Saturday open thread: Do you still believe in Jarrad Davis?

For the past three years, Jarrad Davis has done everything right off the field. He’s earned the coaches’ praises by regularly being the first guy in the building and one of the last players out. He’s a film junkie who has shown time and time again that his commitment to the game is second to none. He’s also crazy big and strong now.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t turned into tangible results on the field. For the past three years, Davis has graded out as one of the worst starting linebackers in the NFL according to PFF, and it’s easy to see why on game day. He regularly overpersues, he misses tackles far too often, and his coverage abilities have not progressed since his rookie season.

Despite his struggles, the coaching staff hasn’t wavered in their overwhelming support for Davis. Just earlier this month, head coach Matt Patricia called Davis ”a cornerstone of what we’re trying to do.”

And if you follow this coaching staff’s comments regarding Davis and the way they look when they talk about him, this doesn’t feel like the run-of-the-mill supporting a player comments. Even though they didn’t exercise his fifth-year option, it still really feels like this coaching staff still believes in Davis.

But do you?

Today’s Question of the Day is:

Do you believe in Jarrad Davis?

My answer: I want to. I really, really, really want to.

There is no easier player to root for on the Lions than Jarrad Davis. He’s friendly with the media. He goes about work exactly like you’d want him to. He’s earned respect in the locker room and became a leader and captain of the team.

But the issues on the field have just been far too consistent for far too long. The warning signs were there in college, and they haven’t gone away in three years. Issues of concentration and mental processing aren’t ones that are easily worked through, and at this point, it’s hard for me to believe Davis can overcome them.

I’ll still be rooting like hell for him this fall, but my expectations remain relatively low.

Your turn.