Post by D6 on Oct 10, 2022 20:56:00 GMT -5
Instant observations: Lions hit rock bottom in 29-0 loss against Patriots
Thoughts in ****
* Updated: Oct. 09, 2022, 5:35 p.m.| * Published: Oct. 09, 2022, 4:07 p.m.
By * Kyle Meinke | kmeinke@mlive.com
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Detroit Lions promised personnel changes to their league-worst defense. Their solution was to play former cornerback Saivion Smith at safety and former safety Will Harris at cornerback, both of whom wound up leaving the game.
**** Thankfully, Saivion Smith has full motor skills. Seeing Saivion Smith go down and say down, without anything during the play that would indicate a very serious medical issue, was one of the scariest moments in a Lions game in a long time. Maybe, even going back to LB Reggie Brown's neck injury in the 1997 regular season finale against the Jets. I was concerned for Smith's life, especially until the first update on the Fox telecast. The medical situation with Smith lying on the field, then being taken to a hospital in an ambulance, with at least two family members going in the ambulance to be with Smith, put the game into perspective. As disappointing as the Lions performed in the game, including coaches, the news that Smith has full motor skills overrides any disappointment and football concerns with the Lions. ****
Smith left in an ambulance after just one play. His replacement, DeShon Elliott, was carted to the locker room. His replacement, Ifeatu Melifonwu, left with an ankle injury. With Tracy Walker back home recovering from Achilles surgery, the Lions were suddenly out of safeties in New England.
****I was amazed that DeShon Elliott was able to return to the game. It looked like Elliott might have suffered a torn Achilles tendon, much like Tracy Walker did two weeks earlier. Jeff Okudah also coming back into the game, around the same time as Elliott, after the Patriots forced an early 4th QTR, 4th Down and Goal incompletion, on an intended pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown at the Patriots 1 yard line. On what was a horrible football day for the Lions, the injury news could have been much worse than was the case. Okudah had his worst game of the season. But it was great to see him healthy enough to return to the game. ****
They needed seven drives to finally force a punt against a third-string quarterback.
They didn’t score.
Impossible to win like that, and the Lions didn’t even come close in a 29-0 loss on Sunday in New England. That’s their first shutout since a 20-0 loss against Carolina in 2020 -- Matt Patricia’s penultimate game with the franchise -- and their worst shutout since a 35-0 loss against the St. Louis Rams in 2001.
**** As bad as the Lions played, props to Bill Belichick, his coaching staff, including Matt Patricia, and the Patriots players. They beat the Lions both sides of the ball, every which way. This game wasn't a fluke. Bill Belichick is probably the best NFL HC in history and their preparation was evident early and often. It was a masterful coaching game, headed by Belichick. ****
That it came against a one-win team giving a third-string rookie his first career start under center, and in such convincing fashion too, head coach Dan Campbell will start to draw heat for how a once-promising season has so thoroughly unraveled. The Lions have lost three straight games, fallen to 1-4 overall, currently occupy last place in the NFC North -- oh, right, and they face a tough schedule coming out of the break against Dallas, Miami and Green Bay.
**** The Lions first need to get much healthier than was the case today. IMHO, even with a relatively healthy team, the Patriots likely would have won today. These are the type of games Belichick rarely loses at home. But I think the game would have noticeably more competitive with a much healthier team than the one on the field for the Lions today. That much more as the injured mounted during the game.****
Just like that, another season finds itself on the brink before Halloween.
The injuries have hurt, no question about that, and they became especially pernicious in the secondary against New England. After reviewing their defense this week, the Lions decided they would be better off by benching the safety Elliott, one of their top free-agent signings, to start a practice-squad cornerback named Saivion Smith at that position. But Smith made it just one play before injuring his neck in a scary sight at Gillette Stadium. The defensive back required a backboard to get into an ambulance that whisked him directly to an area hospital. He has feeling and mobility in his extremities, according to the team, and is expected to take the team flight home.
