Detroit Lions: Opportunity is knocking, but will they answer?

If we are being honest with ourselves, the realization that it will take more talent in the Lions defensive front seven than they currently possess to run Matt Patricia’s defense at a championship level shouldn’t be a surprise. But if we look carefully, the Lions defense has some surprising positives.

The Lions currently have the seventh-ranked pass defense in the NFL and are 11th in sacks. The sack ranking is a little bit more impressive when you consider they have played one less game than the majority  of the teams ahead of them and that they are only two sacks away from being tied for fifth place in the league, even without Ezekiel Ansah who has been out injured since the opener against the Jets.

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The secondary, which has been the strength of the defense, has been the catalyst of their success against the pass. As a matter of fact, a good chunk of the Lions sacks have been the result of good coverage rather than a dominant pass-rush.

What this means is that the Lions are actually pretty good at three out of the four phases of playing offense and defense. The lone exception has been the run defense and if they are going to find success, this has to change.

Lions defensive coordinator, Paul Paqualoni, said the main emphasis of the bye week was to try to fix the run defense, but the collective success of the Lions so far has been as a team and will need to continue to be as a team.

The offense will need to make plays both on the ground and in the air. They will need to score early and put the pressure on the Dolphins. Meanwhile, the defense needs to be efficient against the run and opportunistic against the pass.

As my friend and I watched the big game yesterday between Michigan and Michigan State, he turned to me and said, ‘can you imagine what the Lions would be like if their run defense was anything like either of these teams?’

It was certainly an interesting thought process, but my main focus was this; the Lions have survived a shaky start with some help from their divisional foes. Now, what are they going to do about it?

The inconsistency that has been a trait of this franchise for so long needs to be buried. While there are personnel deficiencies, especially on defense, that need to be addressed in the offseason, the point is simple; if every player on offense and defense does their job, they have a chance to take advantage of the opportunity they have been given.

I think we have all seen enough from this team to like the long-term possibilities that can happen when the roster has the players needed and they have gained experience in this system. Yet how they handle the rest of this season will also go a long way towards what we can expect from them in the future.

If they can’t resolve their own self-inflicted wounds, then that isn’t a good sign for down the road. But if they can make the most of their present situation, then that should speak volumes about what Matt Patricia is capable of doing with this team in the long run.