Post by D6 on Oct 4, 2020 23:14:10 GMT -5
Quick observations: Matt Patricia’s seat grows hotter after Lions melt down for third time in four games
Thoughts in ****
Quick observations: Matt Patricia’s seat grows hotter after Lions melt down for third time in four games
Updated 5:08 PM; Today 4:17 PM
By Kyle Meinke | kmeinke@mlive.com
DETROIT -- The Lions opened the season by building a double-digit lead against Chicago, then allowed 21 unanswered points and lost. They built a double-digit lead the following week in Green Bay, then allowed 31 unanswered points and lost. That made them the first team in the 100-year history of the NFL ever to take a double-digit lead in four straight games and lose them all.
Then they flew to Arizona, held Kyler Murray to one fourth-quarter completion, picked him off three times and won a game this team badly needed.
Then they flew back home to Detroit, had an opportunity to climb back to .500 against a Saints team down six starters because of injuries, needed less than 5 minutes to race to a 14-0 lead -- and then allowed 35 unanswered points in a 35-29 loss on Sunday at Ford Field.
That’s 12 losses in 13 games for Detroit (1-3), 14 out of 16 overall and Matt Patricia’s seat will continue to simmer at a boil heading into next week’s bye. It’s difficult to understate the disappointment. Patricia came in beating his chest about turning Detroit into a consistent contender. Not just a contender, which Detroit already was, but a consistent contender. Then as the losses mounted, suddenly he began preaching patience with the so-called process.
Now we’re in Year 3, and the defense he was supposed to turn around has once again become a laughingstock.
You allowed 21 unanswered points to Mitchell Trubisky? Really? You allowed another 31 unanswered points the following week? Really? Then you come back home with a chance to propel your team into the playoff race, jump to a 14-0 lead on touchdown passes to D’Andre Swift and Kenny Golladay -- and then that defense you’ve had three years to install, to stock with all your guys, couldn’t get another stop until the fourth quarter?
That’s five straight touchdown drives. Five in a row. Against a team playing without its best receiver (Michael Thomas), best tight end (Jared Cook) and best guard (Andrus Peat).
Clearly, whatever Matt Patricia is doing isn’t working.
The Saints were averaging more than 7 yards per play until they started working the clock in the fourth quarter. They converted eight of their first nine third downs, and the lone stop led to a 29-yard pass to Alvin Kamara on fourth down. They were 4 of 4 in the red zone and 4 of 4 in goal-to-go situations.
How is any team supposed to win a game like that?
Darryl Roberts intercepted a tipped ball on the defense’s first series, and the Lions couldn’t get another stop until the fourth quarter. They couldn’t get stops through the air, and they couldn’t get stops on the ground, and they couldn’t get stops in the red zone, and they couldn’t get stops on third down, and they couldn’t get stops on fourth down, and they just couldn’t get stops, man.
Then Adrian Peterson plowed into the end zone to draw Detroit within 35-29 with 3:44 left. Plenty of time for Matthew Stafford. If, you know, the defense could get a stop. Just one stop.
They couldn’t do even that. The Lions never touched the ball again, and now head into the bye in another tailspin under Matt Patricia. And it makes it difficult for Patricia to make the case the so-called process is processing anywhere at all.
**** This felt like 3 separate games. The middle part of the game ( Saints unanswered 35 points ) was tbe longest part of the game and where the game was lost by the Lions.
The middle part of the game was a combination of horrific play, not just the by the Lions Defense. The Lions failed to score a point as the Saints scored TDs on 5 straight drives. Matthew Stafford's red zone interception by CB Patrick Robinson was a combination of a horrible decision and a bad throw when Stafford was under pressure. Robinson, much like many other Saints on both sides of the ball made one or more impressive plays. Yet, it gets back to Stafford using poor judgment by making the throw. Jesse James made a terrific catch against S Malcolm Jenkins early on the drive. That ball easily could have been intercepted. Stafford is trying to do too much. It caught up to him on the play Robinson came down with the interception. The way the Lions Defense played in this middle part of the game, the Lions Offense couldn't afford to waste the opportunity in the red zone. At worst, 3 point were necessary. ****
More quick observations from yet another loss:
-- The Lions allowed 28 unanswered points to close the first half, an abysmal effort. The Saints also were going to get the second-half kick. You know Detroit was preaching the importance of coming out of the locker room with a stop to stem the bleeding and maybe turn momentum. Instead, the Saints marched 75 yards on 10 plays. The Lions had them in a third-and-6 at the end too, but Latavius Murray got a shotgun handoff and just waltzed through the middle of the defense for a touchdown. In a day of really bad plays for the defense, that just might have been the dagger. They needed a stop, and couldn’t get one even when New Orleans ran the football right up the middle on third-and-6 at the goal line. If you can’t get a stop there, after what happened in the first half, you don’t deserve to win.
