LIONS OFFENSE
One big difference that is apparent is Stafford under center with either a single back or both or a fullback set, which is a huge change from the Linehan scheme. Although I couldn't get the game in my area, I did see Bush's run and our line moved the entire front to one side, allowing Bush to cut back to the off side.....the fact Bush started seven yards deep gave him a better look at the defense and brought him almost to full speed as he reaches the line. This gives him time to see what is happening up ahead and adjust to it, which he did very well. another benefit to that set is the play action possibilities. You can clearly see the linebackers for the Jags coming forward and reacting to the run; had this been a fake they would have struggled to get back in coverage. Bush will have a lot of long runs from this set and so will Bell. Still can't believe we didn't put Stafford up under center all last year.
Bell had a nice run out of that same formation against Cleveland, and was able to choose his spot also, cutting in behind Fauria's block. I didn't see the run by Leshoure for 30 yards. Was it from a similar set? Let me know in a comment.
That being said, I am hoping the Lions ran from a fullback set on third and short, or if not for sure on fourth and short. I didn't see the series, so I don't know, but put Collins and Bell out there and we should convert a lot of those.
LIONS DEFENSE:
I'm not surprised at that Tahir Whitehead did well against the Jags......I thought he was great against Cleveland, but he got injured. Glad to see one of our draft picks develop into at least a solid backup.
PREVENT PREVENTS NOTHING!
Am I the only one who hates the prevent defense? Just when a rookie comes into the game, you back off your defense, rush four and then watch him pick apart the secondary. If you have all those guys back, why can't you cover anybody. And the coaches need to drop the first five DBs no deeper than the marker. We drop too deep and let them catch it for a first down. Not good and been going on way too long. Is Gunther Cunningham still calling plays?
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Lions vs. Raiders - Quick Thoughts
Tongue-in Cheek: Wrestling Names for the Lions
After watching the Raiders continually hold and take down the Lions pass rushers (only one holding penalty called all game, I think) I've given some of our lineman wrestling names, so the opposing announcers will have a little spice in their broadcasts between their swooning over the home team. Also, since the referee in wrestling seems to always be looking the wrong way or not see something happening under their noses, our guys wont mind it so much. Here we go, feel free to chime in cause I need some poetic flow on some of these:
And last but not least, I love the Twentyman, but him saying Caldwell "probably" should have won his challenges is being a little too polite. Hope it has nothing to do with him now working for the Lions instead of the FREEP. Especially on that key third quarter play where Whitehead and another Lion stood up the running back on the 25 yard line (just kiddng, it was the 28) clearly short of the sticks. Even the Oakland Announcers, especially 'Old Tom Flores said he wasn't even close to the 30.
After watching the Raiders continually hold and take down the Lions pass rushers (only one holding penalty called all game, I think) I've given some of our lineman wrestling names, so the opposing announcers will have a little spice in their broadcasts between their swooning over the home team. Also, since the referee in wrestling seems to always be looking the wrong way or not see something happening under their noses, our guys wont mind it so much. Here we go, feel free to chime in cause I need some poetic flow on some of these:
- Ndamu "KING KONG" Suh! That one was easy.
- Jason the "JASANATOR" Taylor!
- C.J. "MONSTER" Mosely
- Devin the "DEMON" Taylor
- Nick "UN" Fairley
- Ezekiel the "WRONG" Ansah
And last but not least, I love the Twentyman, but him saying Caldwell "probably" should have won his challenges is being a little too polite. Hope it has nothing to do with him now working for the Lions instead of the FREEP. Especially on that key third quarter play where Whitehead and another Lion stood up the running back on the 25 yard line (just kiddng, it was the 28) clearly short of the sticks. Even the Oakland Announcers, especially 'Old Tom Flores said he wasn't even close to the 30.
Monday, August 11, 2014
Lions Vs. Cleveland Report Version 1.0
Like in the movies, units in order of their appearance!
Special Teams - It was great return by Jeremy Ross! I especially loved the play, he sold it with a move up the middle then took it outside! Great execution, the blockers who swung out with him also sold the fake direction. We need to see more of that! Then the kick coverage was excellent on the first kickoff too, with Montel Owens SMASHING the returner. Tahir Whitehead was there along with Travis Lewis, so that dude should have just gotten OUT of BOUNDS! LOL
Starters On Offense- This drive showed some great plays that bode well for the future, even though we didn't get that much from a couple of them.
For Example:
On Bush's first run, the whole back side was there, had Bush seen it and cut back that way. Golden Tate showed what a pro wideout does when he's not getting the ball, as he leaked out to the right and sold the fake, even throwing his arms up. That was just the start of why we will be THANKING MAYHEW all year for signing GOLDEN TATE!
Tate then burned the DB (ALL PRO Joe Haden) off the line to catch a quick slant from Matt. The Lions are going to hurt a lot of teams with that idea and Tate showed clearly he is HELLA QUICK! Then we got a pass from a double slot formation where the outside guys ran deep outs and the slots ran short ones. Tate got ten yards down the field and into his break in two seconds and was wide open. The pass went to Bush (who dropped it). But Bell, who leaked into the middle, was open late, but he was WIDE open; Im sure they will remember this play for the future. Three guys were open!
