Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions TE Situation, Eagles Game Redux

The announcement that the Lions had placed Dan Campbell on the injured reserve list happened rather quietly this weekend.   Campbell’s loss is significant, the Lions are now left without a dependable blocking tight end, on a roster without a genuine FB, on a team that struggles immensely to run with the ball even with Campbell’s presence.

The Lions did sign veteran TE Courtney Anderson, but he is a journeyman, and is unproven.  The complete inability to run with the ball will likely be one of the major factors between a moderately successful or poor season for the team.   Obviously, a blocking tight end is a small part of the team’s overall ability to run with the ball, but the Lions difficulties in that aspect of their offense can’t be undervalued.

The Raiders recently released underachieving CB Duane Starks to accomodate a roster spot for QB JaMarcus Russell.  If Starks survives as a free agent until the Lions upcoming bye week, don’t be surprised if he is brought in for a tryout.   The Lions secondary is going to continue to be picked apart throughout the season, judging by their porous play against the Eagles.   The Lions will attempt to remedy this situation soon.

After watching the Lions/Eagles game, I am increasingly concerned.    The Lions front four was incredibly ineffective, especially with the Eagles successful utilization of some max-protection pass blocking schemes.  Eagles QB Donavan McNabb had way too much time to throw, and the Lions LB’s and DB’s apparently game-planned so heavily for RB Brian Westbrook, that they were also repeatedly burnt deep on play action passes.  

The Lions secondary and LB’s have had trouble keeping plays in front of them and making sound tackles.   Now that teams see that they also can be exploited deep with play-action, or max-protect blocking to buy time for their QB’s, a lot more Lions games could have Arena League-type scoring levels.   Great news for fantasy football fans, horrible news for Lions fans (i.e. Typical Fantasy Football Player comment: ”I am going to take a flyer on Rashied Davis against the Lions this weekend”)

That’s why this weekend’s game, featuring new Bears starting QB Brian Griese, is so important.   The west coast style of Griese will allow the Bears to utilze slants, screens, and the like to take advantage of the Lions poor tackling.   After a while, the Bears will take their deep shots to players like WR’s Bernard Berrian and Mark Bradley, who have had excellent games against the Lions in the past, too.