Ten Things We Have Learned About The 2010 Detroit Lions
With a quarter of the NFL season in the books, it is time to look back and see what we have learned about the 2010 Detroit Lions.
Some of the things in this article you may not like, and some are going to get you excited, but most important of all, none of them are about Matt Millen. Oh wait!!!!
Jim Schwartz Needs To Change His Coaching Philosophy
1 of 10
Let me start by saying I believe Jim Schwartz is the right man to lead the Detroit Lions, but his in game decision making needs to fit his team.
Schwartz's coaching style is very by the book. What I mean by that is that he weighs the percentages, and bets on his team to come through. What Schwartz needs to realize is that he isn’t coaching a contender, but a team with significant shortcomings.
Schwartz needs to take chances, percentages be damned. At the end of the Green Bay game, when he chose to punt instead of taking a shot at a long field goal, he was betting that his defense will give the offense one more chance. The problem is, Detroit’s defense is not exactly that of the 85 Bears. He should have taken a chance, whether to go for it and try to get a first down, or kick the long field goal.
Schwartz needs to start taking risks; the Lions simply don’t have as much talent as most other teams.
The Preseason Is Very Different Than the Regular Season
2 of 10
In the preseason it seemed that every time Jahvid Best touched the ball he would go for 50 yards, but the going has been much tougher in the regular season.
Most fans know that teams do not game plan during the preseason, but the disparity in intensity level is what I find makes the biggest difference. Once the real games started, all of the sudden those gaping holes Best was running through were not there anymore.
Ndamukong Suh Is a Beast
3 of 10
I am one who believes that judging how well a defensive tackle is playing is difficult because a lot of what they do does not show up on the stat sheet. This is why I wrote before the season started that fans should temper their expectations of Suh.
So much for what I know, Suh already has 3 sacks in his first four NFL games and has been double teamed quite often. I underestimated just how good Suh is, and I am now a firm believer that the sky is the limit for him.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
The Defensive Line Can Only Do So Much
4 of 10
The Defensive line has been a bright spot on a defensive squad that has been otherwise putrid. They have lived up to very high preseason expectations. The problem is that they cannot do enough to mask the issues the Lions have in the back end of their defense.
Everyone expected the secondary to struggle, the real disappointment has been the play of the linebackers. They will have to significantly improve their play if the Lions want to do anything on defense.
The only ray of light for the unit is that the Lions have yet to have their three starting linebackers play in the same game.
The Acquisition of Tony Scheffler Has Paid Off
5 of 10
When the Lions traded for Tony Scheffler, I was puzzled at why the Lions felt they needed to trade for a tight end when by all reports Brandon Pettigrew was on schedule to be healthy at the start of the year, but now I see why. The two tight end set has been good to the Lions.
Both tight ends have been productive, and if it weren’t for the case of the drops that Pettigrew is suffering from, they could be considered one of the elite tight end units in the league. As it is, Scheffler has done what the Lions brought him in to do, catch passes and move the chains.
The other end of that deal was that the Lions gave up Ernie Sims. Sims has started four games for the Eagles and has 17 tackles, no fumble recoveries, and no interceptions. The 17 tackles isn’t a terribly low number, but the goose egg in interceptions and recovered fumbles is about what he did in Detroit. He still has the same problem as always, no big game changing plays.
It Is Time to Replace Dominic Raiola
6 of 10
If you were to ask me who my favorite Lions is? I would tell you Dominic Raiola. The man Bleeds Honolulu Blue, but it’s time to move on.
The Lions have not had a consistent running game the last 10 years and for them to succeed that needs to change. The ability to pick up 3rd and short is pivotal to an offense’s success. The lions have changed Running backs and both guard positions frequently, the only constant has been Raiola in the middle. The fact is the man is undersized for the position and a big bruising center is needed to take on 350 lb nose tackles.
The Lions Were Right to Move Up and Draft Best
7 of 10
Many questioned the Lions’ wisdom when they moved up to draft Jahvid Best, but he is now looking like he could be the best running back in the draft.
He is the difference maker the Lions need at that position. His ability to go the distance on any play has allowed the Lions to use him as a decoy, especially on tight end screen plays.
Now look at that picture and tell me who the last Lions running back who was able to have his legs going in one direction and his body in another was?
They Lack a Killer Instinct
8 of 10
The Lions were in position to win 3 of their first four games with a final drive and were unable to do it. This could be a result of not having their franchise quarterback to lead them, but I also believe it is because they lack a killer instinct.
The ability to step on someone throat when they are down is not learned in practice it has to be learned during games. This is the proverbial hump that many feel the Lions need to get over. The Lions need to be in a position against a less talented team (St Louis?) and get it done before they can do it against the likes of Green Bay and Chicago.
They Are On the Right Track
9 of 10
0-4 is terrible no doubt about it, but not many expected the Lions to be much better than 1-3 with how brutal their schedule was for the first four games.
Encouraging signs are there. Against the Packers they had way too many penalties, penalties that normally are drive killers. The offense was able to overcome many of those penalties and convert long third downs. That is what a good offense is supposed to do. Now imagine that same offense with your franchise quarterback and number 2 receiver added to the fold and you have the makings of a juggernaut.
The offense wasn’t great against the Bears in the first half, with Stafford at the helm, but before he got injured the Lions did have an 11 point lead and the ball. I believe if the Lions add a big center to shore up the middle of the line they will be unstoppable.
For those of you that want to scream Jeff Backus, Tom Kowalski pointed out a very interesting stat on WDFN Wednesday morning, since the opening game where he gave up 2 sacks, Jeff Backus has yet to give up a sack or commit a penalty. He was also able to neutralize NFL sack leader Clay Matthews last week against Green Bay.
It Is Time to Forgive Matt Millen
10 of 10
What Matt Millen did to the Detroit Lions was criminal, but it is time to forgive him. As the old saying goes you must forgive to forget, and I for one, would like to forget anything that has to do with Matt Millen.
Now, knowing what we all know about Lions Owner William Clay Ford, if Millen was even a little bit better than he was, say the Lions actually made it to 8-8 one year, Millen could be on his third five year contract, so I am choosing to thank the Lord that Millen was horrible.
So I stand here and now and say, Matt Millen I forgive you, now go away and stop doing Michigan games so I can really forget you.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