**** Thankfully.****
After a long stoppage of about 10 minutes, Elliott took Smith’s place on the field. He later was carted to the locker room with what the team announced as cramps. Once his replacement left too -- Melifonwu, another cornerback who is trying to salvage his career at safety -- Detroit didn’t have any safeties left at all, forcing it to play rookie cornerback Chase Lucas back there.
At cornerback, Harris left the game too, forcing the Lions to play gunner Bobby Price because they chose not to dress longtime starter Amani Oruwariye at all.
**** Bobby Price struggled mightily at CB in this game in coverage (including a likely blown assignment on the TD to WR Jakobi Meyers), and with tackling/ run Defense.****
That hurts. It all hurts. But this is the NFL. Every team deals with injuries, and the winners are usually the ones who find their way through them. Just look at the other sideline.
New England was a one-win team starting a third-string quarterback in Bailey Zappe, after losing Mac Jones and then Brian Hoyer to injuries earlier in the season. See, other teams suffer injuries too. The difference is Zappe completed 17 of 21 passes for 188 yards while leading six scoring drives, and left the stadium to chants of “ZA-PPE! ZA-PPE!” as he headed up the tunnel.
**** Bailey Zappe did a great job with the Patriots game plan. But the inability for the Lions to get pressure on him as a passer (with very few exceptions) made his job much easier than he will face in future games, if given the opportunity. ****
Nobody makes heroes out of backups and other assorted misfits quite like the Detroit Lions. Just look at Rhamondre Stevenson, a backup running back who ran away for 49 yards when four Lions defensive players -- not one, not two, not three, but four -- missed tackles on the same play. He finished with 161 yards overall, also -- you guessed it -- a career high.
**** Rhamondre Stevenson is a winning caliber RB but the Lions made him look like Jerome Bettis in his prime. ****
Of course, nothing the defense did was ever going to be enough with an offense that didn’t manage a single point. The Lions had the highest-scoring offense in the league heading into the weekend, and that was enough to keep them in games all season despite a league-worst defense. But the offense never found a rhythm in Foxborough. They obviously missed D’Andre Swift and DJ Chark, both out with ankle injuries, and Amon-Ra St. Brown was mostly ineffective while trying to play through an ankle injury.
**** The Lions subpar blocking performance by the Offensive Line and TEs seemed like a much greater problem in this game than the injuries at the skill positions. ****
Jared Goff, so good this season despite all the injuries around him, played his worst game of the season. He threw one interception at the goal line, spoiling Detroit’s best scoring opportunity of the afternoon, while also fumbling on fourth-and-long just before halftime, leading to a Kyle Dugger touchdown coming back the other way.
Goff finished 19 of 35 passing for 229 yards and two turnovers, his worst day of what had been a strong start to the season. Of course, Goff might have been so bad because he was playing behind an offensive line delivering its worst performance of the season. He faced constant pressure, forcing him to scramble this way and that, while throwing off-platform more often than in any other game this season.
**** This was indeed Jared Goff's worst performance of the season and the worst performance by the Offensive Line. The bad blocking performance by TEs T.J. Hockenson and Brock Wright was a huge part of the losing formula in this game.****
That put the Lions in a lot of long-distance situations. Yet saddled with an early deficit and their third kicker of the young season, they were forced to go for another six fourth-down attempts. They whiffed on them all, an NFL record.
**** The decision by Dan Campbell to go for the 1st Down on 4th and 9 from the Patriots 32 yard line, instead attempt a 50 yard FG, was a highly questionable one. I was concerned that the problems the Lions had in the kicking game in the last two games would affect Campbell's decision making. It's possible that Michael Badgley was struggling in warmups before the game on FGs at or near 50 yards. If that wasn't the case, Campbell made a risky decision that turned a 6-0 game into a 13-0 game. While it looked like T.J. Hockenson was wide open on a crossing route and could have gone beyond the 1st Down mark, the risk of the play is what stands out. The Patriots pressure didn't give Goff the opportunity to deliver the ball to Hockenson. On 4th and 9 against a Bill Belichick Defense, the odds are heavily in the Patriots favor. ****
But more than anything, the penalties really did in the Lions on both sides of the ball. That’s especially true on defense. Linebacker Derrick Barnes was flagged for illegal contact, wiping out a sack by Isaiah Buggs on third down. Cornerback Jeff Okudah was flagged for pass interference with just seconds left in the first half, leading to a 22-yard penalty and field goal at the horn.
