Detroit Lions: The keys to build upon last week’s success
By Robert Jones
How the Lions dominated the Patriots started and ended with the play of their offensive line and defensive front seven. These units took control of the line of scrimmage and refused to let the Patriots take it back.
In order for the Lions to win in Dallas today and keep their momentum going, the play of the big boys up front will be crucial. Everything every NFL team does or tries to do is predicated on the ability to control that small strip of land that is only as wide as the length of a football.
Those offenses who control the line of scrimmage can run and pass at will while controlling the clock. Meanwhile those who control it defensively tend to give up few points which always put their team in a position to win games.
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In the Super Bowl era, the teams that have won it all usually have three things in common. A franchise quarterback, an elite head coach and a very good to great defense.
A great defense speaks for itself. If a defense is great then it will control the line of scrimmage and certainly cut down on the opportunities of their opponents to have offensive success.
On offense all eyes are on the quarterback. He is the hub around which all things happen, but even the best have difficulty overcoming a porous O-line. And without at least competent line play, even the best running backs have difficulty.
Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia have said they want to build this team ‘from the ball out’. That means there is an emphasis on line play on both sides of the ball. Over the course of the last two weeks the Lions offensive line has improved it’s play. They have also limited opposing pass-rushers to only three sacks so far this season.
This trend of O-line play will need to continue in Dallas. The Cowboys defense is number three overall and shouldn’t be taken lightly, but if the Lions O-line can hold their own, Kerryon Johnson can make defenders miss and gain yards.
Meanwhile the Cowboys offense is basically putrid outside of all-star back Ezekiel Elliott. The Lions do need to acquire more talent for their defensive front seven, but since that really won’t happen until next offseason, they will need to find a way to stand up to the Dallas offense the way they did the Patriots.
Plain and simple; if the Lions own the line of scrimmage again like they did last week, they will not only beat the Cowboys, but they will most likely destroy them.
And continue an upward trend that all Lions fans have been begging for since…. well, you all know.
Matt Patricia got a big reprieve last week with that huge win, but he desperately needs to keep the momentum going to finish the job of winning over his team and having them buy-in to his system. Despite this teams deficiencies, if they can just play efficiently within this defensive scheme, especially up front and continue to blossom on the O-line, then this season will be far from over already.
Next. The Detroit Lions All-Time Offensive Team. dark
It doesn’t mean that these Lions will win the Super Bowl, but they might finally be on the fast-track to the type of success that could lead there eventually.