3 Improvements Detroit Lions Must Make
At the bye week, the Lions sit at 2-1-1. No other team received as much national recognition and praise after losing a home contest in Week 4 than the Lions did after losing 34-30 to the Chiefs.
What are some of the positive takeaways so far this season?
This team appears to have bought in to the philosophy of head coach Matt Patricia. Matthew Stafford has thrived with new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. And the defense appears to be very opportunistic, and has forced eight turnovers.
Although multiple positive narratives have arisen throughout the first quarter of the season, the Lions must improve in these three areas if they want to make the playoffs in 2019:
Turnovers
In Stafford's career, the Lions have lost 72.5 percent of the games in which Stafford has fumbled and the opponent has recovered.
This season, Stafford has fumbled three times, and the opposition has recovered two of them.
Arguably, running back Kerryon Johnson's fumble last week at the 1-yard line was the biggest turning point in the game.
Johnson noted afterwards that coaches have emphasized that extending your arms with the football is detrimental due to the increased chances of fumbling the football.
If the Lions can limit fumbles and interceptions, there will be opportunities to rack up victories.
The Details
Linebacker Jarrad Davis addressed the media prior to the bye week.
He explained and repeatedly stated that the Lions' defense needs to improve on the "details of the game."
“Just improve on the details of the game," Davis said. "How we’re calling plays, how we’re getting lined up, what we’re communicating pre-snap and everything like that, as well as post-snap. Just making sure we’re always talking out there and we’re always aware of what’s going on around us,’’ Davis said.
Davis also referred to the defense as "a newly seeded plant."
“We know what we have," Davis said. "In a sense, we’re kind of like a newly seeded plant. We’re starting to blossom a little bit. But we’ve got to keep watering, got to keep giving ourselves that light. We’ve got to keep making sure we pay attention to the things that are going to make us grow and get better. And we ultimately (have to) come out and perform to the best of our ability, and do exactly what we know we can do on Sundays.’’
The Defensive Line Must Step Up
This unit was highly regarded coming into the 2019 season. So far, the unit has not lived up to the billing.
Injuries have played a part, as defensive tackles Da'Shawn Hand and Mike Daniels have been injured.
Defensive end Trey Flowers has had a slow start to the season, but has started to emerge in the last two weeks.
The rush defense has not been as stout as it was in 2018, either.
Defensive tackle Damon "Snacks" Harrison has not been the same player that he was a year ago.
The Lions, in fact, are giving up the 10th-most rushing yards per game.
It can be easily said, subsequently, that the defensive line has to improve in many facets in order for Detroit to punch a playoff ticket.
