Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions 1st Half Grades, Where Can They Improve?

First off, a 6-2 start, in spite of a relatively weak schedule, is one of the more pleasant surprises I can remember as a fan of this organization.   The Lions are approaching the meat of their schedule and have a very challenging road ahead.  That being said, here are my first half grades:

QB’s: A-

Jon Kitna is plain and simple, the heart and soul of this team.   Early in the season, I was moved by his willingness to stick his neck out to lead this team to victory, even while jeopardizing his own well being.   He has become an even better game manager as the season has progressed, in the process making the Lions more formidable.    Any future Lions success hinges completely upon Kitna remaining healthy.

RB’s: B

Tatum Bell, now benched, was ineffective to begin the season but gives the team depth should Kevin Jones become injured again.   The return of a healthy Kevin Jones makes the Lions a legitimate playoff contender, and lightens the load that was placed upon Jon Kitna earlier in the season.   Jon Bradley is doing a very good job in his limited role, although Sunday’s fumble is a concern.   T.J. Duckett also has had a limited role, which I think may expand as the season progresses and Jones gets a little dinged up.

TE’s: B

The Lions tight ends don’t figure heavily into the Lions offense.   They have not missed a beat without the blocking of veteran Dan Campbell and Sean McHugh has emerged as a surprising playmaker, in limited action.

OL: C-

The Lions offensive line has allowed too many sacks, even if many of them have come as result of the risky design of their offense, which provides them with little assistance from backs and tight ends, or Jon Kitna often holding onto the ball for too long.  They appear to be improving and their ability to keep Kitna healthy and upright is completely congruent with any success that may lay ahead for this team.

WR’s: B+

The receivers have played very well.   They present most teams with unrectified matchup nightmares.    Their disappearance against Philly and Washington is why they have been downgraded a bit.   Also, Roy Williams has suffered from lapses of focus at times and turned the ball over.   The sky is the limit with this group, though.

Defense

DL: A-

The Lions defensive line has compensated for the difficulties the Lions secondary have had.   They have also forced lesser, inexperienced QB’s into poor decision-making and a bounty of turnovers.   Shaun Rogers, when he puts his mind to it, is one of the league’s premier players.   A healthy return of Kalimba Edwards, if he can finally fulfill his potential, could make this group devastating.   Jared DeVries, Corey Smith, and Langston Moore have all performed beyond expectations.

LB’s: B-

Ernie Sims is a tackling machine.   Boss Bailey and Paris Lenon have been pretty good.  Teddy Lehman and Alex Lewis have provided depth.   Other than Sims, no one player has stood out.   They have not been a liability, though.

DB’s: C+/B+

The DB’s get a C+ for coverage and B+ for opportunism.   Teams seem to be able to throw at will, but are never able to fully punish the Lions secondary in spite of it.   The increased takeaways are a sign of progress.  Their tackling has improved exponentially in recent weeks.

Special Teams: B+

The kicking game is as good as ever.   The coverage hasn’t been bad, even if Devin Hester provided us with some heart palpitating moments this season.   The steadiness of Hanson and Harris is often undervalued.  The returns game has been non-descript.  Their impact, especially Shaun Rogers, on opposing kickers attempting field goals has forced opponents to leave points on the field often this season.

Coaching: B+

Early season missed challenge calls, questionable offensive playcalling, and Sunday’s decision to deliver an onside kick were all head scratchers.  Their ability to pull the Lions off of the mat from two horrific road losses and the continued improvement of the team each week are clearly positive signs.   The fact that the Lions appear to be as cohesive as any time in the last 10 years is also a reflection of the success of the coaching staff.   True difficulties lay ahead, but I am more confident of this coaching staff than the Lions have had in my time following the team.

Where the Lions can improve:

1) Red Zone offense: To join the league’s elite they have to maximize their opportunities in the red zone, especially during close games.

2) Offensive Line: they have grown by leaps and bounds, but their margin for error is incredibly small because if Kitna goes down, the Lions season will soon follow.

3) Backup QB:  Matt Millen didn’t do enough to cover the Lions here.   I have been critical throughout that he should have found a backup with game experience, but now that the Lions are likely to make the playoffs, this becomes an even bigger concern.

4) 3rd down defense:  The defense has showed signs of improving.   That being said, in close games against better opponents, they can’t allow extra opportunities for teams who can score from any place on the field, at any time.

5) Running Game:  The Lions look like a realistic playoff team because they are not one dimensional any longer.   In order to hold onto leads late in games, you have to be able to run with the ball.

Lions Win 44-7, Wow!

Before I sprinkle any superlatives upon the Lions performance on Sunday, first, I have to say, did Denver have an epic meltdown of leonine proportions or what?   The Lions have clearly been the benefactors of playing a couple of reeling teams who, when they have had their backs placed firmly against the wall, have folded, rather than risen to the challenge that has been laid before them.

