In the battle for the starting right end defensive end position for the Detroit Lions, Dewayne White isn't as athletic or as fast as the younger, more flamboyant Cliff Avril. What White has, though, is a history of production.
Detroit's new coaching staff is leaning toward starting Avril, but they're withholding any decisions until the pads come on and the preseason games start. White isn't a flashy player and, when you look at his 6-2, 272-pound frame, you wonder how he gets it done, but he does.
White was a backup player for four years with the Bucs before joining the Lions two years ago as a full-time starter. He has a total of 13 sacks in his 25 starts with the Lions. It should be pointed out that White played at least half of those games with either a sore knee or a bum shoulder.
White has also shown the ability to make plays late in a game, sealing the 2007 win against Oakland with a forced fumble and also returning an interception for a touchdown against the Broncos that season.
While White doesn't fit the "bigger, more physical'' player that the Lions would like to have on the defensive line, he does fit the system because he's very good at shedding blocks on initial contact. Because of all his years in the Tampa Two system, White struggled early in picking up the system, but the coaches have been encouraged by his progress throughout the off-season workouts.
This is going to be a battle worth watching throughout training camp. The coaches would like to see Avril show he can handle the position on an every-down basis, but White isn't going to make that decision an easy one.
