Detroit Lions Weblog

Emergence of Ground Game, Opportunistic Defense Points Toward Future Success

The Lions have recently discovered a reinvigorated ground attack.   It is no coincidence that their once dormant ground game has been positively impacted by the return of Kevin Jones to the starting lineup.   Jones’ high effort, hard-charging style of running has always showed potential to produce.   If Jones remains healthy, the Lions ground game should continue to deliver bountiful benefits towards most games final outcome.

The emergence of two players may be more directly responsible for the amount of success the Lions have enjoyed while running the ball of late.   G Stephen Peterman and FB Jon Bradley have provided significant personnel upgrades and still possess untapped potential that can still be mined by the Lions offense.

Bradley’s tank-like roll through the middle of a pile at the line of scrimmage is particularly impressive.   At an athletic 300 lbs, Bradley is a hole-filling linebacker’s worst nightmare.  Especially given the Cover-2 zone team’s propensity for smaller, faster linebackers.   Bradley will not be mismatched frequently, if ever, when teams utilze safety-sized linebackers to stop the Lions ground game.

The Lions defensive ability to generate turnovers is a completely unexpected development.   Turnovers are a difficult to project variable, and the Lions have certainly faced some teams who have been piss poor in their ball preservation.   That being said, a defense will rarely be passive and find themselves gifted with turnovers, they do have to create them.

In a mediocre NFL, it it appears prudent to play a “bend, but don’t break” zone defensive philosophy since most teams are helmed at QB by either inexperienced, confused rookies or journeyman, perennial 2nd stringer’s who will eventually, when given the appropriate length of rope to hang themselves with by the zone defense, find ways to implode.

The Lions defense stands as an example.    Teams have moved the ball at will during most games, but the Lions have found the means to make the necessary plays to win five games.   It does remain questionable if this success will bear out when they play more accomplished teams, like the upcoming Dallas, New York, or San Diego, but in a weak division, that participates in a weak conference, the percentages for winning more than losing are pretty good. 

The Lions are on a track for future success.   A healthy Kevin Jones, along with the compliments of players like Peterman and Bradley gives the Lions a much brighter outlook for the future.