wednesday if there’s any added motivation facing his old team, Spence said, “Yeah, but I mean they had some changes. Business is business. I don’t really look at it like that. They were going in a different direction. Obviously, I got an opportunity to come here, play in the same style defense that I was in there.”

Despite the changes — the Lions return just two defensive linemen who appeared in games last fall — Spence said he remains close with several old teammates, including defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, and he’s looking forward to seeing them on the field Sunday.

“I’m happy and just ready to go out and compete, really, against these guys,” Spence said. “It’s just another football game, just another team. Obviously, I know the guys on the other side of the ball, but that still doesn’t change from this team trying to get a W.”

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Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!