Delmas Taking a Leadership Role

Entering his second season, safety Louis Delmas is coming off of an impressive rookie year that included 91 tackles (63 solo), a sack, 2 interceptions (including one for a touchdown), a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown and 8 pass defenses.

After enduring several injuries over the course of the season, Delmas took a “good, hard month” off from football and is back to feeling good, relaxed and ready to take his place as a defensive leader.

Delmas: “The big thing is me stepping in and – I don’t like using the term rookie – but as far as me stepping in as a rookie (last year), coming in and playing my role of being a leader on the team, I think I did an okay job of that; (but) I don’t think I did well enough to get a couple of more wins out there.

“That’s one thing that I’m really focused on right now, trying to be a leader on the field, that way once the game situations come, where there needs to be a leadership role, I can be that person that steps in and says something.”

One of the things that has enabled Delmas to be more comfortable in a leadership role has been taking part in the offseason program and getting to know some of the new acquisitions on the secondary.

Delmas: “We have a lot of great guys. One thing up until this point is that everybody is very cool with each other. We listen to one another. We don’t have a couple of different groups that while one is working out, the other is over here talking – everybody respects each other’s work and play out there. I think we’ll be great.”

Another area on defense that the Lions have worked on strengthening this offseason is the defensive line. With the addition of defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and defensive tackle Corey Williams, Delmas is excited to see how that will help the secondary.

Delmas: “Let me tell you, that helps us tremendously. There’s nothing like having a quarterback have three seconds to throw the ball. That’s real big on the secondary. That gives us a chance to let our hair back and take more shots instead of sitting back and letting the quarterback take shots on us. Having a great d-line is a big thumbs up for us.”