Is the Detroit Lions’ poor play the result of weary legs?

Then there is the ‘tired legs’ theory. This is the one that I absolutely love. The media has been in an uproar about a football coach actually working his players in practice.

Should marathon runners or tennis players limit the amount of running they do instead of building up their conditioning?

Let’s be honest here, today’s athletes are considered the best of all time. They are bigger, stronger and faster than the athletes of previous generations. If that is really true, then how did players back in the 1960’s or 70’s or 80’s or 90’s work their tails off much harder then even these Lions are and still play the game on such a high level?

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If these players today can’t go through a rigorous training program and still play at a high level, then they aren’t the best of all time. Being spoiled and pampered as much as they have been in recent years has really had two effects on the game.

Players aren’t nearly as mentally strong as they used to be and injuries have continued to rise because their bodies just don’t get conditioned enough to hitting before the season starts.

That doesn’t mean the new rules for player safety is unnecessary because player safety should be a big concern. But conditioning makes a difference.

As for the Lions sloppy play, I think the answer has been a combination of our final two possibilities.

The players have made mental mistakes frequently and they still need more talent in their front seven on defense especially.

The chance for the Lions to turn things around once the regular season begins is certainly there, but they will need to conquer their worst enemy which has really been themselves in order to succeed.

Players will need to raise their level of play, starting with the ability to master their assignments and play them with discipline. Which is something Matt Patricia has influence over. He can certainly help them to master the details they will need to learn in order to be successful, but he can’t play the game for them. Which we most likely wouldn’t want anyway. These players still need to figure it out.

The NFL season is a long journey that usually has several twists and turns along the way.

The learning curve is steep for these Lions, but with hard work, in time, the defense should be passable. Ultimately could it be dominant? With some key additions in the front seven and mastery of the system, it’s a possibility.

But that may be too much to ask for this season.