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The Detroit Lions need rookie defensive end Ezekiel Ansah to make an early impact.

(Justin Rogers | MLive.com)

The Detroit Lions are looking to bounce back after last season's dismal 4-12 finish.

While every player has a role, some are more important than others. Here's the second segment of our week-long look at the 25 players most critical to the team's success in 2013.

20. DeAndre Levy, LB (Last season: No. 15)

The working hypothesis suggests that despite continuing to operate primarily from the Wide-9 alignment, the bigger, longer athletes at defensive end should take some of the strain off the linebackers while playing the run. That's good news for Levy and whoever wins the other outside job.

The Lions rewarded Levy with a three-year, $9.75 million contract after the four-year veteran showed more consistency the past two seasons. Now he just needs to continue to build off those campaigns.

19. Jason Fox/Corey Hilliard, OT (Last season: Not ranked)

It's still up in the air who will replace Gosder Cherilus, but whoever wins the job, they'll have big shoes to fill. Despite some issues with penalties during his five years in Detroit, Cherilus was considered one of the more consistent right tackles in the NFL last season.

18. Ashlee Palmer, LB (Last season: Not ranked)

Palmer is the early favorite to fill the other outside linebacking opening, but he has to fend off hungry second-year pros Travis Lewis and Tahir Whitehead during training camp. Beyond the linebacking duties, Palmer is one of the top special teams players in the NFL and should continue to play a key role on coverage units.

17. Dominic Raiola, C (Last season: Not ranked)

Raiola understands he's nearing the end of his career. He took a massive pay cut this offseason, but he's prepared to fend off all challengers for his job in training camp, coming into the offseason program 20 pounds heavier. The added weight should help with his biggest weakness, getting push in the run game.

Beyond his physical role, Raiola is the senior member of a unit in transition. He makes the blocking calls and adjustments at the line of scrimmage and is responsible for making sure the group is on the same page so that quarterback Matthew Stafford absorbs as few hits as possible.

16. Ezekiel Ansah, DE (Last season: Not ranked)

The Lions coaching staff insists Ansah isn't raw, but there's no denying he's inexperienced. No one should be expecting double-digit sacks from the rookie, but he needs to be making his presence felt early in the season by putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks with his quickness and length. Detroit simply cannot afford for the fifth overall pick to spend a year learning on the job.