Video Review: A Wasted Opportunity By The Lions Offense

Well done!

making the great play on the errant throw by Ryan, yes, I DVRed this game and I agree with your assessment. Of course, Brandon Pettigrew dropped that 4th down pass and Jacquizz Rodgers sealed the game, the Lions had every chance to win, no doubt in my mind my Broncos have to give maximum effort to win Sunday

but I’m sad now. I think I’m going to grow out my bangs and cut myself.

that 4th and 2 when Atlanta would have been forced to punt, but Louis Delmas held

They have killed themselves 2 straight weeks like any young up and coming team and lost by a score or less to 2 good teams. I’m not worried about them, they will annihilate the Broncos.

You asked me to let you know what I think, and so I will. On the first run, Williams was able to get 8 yards because Raiola actually DID his job for once in his life. He chipped the right DT so that Sims could wall him off, Backus walled off the RDE, and Williams broke the tackle attempted by the LDE. Peterman also got off the ball for once, getting enough of the LDT so that he was forced outside, where Cherilus picked him up. Cherilus’ assignment was the LDE, but since he became engaged with Peterman’s assignment, as Peterman fell on his face, Pettigrew was forced to try blocking Cherilus’ assignment (the LDE). Had Williams not spun out of the tackle, this play would have also been stopped at the line of scrimmage. However, the O-line did a good enough job that with one move, Williams was able to spring forward for 8 yards.

The second down run play should have been a pass play, as you said. The Falcons were all over the run on that play, and the run blitz was on. Peterman whiffed, Raiola got blown off the ball, Cherilus and Heller failed to wall the LDE to the outside, and Sims inexplicably released to try to block a LB, thereby leaving the RDT running free into the backfield. With Raiola blown backwards and engaged, there was nobody there to pick up the RDT. However, Williams was able to run past him. Backus and Pettigrew or Scheffler doubled the RDE, effectively blocking him out of the play, and Sims got to the ROLB, but that left both the MLB and the LOLB free to make the play in the hole (which they did easily with CJ getting beat to the inside by the corner (who assisted on the tackle as well).

Again, this has nothing to do with whether or not Keiland Williams or Maurice Morris are effective running backs. It has to do with a piss poor play call and a complete breakdown of blocking by the offensive line, TEs, and Calvin Johnson. The play itself was not effective, because of the lack of blocking and because of the fact that Atlanta was reading run the whole way.

That said, a yard was lost on the play…bringing up a seemingly easily manageable 3rd and 3. Matthew Stafford’s nervousness and inaccuracy were the eventual downfall of the drive, as he had a WIDE OPEN Brandon Pettigrew to throw to for the easy 1st down. He was too busy eye fucking Calvin Johnson however, as you said, and failed to progress quickly enough through his reads as a result. By the time he started doing his best Joey Harrington impression, it was too late to make the throw to Pettigrew, and so he threw it to Heller (which was the emergency release valve on the play) underneath. Unfortunately, his pass was way off the mark and Heller had no chance to make the play.

I think the last play was designed for Calvin Johnson, but for whatever reason Stafford did not attempt to throw the ball up to him. Clearly he was in single coverage and had a chance to beat the corner on a jump ball. Since he did not make the attempt to go to Calvin, he should have immediately thrown the ball to Pettigrew. However, by the time he looked off to Grew the ROLB was already starting to cheat up to cover him and Stafford was too afraid to throw it to him. He felt the pressure, and started doing the happy dance. Titus Young was covered by the MLB and was running right to left across Stafford’s field of vision (right toward the ROLB). There goes 3 options. That left Burleson, who was originally double covered on the outside by the LOLB and the LCB, and Heller, who was releasing underneath. Burleson took the linebacker with him, and the window was small for Heller. Being his only choice, Stafford threw the ball…errantly. Thus the 3 and out.

I agree with your assessment. Stafford should have stayed in the pocket and made a good pass to Heller. He didn’t, and the Lions failed once again to convert on 3rd and short. This had nothing to do with the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the running backs/running game. It had everything to do with bad play calling and a young, inexperienced QB.

I don’t disagree with the analyses above (especially the poster and KDawg), however I want to mention that there is an added element – Stafford was probably a little extra nervous because he was on his own 10 yard line. He has to be very careful to not throw a pick this close to the endzone (imagine your breakdown if this had gone for a pick 6). My guess is that the hope was to hit Calvin deep and get down field, but he would be hesitant to just throw it up for grabs. He definately looked too late for Pettigrew, but by the time he did he wasn’t willing to throw into a tight space (something he is certainly capable of, but has been picked off before). The breakdown (or appearance thereof) then caused a nervous Stafford to take the safe pass, but he executed poorly.

This doesn’t change much, but if there is a silver lining it is that he didn’t make a bad decision and let the Atlanta defense have a score (or even better field position than they ultimately got).