Motown Bombers Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRamage Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 2 hours ago, Hongbit said: Not going to panic yet but next week will tell if we have real problems with the offense or not. Hopefully, Amon-Ra is not injured. Agree with everything you said 100%... but especially wanted to point this out: Remember the last time the Lions started 1-1? That season turned out pretty okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYLion Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 I'm sure it's been talked about plenty, as I haven't read through the thread, but Hutch going back to late last season when he was transforming from very good edge to absolute beast is hitting a level that the league might not be ready for. Tampa's line is actually pretty darn good and he ragdolled them, lots of other pressures as well as per normal with him. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Alim has yet to show up this season. I wonder if he's fully in shape or if the thought of the new contract in a contract year is weighing on his mind a bit. It could be just a matter of the season really being young and him needing to gain his footing (he started slow last season too) but it is noteworthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganCardinal Posted September 16 Author Share Posted September 16 (edited) The offensive game plan was confusing, and showed an uncharacteristic lack of preparation, adjustment, and trust. The fault lies mostly on coaching, but Goff is not immune. It's like they came in with the best offensive line in the league, fresh off a dominant overtime showing, and inexplicably abandoned the run. When they did run the ball, they were cute about it, giving Gibbs the ball five yards in the backfield and hoping he could make a man miss and find a hole. We needed to abandon the run and get cute when we played Tampa last year in their place, because both Montgomery and Gibbs were hurt... But when our offensive identity is supposed to be bully ball, surrounded by short high-percentage throws over the middle in space... why did Goff throw the ball 55 times yesterday?! That's the second most in his time with the Lions and third most in his career, surpassed only by the season opener in 2021 against the 49ers and a 2019 loss to the Bucs when he was with the Rams, where his defense gave up 55 points. Goff is really good, but he's not the type of QB who should be engaging in unwarranted shootouts. Meanwhile Montgomery only rushed the ball 11 times. Why? To start the game, and definitely when Vita Vea went out, we should have been running Monty up the middle. Shove it down their throat. If that's just perpetually not working, or you go down 10+, then change things up. But trust your guys, and trust what's worked! All the same.... I feel better today than I did yesterday. It's still a very frustrating loss. And I stand by what I said yesterday, in that I think this is a game you look to in weeks 16, 17, 18, when you're thinking about tiebreakers, and you say "damn". Because you absolutely are more talented than Tampa, and when you are at home, this should absolutely be a win. No two ways around it. Yet... how often is this team going to put up 478 yards and only 16 points without missing a field goal? How often are they going to go 1/7 in the red zone without missing a field goal? Not absolving coaching or Goff, but there is an element of flukiness in this loss as well. If you were told two weeks ago that we would be 1-1 through two games and be 2nd in the NFL in YPG, I would figure we had lost a game like the Seahawks game last year, where the defense was atrocious. But no, the defense has looked good. And I have faith in the offense's ability to just go back to everything that's worked over the last two years. Edited September 16 by MichiganCardinal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYLion Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 15 hours ago, Jason_R said: Cowboys got crushed by Saints. Rams got crushed by Cardinals. Any given Sunday. They’ll remember their offensive identity. Also, the Niners and Ravens lost to teams that most people didn't have in the playoffs. Lots of weird things happen early in the season. Not worried about the Lions in the least, I had a feeling that there might be some rustiness early on with them not having played one snap in preseason (not a fan of that btw). This team will be humming in the second half of the season, I have little doubt about that, but there might be some rough patches until then. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motown Bombers Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 25 minutes ago, NYLion said: I'm sure it's been talked about plenty, as I haven't read through the thread, but Hutch going back to late last season when he was transforming from very good edge to absolute beast is hitting a level that the league might not be ready for. Tampa's line is actually pretty darn good and he ragdolled them, lots of other pressures as well as per normal with him. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Alim has yet to show up this season. I wonder if he's fully in shape or if the thought of the new contract in a contract year is weighing on his mind a bit. It could be just a matter of the season really being young and him needing to gain his footing (he started slow last season too) but it is noteworthy. Hutchinson’s contract extension this offseason keeps going up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganCardinal Posted September 16 Author Share Posted September 16 6 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said: Hutchinson’s contract extension this offseason keeps going up. I wonder if Hutch's extension is why they haven't re-signed Alim yet. They want Alim, but they need Hutch. Alim isn't doing himself many favors through two games. One solo tackle and no sacks in both games, getting outperformed by Levi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYLion Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 21 