**** I agree the Lions didn't deserve to win. Shortly before on the same drive, Desmond Trufant missed a 3rd Down Tackle against WR Emmanuel Sanders. The Lions Coaches were willing to surrender the completion in order for Trufant to make the tackle. Tne Defensive play call was good. The execution wasn't. The issue is Trufant remained in the game too long. He very likely was dealing with the hamstring injury that sidelined for 2 + games. My issue with Matt Patricia is he should have made sure Trufant was removed from the game prior to that. Even factoring in some great execution by the Saints, Trufant clearly wasn't himself. His tackling was an issue prior to the missed tackle against Sanders. ****
-- Matthew Stafford still gave the Lions a chance, picking up three early third-and-longs and throwing touchdown passes to D’Andre Swift and Kenny Golladay for a quick 14-0 lead. After New Orleans pulled away with 35 straight points, Stafford led an 11-play drive that he finished off with another touchdown pass, this one to T.J. Hockenson, and then a 12-play drive that Adrian Peterson capped with a 5-yard touchdown run. That drew the Lions to within 35-29 late in the fourth quarter. But they still needed a stop, and, well, you know how that one ends.
**** The run Defense by the Lions in the 4th QTR, including on the first two plays of that drive, was vastly superior to the run Defense prior to that. The 3rd Down pass to Tre'Quan Smith, who was one of the best players for the Saints in this game, was an illustration why Drew Brees is a future first ballot HOFer. Perfect throw under plenty of pressure. Impressive catch by Smith, against Jeff Okudah, who had good coverage on the play. There were multiple throws and receptions by the Saints in this game that were almost impossible to defend. Unlike most of them, the Lions had a considerable amount of pressure on Brees on the Smith 3rd Down reception on what became the game sealing drive . ****
-- Stafford made plays for the Lions. But true to his form this season, he also made some critical mistakes. He missed on a handful of throws early, including on a badly underthrown ball to T.J. Hockenson that was picked off by Patrick Robinson in the end zone. Stafford threw another end-zone interception late in the second half, although it was nullified by a penalty away from the ball. His final line: 17 of 31 passing for 206 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
**** In addition to some bad decisions, Matthew Stafford's accuracy was an issue again in this game. ****
-- Cornerback Desmond Trufant made his return, and the Lions chose to send Jeff Okudah to the bench in his place. Okudah still played off the bench though, entering the game late in the first quarter and platooning with Amani Oruwariye for much of the first half. Then Trufant aggravated his hamstring in the second half, and Okudah never left the field again. He finished with five tackles and no passes defended.
**** Based on Jeff Okudah already being the Lions best run Defending CB and Tackler and the way the Saints were running the ball at will, Okudah should have been in the game more, earlier. Amani Oruwariye is probably better in coverage at present. However, he struggles against the run and as a tackler. ****
-- D’Andre Swift, the 35th overall pick in the draft, played just six offensive snaps last week in Arizona. That was always kind of hard one to understand, and he got a lot more run against New Orleans. He caught two early passes, including a 7-yard touchdown that gave Detroit an early 7-0 lead. He finished with four catches for 30 yards and four carries for 22 yards.
**** The improvement of DeAndre Swift as a rusher and receiver in tbis game was a bright spot for the Lions. ****
-- Receiver Marvin Jones played in his 100th game since joining the Lions in the aftermath of Calvin Johnson’s retirement in 2016. He’s been a good downfield threat for Matthew Stafford, but struggled to get it going this year. Defenses were shading him with Kenny Golladay out, but his production hasn’t upticked since Golladay’s return either. He had one catch for 9 yards against New Orleans.
**** Marvin Jones drew a Defensive Pass Interference penalty. More is needed from him. The bye is a good time for the coaches to evaluate why Jones hasn't been more productive this season, beyond Kenny Golladay's hamstring injury. ****
-- Safety Jayron Kearse made his Lions debut after serving a three-game suspension. He finished with one tackle off the bench.