Then came the play of the night that showed why I believe how tough it will be to defense the new Lions: Split wides to both sides, Fauria in next to Pettigrew, giving the Lions a numbers advantage on the left side. And two huge dudes on the end!
And Stafford UNDERNEATH center! Haven't seen that for years! Handoff goes to Bell and the 11 yard gain to move the chains gives us an offensive play that can be used often and will be perfect for play action (cause there is a PLAY To ACTION FROM!) Cleveland defensed (or didn't)this by having their safety come up while the other moved to the deep middle meaning either Tate or Durham had single coverage! A fake on a play they have to respect and it is TD city, especially with Calvin and Tate together on the field. By the way, both Fauria and Pettigrew executed and sustained their blocks and Riley Reiff helped Pettigrew initially then stepped up and cracked the inside linebacker. And Bell put the icing on the cake with a perfect cut into the gap inside Fauria. This is a play that will be perfect on short yardage.
After a short run by Bush, the next play had its own story. While it was a short underneath toss to Durham, Stafford had plenty of time and Reggie Bush faked the out, then broke up field and was going to be gone, cause Ogletree was cutting into the middle, occupying two guys. Again, this will be seen on film and this play looks like a winner.
Like in the movies, units in order of their appearance!
Special Teams - It was great return by Jeremy Ross! I especially loved the play, he sold it with a move up the middle then took it outside! Great execution, the blockers who swung out with him also sold the fake direction. We need to see more of that! Then the kick coverage was excellent on the first kickoff too, with Montel Owens SMASHING the returner. Tahir Whitehead was there along with Travis Lewis, so that dude should have just gotten OUT of BOUNDS! LOL
Starters On Offense- This drive showed some great plays that bode well for the future, even though we didn't get that much from a couple of them.
For Example:
On Bush's first run, the whole back side was there, had Bush seen it and cut back that way. Golden Tate showed what a pro wideout does when he's not getting the ball, as he leaked out to the right and sold the fake, even throwing his arms up. That was just the start of why we will be THANKING MAYHEW all year for signing GOLDEN TATE!
Tate then burned the DB (ALL PRO Joe Haden) off the line to catch a quick slant from Matt. The Lions are going to hurt a lot of teams with that idea and Tate showed clearly he is HELLA QUICK! Then we got a pass from a double slot formation where the outside guys ran deep outs and the slots ran short ones. Tate got ten yards down the field and into his break in two seconds and was wide open. The pass went to Bush (who dropped it). But Bell, who leaked into the middle, was open late, but he was WIDE open; Im sure they will remember this play for the future. Three guys were open!
Then came the play of the night that showed why I believe how tough it will be to defense the new Lions: Split wides to both sides, Fauria in next to Pettigrew, giving the Lions a numbers advantage on the left side. And two huge dudes on the end!
And Stafford UNDERNEATH center! Haven't seen that for years! Handoff goes to Bell and the 11 yard gain to move the chains gives us an offensive play that can be used often and will be perfect for play action (cause there is a PLAY To ACTION FROM!) Cleveland defensed (or didn't)this by having their safety come up while the other moved to the deep middle meaning either Tate or Durham had single coverage! A fake on a play they have to respect and it is TD city, especially with Calvin and Tate together on the field. By the way, both Fauria and Pettigrew executed and sustained their blocks and Riley Reiff helped Pettigrew initially then stepped up and cracked the inside linebacker. And Bell put the icing on the cake with a perfect cut into the gap inside Fauria. This is a play that will be perfect on short yardage.
After a short run by Bush, the next play had its own story. While it was a short underneath toss to Durham, Stafford had plenty of time and Reggie Bush faked the out, then broke up field and was going to be gone, cause Ogletree was cutting into the middle, occupying two guys. Again, this will be seen on film and this play looks like a winner.
The last play of the night for the starters was the
pass to Durham in the end zone. While I love Durham, he isn't Calvin; if he
were he would have run right through Haden and it would have been a TD. But
Calvin was not there, and the Browns sent a safety, but Haden had to hold Durham to stop him. (I guess the refs forgot the new rules on THAT one! In addition, both Stafford and Tate
didn't seem to read the safety blitz cause Tate was uncovered but didn't look for the ball and Matt didn't look at him. Had they both reacted to the coverage, it would have been
CU LATA, baby! So again a play with great potential, even though it didn't pay off this time.
So based on the above, it is the humble opinion of this writer that the Lions offense is going to be very tough to defense. Yeah, yeah, it's just one drive in a preseason game, but against a defense that was 4TH in the NFL, I think the Lions showed a scheme to be feared. And we didn't even see the FULLBACK set yet! What do you think???
NEXT: NO MORE of that FOUR FOUR (defense)
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