**** The penalty on Derrick Barnes was on 2nd Down. It was one of the very few times the Lions had pressure on the QB, let alone bring him down for what would have been a sack if not for the penalty. My gut feeling is that Bailey Zappe would not have thrown to TE Hunter Henry, who Barnes illegally contacted, based on his lack of experience. It would have been a risky throw, the type that Belichick didn't want his QB to attempt. Yet, even with the penalty, DeShon Elliott had an impressive interception off a deflection of WR Nelson Agholor, after the WR beat Jeff Okudah on a slant that could have very realistically resulted in a first down if the WR secured the excellent pass. ****
Coming out of the break, Okudah was flagged for another pass interference. It was a weak call, but it cost the Lions more yardage and another field goal. T.J. Hockenson took a critical holding on offense. Even long snapper Scott Daly was flagged for a false start, costing the special teams 5 yards.
Former Lions LB Jahlani Tavai got the best of T.J. Hockenson in the running game, including on the play that Hockenson held him. Tavai had a strong game in run Defense overall and was a factor as a pass rusher. He clearly found a home with the New England Patriots.****
To lose 29-0 takes a full-team effort.
At last, the Lions finally got one of those.
Let’s get to some more observations:
-- Star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown taped up his injured ankle and gave it a go during a spirited pregame workout at Gillette Stadium. Everything checked out, and the second-year wonder was cleared to return. St. Brown earned the start in his return and caught Jared Goff’s first pass of the day, a 5-yarder, but didn’t catch another pass until the third quarter while playing sparingly. He was clearly on a pitch count, and finished the game with four catches for just 18 yards. He said in the locker room after the game he’s dealing with a high ankle sprain and was about 85% against New England. Which proved to be good enough to go, but not good enough to make a difference. St. Brown just wasn’t himself, including on fourth down, twice failing to come up with the football, one of which was at the goal line.
**** Amon-Ra St. Brown had a 3rd Down reception in the 4th QTR in which he did move the chains in the Red Zone, with a move or two he made on Defenders. Otherwise, St. Brown couldn't make the impact that was the norm with him prior to the injury. Even factoring in this, the Lions problems in blocking in this game seemed like a greater issue than injuries at the skill positions. ****
-- The defense needed seven drives to finally force a punt, running their streak to 18 straight possessions without generating a stop. That’s probably some kind of record.
**** It took until the 4th QTR for the Patriots to punt. The only time in the most recent two games prior to the 4th QTR punt (good 3rd and 3 run Defense by Jeff Okudah and DeShon Elliott, leading to the punt.) that the Lions got the ball without giving up a TD, FG, or FG attempt, was the interception by Elliott. ****
-- Aidan Hutchinson probably has a very bright future in this league. That day is not today. Not until he figures out how to play under more control. He’s run past the quarterback several times this season, creating lanes for those quarterbacks to come back the other way. When that guy is Jalen Hurts, you can understand it. When that guy is Bailey Zappe, a third-string pocket passer, you really can’t. Yet it happened again. Hutchinson blew into the backfield with a head of steam, while Zappe simply stepped up in the pocket before taking off for 5 yards. You love Hutchinson winning his one-on-one matchup -- Lord knows he hasn’t won enough of those -- but it will never matter until the prized rookie figures out to harness his motor, stay in control and actually make a play on the quarterback. Which outside of the first half against Washington, hasn’t happened at all through five games this season.
**** Being that Aidan Hutchinson beat a TE on the play in which he failed to bring Bailey Zappe down and let him escape, even the pressure on the play isn't overly impressive. Hutchinson was a non factor on the vast majority of other pass rush opportunities in the game. Including, many in one on one situations. Probably, most. These last two games especially, his lack of impact in most pass rush situations has been a major factor in the Lions Defensive problems. Right now, he looks like a very ordinary pass rushing DE, not remotely like pick # 2 of a Draft. I understand rookies usually have major growing pains. But the impactful plays have lacking the last two games. The Lions need much better play from him, especially in the passing game.
