Welcoming the Cincinnati Bengals to Ford Field is more than an opportunity to advance to 2-0 in the NFL Preseason for the Detroit Lions.
I’m not sure what the word “exhibition” means to you but it does have some significance in this league. The 30-17 Week 1 NFL Preseason victory meant a lot to the morale of the Detroit Lions.
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. Regardless of how it statistically effects the outcome of the upcoming NFL season, these games are vital opportunities for coaches to look at player personnel and packaging.
Thursday, they’ll welcome the Cincinnati Bengals to town in a game where we might be able to see QB Matthew Stafford for the entire 1st quarter of action. All in all, there are many benefits to facing a team like Cincinnati and there are a few essential things they should watch for the during this game.
The Bengals first string defense took no slack in hounding Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater in Week 1 of the NFL Preseason. On several plays, you could observe DT Geno Atkins and company pursuing Bridgewater. They successfully sacked him once. On some plays he was able to escape. Other plays he was forced to get his thigh pads dirty or throw the ball quicker than he desired. Conclusively, when it comes to pocket composure, Bridgewater is the coolest customer. On the contrary, Matthew Stafford’s composure in the pocket is as uneasy as Napoleon Dynamite during a stoichiometry exam.
Even on the 30 yard toss to WR Anquan Boldin you can see Stafford shuffling like a Spades expert before targeting Boldin who had been open .7 seconds prior.
Depending on how long the first team defense remains on the field Thursday night, this will be the perfect opportunity for the Lions to evaluate the deficiencies in their offensive line and the efficiency of play progression in passing situations. A careless red-zone fumble by Stafford last week was due to his anxiety stricken footwork in the pocket. Stafford needs to work on his footing, letting the ball go after three (or 5) steps with confidence instead of reluctantly holding it in the pocket. The Lions need to be quick and sharp in the passing attack. The receivers are there, the line of scrimmage is there, now Stafford needs to step up to the plate and get it done.