**** More is needed from Jayron Kearse, especially vs. the run. ****
-- Running back Kerryon Johnson left the game with what appeared to be a lower-body injury after making a 3-yard catch along the sideline in the fourth quarter. He did not return, which really hurt because he is the club’s best pass protector at the position.
**** It looked to me that Kerryon Johnson came back into the game a few plays later, at least for one play. I couldn"t be mistaken. The Lions ended up scoring a TD ( Adrian Peterson run ) on that drive. As well as a successful 2 point conversion ( impressive catch by T.J. Hockenson. Tbe Lions never got the ball back. Kerryon Johnson did a very good job on tbe route/ catch/ run for the 1st Down on that 4th Down play. ****
-- Long snapper Don Muhlbach played on Sunday, which isn’t exactly news. He’s missed just one game since 2005 and none at all since 2009. He’s played in 248 of these things. You could set your watch to him. Death and taxes and all that, you know? But Muhlbach has been doing this for so long that he’s now entering some rare air, which is news. With 248 games played, he has moved into the top 50 on the NFL’s all-time list. He’s tied with Al Del Greco, and is just two games from moving into a tie for 47th (with former Lions great Eddie Murray, among others).
Death. Taxes. Don Freaking Muhlbach.
For 14 years, he's done the remarkable at the game's most unremarkable position. And nobody's noticed. Because h...
If Muhlbach plays in every game this season -- and that seems like a pretty good bet! -- Muhlbach would climb to at least 37th on the all-time list, and perhaps higher depending on what happens with fellow active players like Jason Witten (258 career games entering Sunday), Larry Fitzgerald (253) and Andy Lee (251). Morten Anderson holds the all-time record (382 games), while Jason Hanson holds the Lions record (327).
**** It's unfortunate that Don Muhlbach is on the losing side of yet another Lions game. His impact extends beyond his job as Long Snapper. I'm confident that Jack Fox, who continues to Punt at a very high level, has benefitted substantionally by Muhlbach's presence and advice.****
....
This new thread is a continuation of the following thread:
Lions vs. Saints preview: Game # 4 ( 2020 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/780/lions-saints-preview-game-2020?page=1&scrollTo=3602
Thoughts in ****
Quick observations: Matt Patricia’s seat grows hotter after Lions melt down for third time in four games
Updated 5:08 PM; Today 4:17 PM
By Kyle Meinke | kmeinke@mlive.com
DETROIT -- The Lions opened the season by building a double-digit lead against Chicago, then allowed 21 unanswered points and lost. They built a double-digit lead the following week in Green Bay, then allowed 31 unanswered points and lost. That made them the first team in the 100-year history of the NFL ever to take a double-digit lead in four straight games and lose them all.
Then they flew to Arizona, held Kyler Murray to one fourth-quarter completion, picked him off three times and won a game this team badly needed.
Then they flew back home to Detroit, had an opportunity to climb back to .500 against a Saints team down six starters because of injuries, needed less than 5 minutes to race to a 14-0 lead -- and then allowed 35 unanswered points in a 35-29 loss on Sunday at Ford Field.
That’s 12 losses in 13 games for Detroit (1-3), 14 out of 16 overall and Matt Patricia’s seat will continue to simmer at a boil heading into next week’s bye. It’s difficult to understate the disappointment. Patricia came in beating his chest about turning Detroit into a consistent contender. Not just a contender, which Detroit already was, but a consistent contender. Then as the losses mounted, suddenly he began preaching patience with the so-called process.
Now we’re in Year 3, and the defense he was supposed to turn around has once again become a laughingstock.
You allowed 21 unanswered points to Mitchell Trubisky? Really? You allowed another 31 unanswered points the following week? Really? Then you come back home with a chance to propel your team into the playoff race, jump to a 14-0 lead on touchdown passes to D’Andre Swift and Kenny Golladay -- and then that defense you’ve had three years to install, to stock with all your guys, couldn’t get another stop until the fourth quarter?
That’s five straight touchdown drives. Five in a row. Against a team playing without its best receiver (Michael Thomas), best tight end (Jared Cook) and best guard (Andrus Peat).
Clearly, whatever Matt Patricia is doing isn’t working.
