Detroit Lions Need to Start Hitting People & More NFC North News
Calvin Johnson is mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. And as far as he is concerned, according to Chris McCosky, of the Free Press, neither are the rest of the receivers.
A greater amount of physicality from the receivers would be a huge help to this offense, in both supporting the run game and overcoming the physical play from defensive backs.
In fact, they should take it a bit further. The entire team needs to bring a hard, physicalย styleย of play to every game from here on out.
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Don't miss my intention. They don't need to be more aggressiveโat least in terms of the defense.
However, they need to spend more time kicking offenses and defenses in the teeth.
The Vikings did that, and it completely set a new tempo for their season.
One thing that has struck me while watching the Lions the last few weeks is that they don't impose their will on the opposition or the game itself.
You do that by being physicalโhitting rather than being hit.
The Lions don't seem to be doing much hitting right now. They receive blows, they don't deliver them.
This team needs to become more physical which is, frankly, not anything I would ever type.ย
But here we are. The season is at a precarious point, and the Lions need to start slapping people around. They have to start laying people out.
On to the rest of the NFC North...
The staff of ESPNChicago.com discusses its weekly four downs including whether Lance Briggs has become the face of the defense and whether the Bears will falter when they meet 'better'ย opponents.
Sean Jensen of the Sun-Timesย talks about the Bears communityโfans, players and the organizationโsupporting the family of the Bears fan murdered in Jacksonville.
Matt Forte says the passing game won't function without a run game according to the Tribune's Fred Mitchell.
Anwar Richardson, of MLive.com,ย thinks the Lions could have safety Louis Delmas back this weekend.
It had been so quiet. The Free Press' ย Dave Birkett has a little more on the story circulating that Ndamukong Suh left the scene of an accident.
Bleacher Report's Scott Bischoff gives a revised look at the Lions' remaining schedule.
The Press-Gazette's Weston Hodkiewicz says that the Packers' tight ends are struggling with injuries.
Brian Carriveau, at CheeseheadTV.com,ย is done with tight end Jermichael Finley.
This game against Houston is a tipping point for the Packersย accordingย to Tom Silverstein of the Journal-Sentinel.
The Star-Tribune's Jim Souhan says that with the game against Washington, Adrian Peterson's recovery has come full circle.
It was very sad to hear that Everson Griffin's mother had died while visiting Minnesota this week, but Brian Murphy, of the Pioneer Press,ย saysย the team is giving him all the support and space he needs to deal with his grief.
Bleacher Reportย and Huge Upside's Sigmund Bloomย takes a long look at Adrian Peterson and the Vikings' run game.
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Follow me on Twitter atย @andrew_garda.