Julian Okwara appeared to have very few snaps today, after a bad performance vs. the Seahawks. This was even with Charles Harris being out. Okwara's spot on the Lions could be in danger. I think the coaches should have used him more, as the Lions just weren't generating a pass rush much more often than not, with the players on the field. This was even with numerous blitzes. Austin Bryant had some pressure and caused a holding penalty. But there wasn't much else.
****
-- Pro Bowl guard Jonah Jackson made his return after missing three games with a finger injury. He earned the start at his usual post at left guard, while Logan Stenberg earned the start over Evan Brown at right guard. But Stenberg was benched at halftime, still snowed under by monumental issues in pass protection. He can block up the run just fine, but there might not be a worse guard in the league in the pass game.
**** It didn't look like Logan Stenberg was having the physical issues as a pass blocker, as was the case in the first 2 games. There probably was one or more assignment mistakes. Stenberg was having a good to very good performance as a run blocker. ****
-- Sticking with the offensive line for just a moment, Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker are a really strong combination at offensive tackle most weeks. Sewell already is climbing onto the short list of best right tackles in the league. But in New England, both delivered their worst performances of the season. Goff was clearly bothered by the pressure, taking untimely sacks, one of which pushed Detroit out of field goal range and led to a turnover on fourth down.
**** The turnover came on the drive that followed the 3rd Down sack. It was a bad running decision by Craig Reynolds, when he tried to make something out of nothing after a bobbled exchange with Jared Goff, that led to a sizable loss, and the 4th and 9 situation from the Patriots 32 in which Dan Campbell elected to go for the 1st Down. ****
Patriots edge rusher Matthew Judon -- a former Grand Valley State star -- capitalized with two sacks. He now has six on the year, a Patriots record through five games.
**** Matthew Judon is a heck of a player. But much better protection for Goff off the edges was needed on the 2 impact plays by Judon, against the Lions Tackles. ****
...........
This new thread is a continuation of the following thread:
Lions at Patriots preview: Game # 5 ( 2022 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1571/lions-patriots-preview-game-2022
Thoughts in ****
* Updated: Oct. 09, 2022, 5:35 p.m.| * Published: Oct. 09, 2022, 4:07 p.m.
By * Kyle Meinke | kmeinke@mlive.com
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Detroit Lions promised personnel changes to their league-worst defense. Their solution was to play former cornerback Saivion Smith at safety and former safety Will Harris at cornerback, both of whom wound up leaving the game.
**** Thankfully, Saivion Smith has full motor skills. Seeing Saivion Smith go down and say down, without anything during the play that would indicate a very serious medical issue, was one of the scariest moments in a Lions game in a long time. Maybe, even going back to LB Reggie Brown's neck injury in the 1997 regular season finale against the Jets. I was concerned for Smith's life, especially until the first update on the Fox telecast. The medical situation with Smith lying on the field, then being taken to a hospital in an ambulance, with at least two family members going in the ambulance to be with Smith, put the game into perspective. As disappointing as the Lions performed in the game, including coaches, the news that Smith has full motor skills overrides any disappointment and football concerns with the Lions. ****
Smith left in an ambulance after just one play. His replacement, DeShon Elliott, was carted to the locker room. His replacement, Ifeatu Melifonwu, left with an ankle injury. With Tracy Walker back home recovering from Achilles surgery, the Lions were suddenly out of safeties in New England.
****I was amazed that DeShon Elliott was able to return to the game. It looked like Elliott might have suffered a torn Achilles tendon, much like Tracy Walker did two weeks earlier. Jeff Okudah also coming back into the game, around the same time as Elliott, after the Patriots forced an early 4th QTR, 4th Down and Goal incompletion, on an intended pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown at the Patriots 1 yard line. On what was a horrible football day for the Lions, the injury news could have been much worse than was the case. Okudah had his worst game of the season. But it was great to see him healthy enough to return to the game. ****
They needed seven drives to finally force a punt against a third-string quarterback.
They didn’t score.