The Saints were averaging more than 7 yards per play until they started working the clock in the fourth quarter. They converted eight of their first nine third downs, and the lone stop led to a 29-yard pass to Alvin Kamara on fourth down. They were 4 of 4 in the red zone and 4 of 4 in goal-to-go situations.
How is any team supposed to win a game like that?
Darryl Roberts intercepted a tipped ball on the defense’s first series, and the Lions couldn’t get another stop until the fourth quarter. They couldn’t get stops through the air, and they couldn’t get stops on the ground, and they couldn’t get stops in the red zone, and they couldn’t get stops on third down, and they couldn’t get stops on fourth down, and they just couldn’t get stops, man.
Then Adrian Peterson plowed into the end zone to draw Detroit within 35-29 with 3:44 left. Plenty of time for Matthew Stafford. If, you know, the defense could get a stop. Just one stop.
They couldn’t do even that. The Lions never touched the ball again, and now head into the bye in another tailspin under Matt Patricia. And it makes it difficult for Patricia to make the case the so-called process is processing anywhere at all.
**** This felt like 3 separate games. The middle part of the game ( Saints unanswered 35 points ) was tbe longest part of the game and where the game was lost by the Lions.
The middle part of the game was a combination of horrific play, not just the by the Lions Defense. The Lions failed to score a point as the Saints scored TDs on 5 straight drives. Matthew Stafford's red zone interception by CB Patrick Robinson was a combination of a horrible decision and a bad throw when Stafford was under pressure. Robinson, much like many other Saints on both sides of the ball made one or more impressive plays. Yet, it gets back to Stafford using poor judgment by making the throw. Jesse James made a terrific catch against S Malcolm Jenkins early on the drive. That ball easily could have been intercepted. Stafford is trying to do too much. It caught up to him on the play Robinson came down with the interception. The way the Lions Defense played in this middle part of the game, the Lions Offense couldn't afford to waste the opportunity in the red zone. At worst, 3 point were necessary. ****
More quick observations from yet another loss:
-- The Lions allowed 28 unanswered points to close the first half, an abysmal effort. The Saints also were going to get the second-half kick. You know Detroit was preaching the importance of coming out of the locker room with a stop to stem the bleeding and maybe turn momentum. Instead, the Saints marched 75 yards on 10 plays. The Lions had them in a third-and-6 at the end too, but Latavius Murray got a shotgun handoff and just waltzed through the middle of the defense for a touchdown. In a day of really bad plays for the defense, that just might have been the dagger. They needed a stop, and couldn’t get one even when New Orleans ran the football right up the middle on third-and-6 at the goal line. If you can’t get a stop there, after what happened in the first half, you don’t deserve to win.
**** I agree the Lions didn't deserve to win. Shortly before on the same drive, Desmond Trufant missed a 3rd Down Tackle against WR Emmanuel Sanders. The Lions Coaches were willing to surrender the completion in order for Trufant to make the tackle. Tne Defensive play call was good. The execution wasn't. The issue is Trufant remained in the game too long. He very likely was dealing with the hamstring injury that sidelined for 2 + games. My issue with Matt Patricia is he should have made sure Trufant was removed from the game prior to that. Even factoring in some great execution by the Saints, Trufant clearly wasn't himself. His tackling was an issue prior to the missed tackle against Sanders. ****
-- Matthew Stafford still gave the Lions a chance, picking up three early third-and-longs and throwing touchdown passes to D’Andre Swift and Kenny Golladay for a quick 14-0 lead. After New Orleans pulled away with 35 straight points, Stafford led an 11-play drive that he finished off with another touchdown pass, this one to T.J. Hockenson, and then a 12-play drive that Adrian Peterson capped with a 5-yard touchdown run. That drew the Lions to within 35-29 late in the fourth quarter. But they still needed a stop, and, well, you know how that one ends.
