Apologies in advance, since a family emergency is forcing me to be up at 5am. Hopefully it will work out. (I'm good, btw). So I won't go into the position by position breakdown like I usually do, instead just a few general observations from a clearly disturbing game all around.
1. Bad offensive game planning - Not so much the original game plan. We'd have been all over them if they HADN'T featured the run game since the Lions were last in the league in rushing. But where I had the problem was that they continually kept going to it on key downs, even when it was clear that it wasn't working.
b. Both the Jags and the Lions use bunch formations to great success the last two weeks. How come I never saw the Pats use them when their other crossing routes didn't seem to be open. CREATING space by design has been a hallmark of the Pats passing attack for the last decade. Where was that creativity now?
c. Same thing on the DL where NOTHING went right in either the run or passing games. Again without great individual pass rushers, the Pats have consistently been in the top 5-10 in the league in sacks, because they schemed their way into them. Where was that creative scheming this evening. Every time the Pats brought pressure Detroit had it figured out before the snap and seemed to block it flawlessly
d. Given the success of the Lions running game, I tried to figure out what they were doing. Granted it's hard on TV, but basically I think the Lions were doubling the onside DT and doing a good job of getting about a yard or two push back. I don't necessarily blame the DT because unless you are Vince, 600lbs SHOULD beat 300lbs every time. Then they pulled the opposite OG thru the hole while the TE or OT sealed the DE inside out. Where the problem came, IMHO, was with the LB's.
The Pats were consistently in a 4-2 alignment. When the LB's key blocked down on the double, everything I know about the position would demand that the LB step UP into the hole to seal the inside. Secondly, you would think that the offside LB would key the pulling G to the run side so he would be there clean up and handle any bounce outs.
So you have the onside LB stepping up to fill the hole, meeting the pulling G AT the LOS creating a pile forcing the RB to either run into that pile OR bounce it out. Two options that favor the defense. Instead it looked to me that the onside LB wasn't stepping up creating a soft spot between the DT and TE that was exploited all night by the Lions.
e. I what to know what allowed the Lions safeties to be an integral part of their run defense while at the same time, I want to know what KEPT our safeties from seeming to have any part of our run defense except to make tackles 7 yds downfield.
f. This will be a tough week to listen to the media's narrative. These guys have waited almost 2 decades to rain on our parade. They will NOT miss this chance to do so now. I will boycott them all, even the reasonable guys, except for the rewatch thread of course.
g. As I mentioned in the game thread, it was clear to me that the issue here was more about the OL and DL than the WR's and RB, though this week the media's narrative will make it ALL about the WR's and RB's
g. On a positive note, this is the NFL, I have said it time and time again, they are ALL great players. Outside of QB, the athletic differences between players is very narrow. You can see it clearly in the Bills stunning demolition of the highly touted Vikes ON THE ROAD, and the turnaround of the Lions. The Pats can turn it around JUST as fast against the 3-0 Dolphins next week.
f. But for that to happen (and its hard to believe I'm saying this), the coaching and game planning needs to improve. If that happens, I wouldn't be surprised to see a big improvement along the O and D lines, and when that happens the passing attack and defense will see marked improvement.
OK that's it for me. I should be back on Tuesday, though I'll try to stop by tomorrow if I can find an 11 year old who can find this site on my phone.