Impossible to win like that, and the Lions didn’t even come close in a 29-0 loss on Sunday in New England. That’s their first shutout since a 20-0 loss against Carolina in 2020 -- Matt Patricia’s penultimate game with the franchise -- and their worst shutout since a 35-0 loss against the St. Louis Rams in 2001.
**** As bad as the Lions played, props to Bill Belichick, his coaching staff, including Matt Patricia, and the Patriots players. They beat the Lions both sides of the ball, every which way. This game wasn't a fluke. Bill Belichick is probably the best NFL HC in history and their preparation was evident early and often. It was a masterful coaching game, headed by Belichick. ****
That it came against a one-win team giving a third-string rookie his first career start under center, and in such convincing fashion too, head coach Dan Campbell will start to draw heat for how a once-promising season has so thoroughly unraveled. The Lions have lost three straight games, fallen to 1-4 overall, currently occupy last place in the NFC North -- oh, right, and they face a tough schedule coming out of the break against Dallas, Miami and Green Bay.
**** The Lions first need to get much healthier than was the case today. IMHO, even with a relatively healthy team, the Patriots likely would have won today. These are the type of games Belichick rarely loses at home. But I think the game would have noticeably more competitive with a much healthier team than the one on the field for the Lions today. That much more as the injured mounted during the game.****
Just like that, another season finds itself on the brink before Halloween.
The injuries have hurt, no question about that, and they became especially pernicious in the secondary against New England. After reviewing their defense this week, the Lions decided they would be better off by benching the safety Elliott, one of their top free-agent signings, to start a practice-squad cornerback named Saivion Smith at that position. But Smith made it just one play before injuring his neck in a scary sight at Gillette Stadium. The defensive back required a backboard to get into an ambulance that whisked him directly to an area hospital. He has feeling and mobility in his extremities, according to the team, and is expected to take the team flight home.
**** Thankfully.****
After a long stoppage of about 10 minutes, Elliott took Smith’s place on the field. He later was carted to the locker room with what the team announced as cramps. Once his replacement left too -- Melifonwu, another cornerback who is trying to salvage his career at safety -- Detroit didn’t have any safeties left at all, forcing it to play rookie cornerback Chase Lucas back there.
At cornerback, Harris left the game too, forcing the Lions to play gunner Bobby Price because they chose not to dress longtime starter Amani Oruwariye at all.
**** Bobby Price struggled mightily at CB in this game in coverage (including a likely blown assignment on the TD to WR Jakobi Meyers), and with tackling/ run Defense.****
That hurts. It all hurts. But this is the NFL. Every team deals with injuries, and the winners are usually the ones who find their way through them. Just look at the other sideline.
New England was a one-win team starting a third-string quarterback in Bailey Zappe, after losing Mac Jones and then Brian Hoyer to injuries earlier in the season. See, other teams suffer injuries too. The difference is Zappe completed 17 of 21 passes for 188 yards while leading six scoring drives, and left the stadium to chants of “ZA-PPE! ZA-PPE!” as he headed up the tunnel.
**** Bailey Zappe did a great job with the Patriots game plan. But the inability for the Lions to get pressure on him as a passer (with very few exceptions) made his job much easier than he will face in future games, if given the opportunity. ****
Nobody makes heroes out of backups and other assorted misfits quite like the Detroit Lions. Just look at Rhamondre Stevenson, a backup running back who ran away for 49 yards when four Lions defensive players -- not one, not two, not three, but four -- missed tackles on the same play. He finished with 161 yards overall, also -- you guessed it -- a career high.
**** Rhamondre Stevenson is a winning caliber RB but the Lions made him look like Jerome Bettis in his prime. ****
Of course, nothing the defense did was ever going to be enough with an offense that didn’t manage a single point. The Lions had the highest-scoring offense in the league heading into the weekend, and that was enough to keep them in games all season despite a league-worst defense. But the offense never found a rhythm in Foxborough. They obviously missed D’Andre Swift and DJ Chark, both out with ankle injuries, and Amon-Ra St. Brown was mostly ineffective while trying to play through an ankle injury.