**** The run Defense by the Lions in the 4th QTR, including on the first two plays of that drive, was vastly superior to the run Defense prior to that. The 3rd Down pass to Tre'Quan Smith, who was one of the best players for the Saints in this game, was an illustration why Drew Brees is a future first ballot HOFer. Perfect throw under plenty of pressure. Impressive catch by Smith, against Jeff Okudah, who had good coverage on the play. There were multiple throws and receptions by the Saints in this game that were almost impossible to defend. Unlike most of them, the Lions had a considerable amount of pressure on Brees on the Smith 3rd Down reception on what became the game sealing drive . ****
-- Stafford made plays for the Lions. But true to his form this season, he also made some critical mistakes. He missed on a handful of throws early, including on a badly underthrown ball to T.J. Hockenson that was picked off by Patrick Robinson in the end zone. Stafford threw another end-zone interception late in the second half, although it was nullified by a penalty away from the ball. His final line: 17 of 31 passing for 206 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
**** In addition to some bad decisions, Matthew Stafford's accuracy was an issue again in this game. ****
-- Cornerback Desmond Trufant made his return, and the Lions chose to send Jeff Okudah to the bench in his place. Okudah still played off the bench though, entering the game late in the first quarter and platooning with Amani Oruwariye for much of the first half. Then Trufant aggravated his hamstring in the second half, and Okudah never left the field again. He finished with five tackles and no passes defended.
**** Based on Jeff Okudah already being the Lions best run Defending CB and Tackler and the way the Saints were running the ball at will, Okudah should have been in the game more, earlier. Amani Oruwariye is probably better in coverage at present. However, he struggles against the run and as a tackler. ****
-- D’Andre Swift, the 35th overall pick in the draft, played just six offensive snaps last week in Arizona. That was always kind of hard one to understand, and he got a lot more run against New Orleans. He caught two early passes, including a 7-yard touchdown that gave Detroit an early 7-0 lead. He finished with four catches for 30 yards and four carries for 22 yards.
**** The improvement of DeAndre Swift as a rusher and receiver in tbis game was a bright spot for the Lions. ****
-- Receiver Marvin Jones played in his 100th game since joining the Lions in the aftermath of Calvin Johnson’s retirement in 2016. He’s been a good downfield threat for Matthew Stafford, but struggled to get it going this year. Defenses were shading him with Kenny Golladay out, but his production hasn’t upticked since Golladay’s return either. He had one catch for 9 yards against New Orleans.
**** Marvin Jones drew a Defensive Pass Interference penalty. More is needed from him. The bye is a good time for the coaches to evaluate why Jones hasn't been more productive this season, beyond Kenny Golladay's hamstring injury. ****
-- Safety Jayron Kearse made his Lions debut after serving a three-game suspension. He finished with one tackle off the bench.
**** More is needed from Jayron Kearse, especially vs. the run. ****
-- Running back Kerryon Johnson left the game with what appeared to be a lower-body injury after making a 3-yard catch along the sideline in the fourth quarter. He did not return, which really hurt because he is the club’s best pass protector at the position.
**** It looked to me that Kerryon Johnson came back into the game a few plays later, at least for one play. I couldn"t be mistaken. The Lions ended up scoring a TD ( Adrian Peterson run ) on that drive. As well as a successful 2 point conversion ( impressive catch by T.J. Hockenson. Tbe Lions never got the ball back. Kerryon Johnson did a very good job on tbe route/ catch/ run for the 1st Down on that 4th Down play. ****
-- Long snapper Don Muhlbach played on Sunday, which isn’t exactly news. He’s missed just one game since 2005 and none at all since 2009. He’s played in 248 of these things. You could set your watch to him. Death and taxes and all that, you know? But Muhlbach has been doing this for so long that he’s now entering some rare air, which is news. With 248 games played, he has moved into the top 50 on the NFL’s all-time list. He’s tied with Al Del Greco, and is just two games from moving into a tie for 47th (with former Lions great Eddie Murray, among others).
Death. Taxes. Don Freaking Muhlbach.
For 14 years, he's done the remarkable at the game's most unremarkable position. And nobody's noticed. Because h...
If Muhlbach plays in every game this season -- and that seems like a pretty good bet! -- Muhlbach would climb to at least 37th on the all-time list, and perhaps higher depending on what happens with fellow active players like Jason Witten (258 career games entering Sunday), Larry Fitzgerald (253) and Andy Lee (251). Morten Anderson holds the all-time record (382 games), while Jason Hanson holds the Lions record (327).
**** It's unfortunate that Don Muhlbach is on the losing side of yet another Lions game. His impact extends beyond his job as Long Snapper. I'm confident that Jack Fox, who continues to Punt at a very high level, has benefitted substantionally by Muhlbach's presence and advice.****
....
This new thread is a continuation of the following thread:
Lions vs. Saints preview: Game # 4 ( 2020 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/780/lions-saints-preview-game-2020?page=1&scrollTo=3602
