Yes, I know the NFL season is a long journey filled with ups and downs. At this point in the season, I’m pleased with our record, especially considering all the injuries we’ve faced. However, one bad game reveals our team’s deficiencies and areas of concern. This rant might feel too harsh for some fans, but perhaps not harsh enough for others.
Powerhouse Team
As I feared, the Lions showed us what a physical powerhouse team looks like. We can complain about the refs or argue that a play or two could have made a difference, but the Lions took it to the Bucs in every facet of the game. Sure, their offense didn’t do much after taking a 21-9 lead in the third quarter, but they didn’t need to. Who’s to say we would have stopped them if they had to open up the offense again?
Grizzard’s Offense
Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard struggled to find answers for Kelvin Sheppard’s defense last night. Baker Mayfield didn’t help by losing his accuracy as the game went on, but Grizzard seemed a step behind the Lions’ defensive adjustments. We ran the ball on almost every first down in the first half, which isn’t the way to attack a defensive line led by Aidan Hutchinson. Your best chance to move the ball may come on first down. This was also the first game since the Eagles match where we played for third down. The Lions have a solid third-down defense, and I wasn’t comfortable in any of those situations, whether it was 3rd and 5, 3rd and 3, or even 3rd and 1.
Grizzard also seemed unprepared for the Lions’ heavy man-to-man coverage. They effectively shut down our zone route busters, even with backup defensive backs in the game. Coming out with crossing routes and man beaters on the first drive of the second half was a step in the right direction, but it shouldn’t take that long to make adjustments.
I’ve said it time and time again: the play-caller sets the players up for success or failure. Keeping a defense off balance makes execution easier for everyone. But when you run the ball on most first downs and consistently end up in third-down situations, you’re not helping your players win.
A Mirage of a Defense
The Lions' opening drives in both halves looked almost too easy, as if they knew exactly what defenses we were running. While our defense did make some big plays and Coach Bowles called some timely blitzes, there were too many busted coverages and missed gap assignments. You can’t afford that against a top-notch team. Do you feel confident that our defense could have stopped the Lions in the fourth quarter if they had opened up their offense again? I’m not so sure.
Glaring Player Weaknesses
Playing against the best teams highlights our weaknesses. SirVocea Dennis struggles in space; his lateral movement is below average. Logan Hall is always close to making a play but often ends up just a step behind. I mentioned last week that the Lions should target Hall, and they did—successfully. Charley Heck had a tough night against Hutchinson. He’s doing a solid job filling in while Luke Goedeke is out, but he’s not the long-term answer at right tackle.
Now, with Haason Reddick going down with an injury last night, does my call for trading for an edge defender sound more reasonable?
Again, this was just one game. I love this team; they have grit and great camaraderie. Winning against the Saints next week before heading into the bye is crucial. The Bucs should be playoff contenders, but I’m concerned about what the team will look like as we continue losing key players. The NFL is tough, and the Super Bowl-winning team isn’t always the one playing the best football right now. Here’s hoping we can be in that group by season’s end.