**** The Lions subpar blocking performance by the Offensive Line and TEs seemed like a much greater problem in this game than the injuries at the skill positions. ****
Jared Goff, so good this season despite all the injuries around him, played his worst game of the season. He threw one interception at the goal line, spoiling Detroit’s best scoring opportunity of the afternoon, while also fumbling on fourth-and-long just before halftime, leading to a Kyle Dugger touchdown coming back the other way.
Goff finished 19 of 35 passing for 229 yards and two turnovers, his worst day of what had been a strong start to the season. Of course, Goff might have been so bad because he was playing behind an offensive line delivering its worst performance of the season. He faced constant pressure, forcing him to scramble this way and that, while throwing off-platform more often than in any other game this season.
**** This was indeed Jared Goff's worst performance of the season and the worst performance by the Offensive Line. The bad blocking performance by TEs T.J. Hockenson and Brock Wright was a huge part of the losing formula in this game.****
That put the Lions in a lot of long-distance situations. Yet saddled with an early deficit and their third kicker of the young season, they were forced to go for another six fourth-down attempts. They whiffed on them all, an NFL record.
**** The decision by Dan Campbell to go for the 1st Down on 4th and 9 from the Patriots 32 yard line, instead attempt a 50 yard FG, was a highly questionable one. I was concerned that the problems the Lions had in the kicking game in the last two games would affect Campbell's decision making. It's possible that Michael Badgley was struggling in warmups before the game on FGs at or near 50 yards. If that wasn't the case, Campbell made a risky decision that turned a 6-0 game into a 13-0 game. While it looked like T.J. Hockenson was wide open on a crossing route and could have gone beyond the 1st Down mark, the risk of the play is what stands out. The Patriots pressure didn't give Goff the opportunity to deliver the ball to Hockenson. On 4th and 9 against a Bill Belichick Defense, the odds are heavily in the Patriots favor. ****
But more than anything, the penalties really did in the Lions on both sides of the ball. That’s especially true on defense. Linebacker Derrick Barnes was flagged for illegal contact, wiping out a sack by Isaiah Buggs on third down. Cornerback Jeff Okudah was flagged for pass interference with just seconds left in the first half, leading to a 22-yard penalty and field goal at the horn.
**** The penalty on Derrick Barnes was on 2nd Down. It was one of the very few times the Lions had pressure on the QB, let alone bring him down for what would have been a sack if not for the penalty. My gut feeling is that Bailey Zappe would not have thrown to TE Hunter Henry, who Barnes illegally contacted, based on his lack of experience. It would have been a risky throw, the type that Belichick didn't want his QB to attempt. Yet, even with the penalty, DeShon Elliott had an impressive interception off a deflection of WR Nelson Agholor, after the WR beat Jeff Okudah on a slant that could have very realistically resulted in a first down if the WR secured the excellent pass. ****
Coming out of the break, Okudah was flagged for another pass interference. It was a weak call, but it cost the Lions more yardage and another field goal. T.J. Hockenson took a critical holding on offense. Even long snapper Scott Daly was flagged for a false start, costing the special teams 5 yards.
Former Lions LB Jahlani Tavai got the best of T.J. Hockenson in the running game, including on the play that Hockenson held him. Tavai had a strong game in run Defense overall and was a factor as a pass rusher. He clearly found a home with the New England Patriots.****
To lose 29-0 takes a full-team effort.
At last, the Lions finally got one of those.
Let’s get to some more observations:
-- Star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown taped up his injured ankle and gave it a go during a spirited pregame workout at Gillette Stadium. Everything checked out, and the second-year wonder was cleared to return. St. Brown earned the start in his return and caught Jared Goff’s first pass of the day, a 5-yarder, but didn’t catch another pass until the third quarter while playing sparingly. He was clearly on a pitch count, and finished the game with four catches for just 18 yards. He said in the locker room after the game he’s dealing with a high ankle sprain and was about 85% against New England. Which proved to be good enough to go, but not good enough to make a difference. St. Brown just wasn’t himself, including on fourth down, twice failing to come up with the football, one of which was at the goal line.
