So, we are halfway through the regular season, and our beloved Lions sit at 6-2. We are now staring down the bye week weekend, and now is a good time to review what can be expected in the second half, and what we need to address.
1. Expect the second half to be tougher than the first half. There are no Kansas City or Denver games in the future of this remaining season. Oakland, San Diego, New Orleans and Carolina will be our non-division games. Two against Green Bay, Chicago away and Minnesota. The Vikings game is the only one that might be a blow out. Carolina isn't a very strong team, but Cam Newton has shown that he can take over a game, and the Lions have struggled against mobile quarterbacks with big arms. Carolina also has a couple really good backs in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. I see no 30 point blow outs coming.
2. Expect teams to try harder to take Calvin out of the game, and to put immense pressure on Matt Stafford. Teams that pressure Stafford consistently are the ones who play us toughest. They don't have to take special measures to stop our running game, so they basically challenge the Lions to win through the air. If they can take the CJ option away by double coverage and pressure/blitzing, then the Lions are struggling to move the ball consistently. Scott Linehan has to find a way to open up other avenues to Matt Stafford. Nate Burleson and Titus Young have to work off the jams that they are facing at the line. Somehow the Lions are going to have to overcome this recipe that opposing teams are using to stop them.
3. Stop the opposing running game. Both Atlanta and San Francisco ran against Detroit successfully, and used it to make the passing game that much more effective on their behalves. Chicago kept the game close in Detroit by running. Minnesota and Dallas abandoned their running games with the lead, and it cost them their respective games against Detroit. Denver had a good running game, but Tebow and their defense were so bad it didn't make a difference. All told, teams know they can run on Detroit, and will create an effective game plan to that end. The Lions defense is going to have to play more disciplined, filling the assigned gaps they are given, not allowing the trap and misdirection plays to be as effective, and for God's sake will someone learn how to form tackle?!
4. Continue the third down defense, but cut out the dumb penalties. The Lions currently lead the league in stinginess against opposing offenses attempting to convert a third down. Teams have been successful 29% of the time (32 of 110). That's incredible, and is a direct result of a much improved pass defense. That statistic could be better if not for some foolish pre-snap penalties. And it goes both ways. The offense could be much more successful if they would stop the false starts and holding penalties. Disciplined teams fare much better in close games over teams that are more penalized. The Lions have to address this issue before they ever reach the "elite" level.
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