By: Jeremy T. Ballreich
The Detroit Lions are sitting atop the NFC North with an impressive 7-2 record. They have shown flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball. And yet, something doesn’t sit right with how the team has played overall. I am going to break it down very simply.
AG doesn’t coach a good defense versus good teams. He coaches scared to not give up the big play with a soft umbrella zone defense out of the base defensive formation.
Against the Lower To Mid Teams Passing for 5 games. The Lions allowed 867 yards and 4 TDs total with that span amassing 20 sacks. Blitzing at close to a 40% rate.
Against their 4 Good to Elite Teams they’ve faced. It looks like the same old Lions in the Passing Game! 1217 Yards 11 TDs and 1 measly sack!!!! This is unbelievable!!!
Brad Holmes has invested 56% of all the draft picks over 3 years into the defense. And 100 million in salary with their additions the past 2 years.
The averages for the 5 Lower Tier Teams:
173.4 Passing yards per game and .8 TDs per game, 4 sacks per game
Against Projected Playoff Teams:
304.5 Passing yards per game, 2.75 TDs per game, and .25 sacks per game.
With possibly the deepest depth of talent on the defensive side of the ball. And a low 9.8% Blitz Rate versus good teams. It is not a great look.
After 9 games Hutchinson had 4.5 sacks last year. Just like this season!!! He put up 5 sacks in 8 games last year because they moved him to the SAM (OLB) with players getting healthy. But so far they have had our MLB drafted in the first round at 18 learning the SAM position.
With depreciation of play from Derrick Barnes as the 2nd MLB in this defense. I would start Campbell there and Move Hutchinson back to the SAM position where he flourished!
And for God’s sake unleash the hounds of blitzing against good teams!!!!
Thanks For Reading!!!
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