*FAN SUBMISSION by D Raj. Follow him on Twitter @Dhinesh21raj.*
I have watched every Detroit Lions game for the past 3 NFL seasons. Yep feel sorry for me.
Courtesy: Bleacher Report
Now lets just look at this last season; The Detroit Lions starting off 6-3 looking almost unstoppable. Reggie Bush running like he was back in New Orleans, the Detroit front 7 ranking 3rd in rush defense, and a defense that had DeAndre Levy; who at the time was tied for most interceptions in the entire league. The offensive line was arguably the best in the league and Matthew Stafford was playing up to expectations. He only threw 5 interceptions, who was on pace to throw almost 40 touchdowns, and throw over 5,200 yards, was leading the team up and down and engineer one of the best drives I have seen against the Dallas Cowboys. Best of all, Calvin Johnson, who was hands down the best receiver in the NFL, and an MVP candidate. He led the league in receiving yards, and he missed a game against the Green Bay Packers.
Then they flipped the switch. Finishing 1-6, not making the playoffs, in a lack luster NFC North, which featured the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, without starting quarter backs for a great amount of the season and defenses which were horrendous. All this leading up to having one of the easiest schedules in football; only 2 teams with winning records (Cincinnati Philadelphia).
No I am not lying. Lets look at the stat sheet. Total first downs? Lions lead there opponents by 60. Third down conversions, Detroit has a 43% conversion percentage, opponents: 30%. Total offensive yards, they had 6,274, and their opponents had 5,546. Sacks, lions led 33 to 23. Time of possession 32:21 to 28:06. Touchdowns: 48 to 38.
Courtesy: Fox News
Reading all of this, I am thinking why didn’t they dominate? Then I got to the end of the stat sheet. -12 turnover ratio. Where the Lions are tied second to last. having 19 INT’s and 15 fumbles, and tying 4th to last in takeaways. Tying last in fumble recoveries and tying for last in INT’s.
How do they fix this? Well lets start with not only finding a new head coach, but a new offensive coordinator, quarterback coach and secondary coach. The Detroit Lions are so extremely undisciplined it is crazy, from personal fouls to not knowing the routes its ridiculous. They need someone who will lay down the law someone who is going to discipline our players, also someone who has playoff experience. Coaches like Ken Whisenhunt would have been ideal, as he garnered a lot of respect from his time in Arizona. But since he recently signed on with the Titans, the search continues.
A secondary coach would be quite obvious, the way teams cut through their secondary was ridiculous. Being in a division with Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler, and a Minnesota Vikings team looking to draft a quarterback, it is essential the Lions fix up our lackluster secondary. Looking into the NFL draft I see them drafting either a WR like Sammy Watkins, or a safety that would improve the secondary.
Thanks for reading, and Roar Lions Roar!