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said: Hutchinson’s contract extension this offseason keeps going up. Fine by me, pay that man his money. He, Sewell and St. Brown are their true building blocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason_R Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 29 minutes ago, NYLion said: Also, the Niners and Ravens lost to teams that most people didn't have in the playoffs. Lots of weird things happen early in the season. Not worried about the Lions in the least, I had a feeling that there might be some rustiness early on with them not having played one snap in preseason (not a fan of that btw). This team will be humming in the second half of the season, I have little doubt about that, but there might be some rough patches until then. Yes, I’m not worried either. They didn’t forget how to play ball. The coaches decided not to let them tune up in preseason games. Maybe that was a good coaching decision in the long run, but it has cost them in the short run. It sure seemed like they were determined to force the ball to ASB. He had a great day, but was Goff looking away from other targets as a result? Goff’s strengths all follow his decision making. He usually diagnoses the defense quickly which allows him to anticipate players getting open. Then he delivers the ball on time and accurately. But if he is waiting for one guy to get open, maybe that disrupts his timing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
number20 Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 Not many are mentioning it, but I wonder if the loss of Reynolds is being underestimated. They clearly miss him in this offense. It’s just not as potent as last year’s without him. Pretty sure Goff misses him too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sports_Freak Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 1 hour ago, Jason_R said: Yes, I’m not worried either. They didn’t forget how to play ball. The coaches decided not to let them tune up in preseason games. Maybe that was a good coaching decision in the long run, but it has cost them in the short run. It sure seemed like they were determined to force the ball to ASB. He had a great day, but was Goff looking away from other targets as a result? Goff’s strengths all follow his decision making. He usually diagnoses the defense quickly which allows him to anticipate players getting open. Then he delivers the ball on time and accurately. But if he is waiting for one guy to get open, maybe that disrupts his timing. Goff loves throwing into a small window too. Yesterday, it cost him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason_R Posted September 17 Share Posted September 17 https://lionswire.usatoday.com/lists/top-and-bottom-pff-grades-for-lions-in-week-2/ Top graded offensive player: Yes, exactly like we thought, Kevin Zeitler. Ragnow was in bottom five and I recall a hold and a few other plays where he seemed to have lost sight of the play. Maybe Ragnow is still learning to play alongside a new teammate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyMarsh Posted September 17 Share Posted September 17 For their careers Thibedaeux and Walker have 15.5 sacks a piece. Hutchinson has 13.5 his last 7 games played. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason_R Posted September 18 Share Posted September 18 10 hours ago, Jason_R said: https://lionswire.usatoday.com/lists/top-and-bottom-pff-grades-for-lions-in-week-2/ Top graded offensive player: Yes, exactly like we thought, Kevin Zeitler. Ragnow was in bottom five and I recall a hold and a few other plays where he seemed to have lost sight of the play. Maybe Ragnow is still learning to play alongside a new teammate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hongbit Posted September 18 Share Posted September 18 Glasgow moved over from RG to take Jackson’s LG spot. Zeitler has only ever player RG in his career. Glasgow didn’t play well in either game especially on Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganCardinal Posted September 18 Author Share Posted September 18 1 hour ago, Jason_R said: I think this is overly simplistic, but there is probably something to it. Zeitler is far better than Kayode Awosike, but when the latter had to sub in for Jonah last year, the offense was fine. So it’s not a missing Jonah Jackson problem. That said, Zeitler missed a lot of camp with an injury. I think the trio of Zeitler-Ragnow-Glasgow haven’t developed the trust and rapport you want or need with your interior offensive line, particularly in pass blocking. I’m sure it will get better, the group is too talented to not. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motown Bombers Posted September 18 Share Posted September 18 Glasgow is like one the highest graded lineman. It's not like Jackson played every game. Goff didn't fall apart when Jackson missed multiple games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hongbit Posted September 18 Share Posted September 18 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said: Glasgow is like one the highest graded lineman. Not in pass blocking. He’s very low. Edited September 18 by Hongbit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRamage Posted September 18 Share Posted September 18 17 hours ago, RandyMarsh said: For their careers Thibedaeux and Walker have 15.5 sacks a piece. Hutchinson has 13.5 his last 7 games played. The good news for them is that sack numbers, by themselves, aren't really a complete picture of a player. The bad news is that when looking at other things (like who else is on the the DL, QB pressures, INTs, FF, FR, etc.) Hutch is just as good or better in those areas too. Obviously still early in all of their careers so to crown one of them as the clear LONG TERM winner is premature, but right now it certainly looks like Hutch is the better player. I don't think this is quite a Mandarich vs. Sanders or Russel vs. Johnson sort of thing, but I'm quite happy right now that the Panthers elected to take Walker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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