That being said, I have two words for you, Shaun Rogers.   Admittedly, I have been critical of “Big Baby” at times.  I still question his conditioning, and I have never been truly certain of how much he has bought into the current (or any?) coaches philosophy.   Yet, Rogers is one of the single most devastating players in the league, and his athleticism is nearly unmatched at his position.

More importantly, the Lions seem to be taking their current success in stride.   Almost verbatim, the players have parroted Coach Marinelli’s mantra’s of “playing one snap at a time” or “pounding the rock” or some variation.   Maybe it’s the lingering pair of serious road embarassments, via Philly and Washington, keeping them focused upon their task at hand.

The Lions defense appears fully committed to the Tampa-2 defense.   They are flying around to the ball and tackling more assuredly than they did earlier in the season.  Not only that, they are proving that their continued high number of takeaways are not an aberration, but a commitment to the sound fundamentals of their defense.  

By design, the Cover-2 exploits the unfortunate reality that most NFL offenses will flourish between the 20 yard lines, but due to patchwork O-lines, poor QB play, penalties, and turnovers most teams hold the seeds of their own destruction inside of the red zone, if you will allow them to hurt themselves.

The Lions O-Line is doing a better job of protecting Jon Kitna and opening running lanes for their running backs.   Kitna is becoming a better game manager and not making the mistakes that recent Lions opponents have.  He is spreading the ball around to all of his offensive playmakers in a manner where, even if the Lions offense is a little less explosive, makes it increasingly difficult for opposing defenses to shut the Lions offense down.

Moving forward, the Lions are a legitimate playoff contender in the NFC.   I have faith, for the first time in an incredibly long time, that the Lions coaching staff will continue to shore up some of their weaknesses as the Lions approach the meat of their schedule and continue their trek into unchartered waters.   It is up to us whether we allow ourselves to enjoy the ride or not.

Week 9 Preview: Denver at Detroit

In what promises to be one of the more electric game environments in Ford Field history, the Lions will be facing a injury-depleted, reeling Broncos team who is on the verge of playoff elimination, and will be battling to preserve their season at all costs.

In most cases, the Lions fatalist in me will expect the worst,    you know the old adage, if it looks to good to be true then…  At any rate, it is clearly up to the Lions if they will continue to assert and establish their legitimacy as the season progresses.  In most people’s eyes, in spite of their struggles, a victory over the Broncos would go a long ways towards legitimizing the Lions season, thus far.

Their are a number of intriguing back stories to this game.   Lions LB Boss Bailey will be playing against his older brother, and all-universe CB Champ Bailey.   Former Lions team captain Dre Bly is Bailey’s secondary mate.   Bly, a two-time pro bowler with the Lions, stands as a stark representation of the old Lions in many fans eyes, in spite of what he brought in talent. 

Whether Bly was a positive or negative force within the Lions dressing room will never be completely known, but a defeat of Bly, and the Broncos, would be even more symbolic for Rod Marinelli and his staff.

In order for the Lions to win, it is really quite simple.   Run the ball effectively with Kevin Jones, against the NFL’s worst rushing defense, forcing the Broncos to move safety John Lynch into the tackle box, and do their best to limit the strong Broncos rushing attack.

If Jones continues to run well, the Lions will have a major advantage.   The Broncos utilize man, and both two and three deep zone coverages.   By running effectively, the Lions can limit what the excellent Broncos secondary has at it’s disposal.  Which opens up the Lions passing game significantly.

Jon Kitna should have more time to operate than usual, the Broncos are limited in their ability to pressure QB’s.   That being said, one of the more important game matchups will be OT Jeff Backus and Freeney-clone, undersized Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil.    Backus has to limit Dumervil, in order for the Lions to have success.

Defensively, the Lions want to slow RB’s Selvin Young and Travis Henry, to place the onus of winning the game on young Broncos QB Jay Cutler’s shoulders.   If they are able to do that, given the injuries the Broncos have suffered within their receiving corps, the Lions may be able to continue to generate the turnovers necessary to counteract the offensive success the Broncos will likely have against them.

I am a little concerned about the Broncos knifing through the Lions secondary, especially by attacking between the hashes, with TE’s Daniel Graham, Tony Scheffler, and WR Brandon Stokely.  The Broncos will be content throwing underneath the deep Lions safeties, but it will be imperative that the Lions tackle well and not allow big gains.

The Lions will on Sunday and are a better than even bet to win to on the road against the Cardinals next week.   Does a 7-2 start garner Rod Marinelli his Head Coach of the Year award now or later?  Lions 27 Broncos 23