Comcast Red Zone Recap: Week 10

by Sean Yuille on Nov 20, 2009 11:02 AM EST in Red Zone Recap

This post is sponsored by Comcast's NFL RedZone Channel.

Lions - 1 score on 1 chance (1 touchdown)

Once again, the Lions' offense spent very little time in the red zone. That has been the offense's biggest problem in the last month or so. They do quite well in the red zone, but they only make it inside the 20 a couple times a game at most it seems like. Against Minnesota, the Lions' lone red zone trip produced a touchdown on a pass to Will Heller. At the end of the first half the Lions could have possibly had another trip inside the red zone and got to the 20, but they immediately kicked a field goal, so I'm not going to count that.

Vikings - 4 scores on 6 chances (2 touchdowns, 2 field goals, 1 fumble, 1 turnover on downs)

The defense was also not much different than it has been this season. The Vikings had a whopping 6 trips to the red zone, but the Lions only gave up a couple touchdowns. On top of that, twice Minnesota didn't even score any points. That was because of a fumble and a failure to gain a yard on fourth down. The fumble was Adrian Peterson's fault when he lateraled the ball behind Percy Harvin and Sammie Hill ended up with it, but the other time the Vikings were kept off the scoreboard was when the defense made a stand on fourth down. All in all, I will take only giving up 2 touchdowns on 6 red zone opportunities every time.

Overall

It seems like I'm beating a dead horse because it's the same thing every week, but I'll say it one more time. The Lions' offense needs to get into the red zone more often, and defensively, the Lions need to keep their opponents out of the red zone. The defense's bend but don't break style works quite well when you consider that opposing teams' red zone efficiency based on touchdowns isn't all that great against the Lions, but the fact that teams are consistently getting into the red zone as many as 6 times a game is very concerning.

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Comments

I agree

The defense has done a good job in not allowing TD’s in the red zone all year. The offense has been such a let down though. You realize that CJ had a 98 yard catch from Dan O last year as well as a 60 yarder from Daunte. Why can’t Stafford get him the ball that way? How is this team worse on offense than last year, when they have what we were sold to be better pieces. Same O-line, same stud WR, same RB & FB. They score less points, turn the ball over more, run less effectively. I knew the defense would be bad, but I could not be more disappointed with the way this offense is playing.

by severs28 on Nov 20, 2009 1:22 PM EST reply actions

personally

i dont like their strategy on offense. its been pretty much the same every game: try to run the ball early, fail at it miserably, and give the ball to the other teams offense, which scores, then they’re down double digits, and then they try to pass.

i understand that k-smith is a good back, and staffords a rookie, so they wanna limit the number of times he throws the ball (which they’ve failed at doing too), but if it was up to me, I would let staff throw more on first and second downs, and be less predictable. Pretty much every game, the oposing defenses knew that the lions were gonna run the first two downs and then pass on third down, its one of the biggest reasons that blitzes have been so successful against the lions.

Defensively, I like their gameplans for the most part. its more of a lack of players that are leading to offenses putting up massive amount of points and yardage. Most people (including me) want a DT drafted in the first two rounds, but I might be wavering on that claim now. Sammie Hill and Grady Jackon have done a solid job of eating up the run, and our LBs are pretty solid too. I would try to figure out whats wrong with guys like Avril and White, both have them seem to have disappeared this year. I mean, we are now relying on guys like Turk McBride and Jason Hunter for pass rush, which is pretty much the recipe for disaster.

The beginning of the end of the misery

by Latif Masud on Nov 20, 2009 4:37 PM EST reply actions

While I Agree

that Sammie Hill and Grady have done a good job against the run, we need a DT that can get penetration on the pass rush. Neither of them have done a very good job at that. Turk McBride actualyl got a bit of pressure when he was moved inside on passing downs, but like you said, he is not the kind of player we should be counting on.

by severs28 on Nov 20, 2009 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

we need a LT first

we’renot paying stafford $72 million to have his ass on the turf for half the game…there is too much money and talent invested in the offense to pick anything but an LT next year

The beginning of the end of the misery

by Latif Masud on Nov 20, 2009 7:13 PM EST up reply actions

see i agree we need a LT but

this is how i am looking at it we have Jim Schwartz the man who coached Albert Haynesworth into what he is today.
so when you have the guy who maid him and a DT that looks like he could be better then him you grab him…
can you image if both Hill and Suh (hell even McCoy) where to work out?? they would be unstoppable… then upgrade the ends with are above grate LB group in place all ready it would be huge for are D

1ST DT Ndamukong Suh – H 6-4 W 302
2nd LT Jason Fox – H 6-7 W 314
3rd DE Rahim Alem – H: 6-3 W: 262

trade Sims and 5th (from broncos) to the Giants for DE Mathias Kiwanuka

Just Remember matt... what would Daunte do??

by det32 on Nov 20, 2009 11:12 PM EST up reply actions

like the trade idea

thats a pretty plausible scenario. the gaints desperately need talented LBs, and sims might be one of the cheapest on the market next year.

but i gotta say i disagree with the DT idea. we brought it marinelli for more of the same reason: he was a good d-line coach, but we all know how that worked out. by no means am i making a comparison between schartz and marinelli, but here is the way i look at it:
the defense even with great play from the interior of the line will be average at best because the ends and cornerbacks are just plain terrible. on the other hand, a solid LT combined with an experienced stafford has the makings of a very good offense. plus, i will reiterate my point: we do not want stafford to get injured significantly….that would be by far the biggest setback this franchise would suffer, even after considering all that has happened

The beginning of the end of the misery

by Latif Masud on Nov 21, 2009 1:06 AM EST up reply actions