Post by badnews3123 on Nov 29, 2023 10:47:12 GMT -6
The D has taken a lot of heat over the last few weeks, some deserved, but I think probably more than they deserve.
First, I’ll say it. Pass rush has been terrible, backed into inconsistent coverage, which isn’t helped by bad pass rush. I’m also scared of any QB with mobility because they have not shown they have any idea how to defend them.
Now…..the Lions still have one of the better run defenses in the league. Chargers RB’s 24 carries for 83 yards. Bears RB’s 22 carries for 79 yards. GB RB’s 17 carries for 55 yards. My only issue here is, I think at times the schematically they put so much in to stopping the run, that it’s hurting them defending the pass. A lot of contain rushes and the mindset just isn’t there to then transition outside of Hutchinson and McNeil.
The offense has turned the ball over 6 times in the last 2 games, one of those resulted in a defensive TD. ST has turned it over with a fumble and a fake punt. Out of all those turnovers the defense only allowed 17 points. Including GB getting the ball on the Lions 23 and forcing them to a turnover on downs. At the start of the 4th they kept it a 2 score game after Goff fumbled and only allowed 1:40 off the clock. In the Bears game, the offense turned the ball over on the 2 opening possessions and the D didn’t allow a point. After going in with a halftime lead, 2 turnovers lead to 10 points both with Chicago getting the ball in Lions territory. Not ideal, but could have been much worse. Especially considering the offense only managed 1 first down and 41 yards for the entire 3rd quarter.
The D has been an easy punching bag and they deserve some of it, but offense was still supposed to carry this team.
Post by Blaming Brad on Nov 29, 2023 11:09:31 GMT -6
Yep, well said. I've been telling people the last couple weeks the defense hasn't been as bad as it seems and when you turn the ball over essentially 8 times in 2 games it does not put the defense in a good position. Biggest issues have been lapses, no pass rush and the fact that they have no one that can play man and teams are starting to figure that out.
Also helpful when the offense doesn’t give up the ball near the red zone to begin with.
How often does that happen?
The past couple games…4 times. Not including a fumble returned for a TD and Reynolds fumbling a kick return giving Bears the ball at Lions 40.
D deserves plenty of heat, but what had supposed to be the strength of this team has put them in bad spots the last couple weeks and at times they’ve held strong and kept the game within reason.
Sounds like he could be back for the playoffs...wonder if this is more maintenence than necessity?
what I mean by that is...
Is the coaching staff taking a maintenence approach during the season to have a somewhat healthy team heading into the playoffs?
Different question...
Suppose you get Houston, cjgj, alim back in time for the playoffs...how much does that help the D? Can the D compete in the playoffs with those 3 back in?
I see what you are saying. And maybe if the team had its back against the wall and needed these guys to make it to the playoffs, then they might rush them back. But they are 9-3 without guys like Houston and CJGJ, perhaps getting them healthier will only benefit them when they make it to the playoffs. I'm down with it.
Last Edit: Dec 9, 2023 4:28:00 GMT -6 by goldenlions
Personally I was amped to see James Houston get way more snaps. His injury hurt. Pascal has proven decent. Levi O is MIA. Houston looked to breakout.imo but hopefully he can come back. Not sure how his injury is
This match up worked well vs Wilson, and the running QBs can hurt you more doing this, but this IMO is how the defense needs to play rest of the season and never run that shell zone shit ever again.
Post by badnews3123 on Dec 18, 2023 9:47:55 GMT -6
Don’t want to get too excited. The biggest difference for the D to me was the pressure. Russ isn’t really a running QB, he likes to hold the ball and dance around to buy time, almost played into Lions hands in some ways. You had guys winning their one on ones with consistency and blitzes were finally getting home. I don’t care what coverage they play, if they allow the time to throw they have over last few weeks they’ll get picked apart.
Don’t want to get too excited. The biggest difference for the D to me was the pressure. Russ isn’t really a running QB, he likes to hold the ball and dance around to buy time, almost played into Lions hands in some ways. You had guys winning their one on ones with consistency and blitzes were finally getting home. I don’t care what coverage they play, if they allow the time to throw they have over last few weeks they’ll get picked apart.
That is why they blitzed
I'd rather see them take chances and create pressure than get picked apart by a QB. This defense needs to live and die by pressure and man under coverage. If they get beat..so be it.
Don’t want to get too excited. The biggest difference for the D to me was the pressure. Russ isn’t really a running QB, he likes to hold the ball and dance around to buy time, almost played into Lions hands in some ways. You had guys winning their one on ones with consistency and blitzes were finally getting home. I don’t care what coverage they play, if they allow the time to throw they have over last few weeks they’ll get picked apart.
That is why they blitzed
I'd rather see them take chances and create pressure than get picked apart by a QB. This defense needs to live and die by pressure and man under coverage. If they get beat..so be it.
They’ve blitzed all year. They’re middle of the pack blitz rate. They’ve just been bad at it.
Post by badnews3123 on Dec 18, 2023 10:09:42 GMT -6
I thought they had a couple nice wrinkles. The Vidor blitz was a great call, but overall…guys just performed better. DL was winning with consistency and that made back ends job easier.
You also had an offense that, for most part, wasn’t putting them in bad positions with turnovers and 3 and outs. It’s much easier when your offense and defense are in sync.
Last Edit: Dec 18, 2023 10:10:34 GMT -6 by badnews3123
see, seemed the same as always to me...I never thought he was all that great, even said that before the season...although, to be fair, i guess he does seem a little worse this year...