**** Amon-Ra St. Brown had a 3rd Down reception in the 4th QTR in which he did move the chains in the Red Zone, with a move or two he made on Defenders. Otherwise, St. Brown couldn't make the impact that was the norm with him prior to the injury. Even factoring in this, the Lions problems in blocking in this game seemed like a greater issue than injuries at the skill positions. ****
-- The defense needed seven drives to finally force a punt, running their streak to 18 straight possessions without generating a stop. That’s probably some kind of record.
**** It took until the 4th QTR for the Patriots to punt. The only time in the most recent two games prior to the 4th QTR punt (good 3rd and 3 run Defense by Jeff Okudah and DeShon Elliott, leading to the punt.) that the Lions got the ball without giving up a TD, FG, or FG attempt, was the interception by Elliott. ****
-- Aidan Hutchinson probably has a very bright future in this league. That day is not today. Not until he figures out how to play under more control. He’s run past the quarterback several times this season, creating lanes for those quarterbacks to come back the other way. When that guy is Jalen Hurts, you can understand it. When that guy is Bailey Zappe, a third-string pocket passer, you really can’t. Yet it happened again. Hutchinson blew into the backfield with a head of steam, while Zappe simply stepped up in the pocket before taking off for 5 yards. You love Hutchinson winning his one-on-one matchup -- Lord knows he hasn’t won enough of those -- but it will never matter until the prized rookie figures out to harness his motor, stay in control and actually make a play on the quarterback. Which outside of the first half against Washington, hasn’t happened at all through five games this season.
**** Being that Aidan Hutchinson beat a TE on the play in which he failed to bring Bailey Zappe down and let him escape, even the pressure on the play isn't overly impressive. Hutchinson was a non factor on the vast majority of other pass rush opportunities in the game. Including, many in one on one situations. Probably, most. These last two games especially, his lack of impact in most pass rush situations has been a major factor in the Lions Defensive problems. Right now, he looks like a very ordinary pass rushing DE, not remotely like pick # 2 of a Draft. I understand rookies usually have major growing pains. But the impactful plays have lacking the last two games. The Lions need much better play from him, especially in the passing game.
Julian Okwara appeared to have very few snaps today, after a bad performance vs. the Seahawks. This was even with Charles Harris being out. Okwara's spot on the Lions could be in danger. I think the coaches should have used him more, as the Lions just weren't generating a pass rush much more often than not, with the players on the field. This was even with numerous blitzes. Austin Bryant had some pressure and caused a holding penalty. But there wasn't much else.
****
-- Pro Bowl guard Jonah Jackson made his return after missing three games with a finger injury. He earned the start at his usual post at left guard, while Logan Stenberg earned the start over Evan Brown at right guard. But Stenberg was benched at halftime, still snowed under by monumental issues in pass protection. He can block up the run just fine, but there might not be a worse guard in the league in the pass game.
**** It didn't look like Logan Stenberg was having the physical issues as a pass blocker, as was the case in the first 2 games. There probably was one or more assignment mistakes. Stenberg was having a good to very good performance as a run blocker. ****
-- Sticking with the offensive line for just a moment, Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker are a really strong combination at offensive tackle most weeks. Sewell already is climbing onto the short list of best right tackles in the league. But in New England, both delivered their worst performances of the season. Goff was clearly bothered by the pressure, taking untimely sacks, one of which pushed Detroit out of field goal range and led to a turnover on fourth down.
**** The turnover came on the drive that followed the 3rd Down sack. It was a bad running decision by Craig Reynolds, when he tried to make something out of nothing after a bobbled exchange with Jared Goff, that led to a sizable loss, and the 4th and 9 situation from the Patriots 32 in which Dan Campbell elected to go for the 1st Down. ****
Patriots edge rusher Matthew Judon -- a former Grand Valley State star -- capitalized with two sacks. He now has six on the year, a Patriots record through five games.
**** Matthew Judon is a heck of a player. But much better protection for Goff off the edges was needed on the 2 impact plays by Judon, against the Lions Tackles. ****
...........
This new thread is a continuation of the following thread:
Lions at Patriots preview: Game # 5 ( 2022 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1571/lions-patriots-preview-game-2022