The Detroit Lions are trying to rebound from a very disappointing 4-12 finish last season and they'll need to add talented players on every unit if they are going to do so. Detroit set their sights on the least talked-about unit on Thursday when they signed Montell Owens, a two-time Pro Bowl selection on special teams for the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Tim Twentyman.
Montell Owens signs with Lions, according to report
A low-key signing, but Owens has twice made the Pro Bowl. Can he help the Lions get back to the playoffs?
Kent Nishimura
And the Lions certainly needed help on special teams.
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Advanced NFL stats site Football Outsiders ranked the Lions as 30th in the league on special teams as a whole last season. Detroit posted especially bad numbers on kick and punt coverage, an area where Owens could immediately provide an upgrade and help pin back opposing offenses on a more regular basis.
Owens was an undrafted free agent running back and fullback out of Maine in 2006. He has overcome the odds and stuck with the Jaguars for seven seasons with his outstanding work on special teams, being named to the Pro Bowl in 2010 and then replacing the Patriots' Matthew Slater in 2011.
He holds the franchise record for most special teams tackles (118) and special teams tackles in a single season, with 30.
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