Defense Wears Down as Detroit Lions' Late Rally Fails

How many conversations have you had about Aaron Donald in the past week?

Former Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew's decision to pass on the defensive tackle for tight end Eric Ebron in the 2014 NFL Draft has been cited often as an example of the Detroit Lions' problems. After the St. Louis Rams' 21-14 win over the Lions on Sunday, that argument won't be disappearing anytime soon.

"

Aaron Donald with his third sack. That's one more sack than Eric Ebron catches today.

— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) December 13, 2015"

Ebron did finish with three catches, but this loss had a lot more to do with the defense's lack of playmakers than the offense's lack of production—which is why Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin should find himself under as much heat as soon-to-be-former head coach Jim Caldwell.

On 2nd-and-9, with a little more than one minute left in a game that had seen Detroit recover an onside kick after cutting the lead to seven, Rams running back Todd Gurley shredded Detroit's defense for 21 yards. It was as if the Lions didn't see it coming.

"

Like the Rams aren't giving that ball to Gurley. Passive box, no contain. Bad game all around from Teryl Austin.

— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) December 13, 2015"

The last play was indicative of the unit's performance as a whole. Detroit couldn't find a way to stop the Gurley freight train as it ran away with 140 yards on only 16 carries.

That's an 8.75-yard average.

Detroit has had a lot of recent success against opposing rushing defenses by setting the edge and filling the holes in the middle. That wasn't the case Sunday. Gurley was able to rack up incredible numbers by going through and around the defense whenever he saw fit.

"

Todd Gurley is causing problems and scoring touchdowns. Again. #DETvsSTL https://t.co/wEdIpp6rN7

— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2015"

While it's difficult to contain a back once he breaks through the line, Gurley was often able to get outside the linebackers with ease. His other touchdown came on an outside run when Detroit linebacker Josh Bynes couldn't get off the block to push Gurley back inside, although Bynes did have a case for holding on the play.

However, even when the linebackers or safeties did meet Gurley in the hole, they weren't able to complete tackles.

Austin had stayed away from playing former starting strong safety James Ihedigbo in recent weeks in favor of Isa Abdul-Quddus. The move worked well. Abdul-Quddus led the team with 11 combined tackles against the Green Bay Packers on December 3.

That wasn't the case against the Rams.

"

Abdul-Quddus in now at SS. Both guys getting early play. #DETvsSTL

— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) December 13, 2015"

Both Ihedigbo and Abdul-Quddus played against the Rams, and while Abdul-Quddus did force a Case Keenum interception, the duo failed to have much of an impact otherwise. They combined for a grand total of four tackles—with at least three critical missed tackles between them.

On multiple occasions, Ihedigbo read the play, got to Gurley—at or just after the line of scrimmage—and then tried to bring down the bruising rookie with an arm tackle. You can guess for yourself how that worked out.

Detroit enjoyed a solid four-week stretch of competitive football on the back of its stout defense. But when the team needed a play this week, none of its defenders were able to step up.

It was as if they were one playmaker short.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter @BrandonAlisoglu.