Detroit Lions: Darrell Bevell hire comes a year too late

So, of course, the question is always about quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is supposed to lead this team to postseason success. But has gotten no where close to it. Shep pushed Twentyman on Stafford’s role, and the plan is sound – at least in theory:

"“(Bevell) can put a game plan together that’s different from week to week. And I say that because you look at some of his offenses would be run heavy one week. You know, Seattle would run the ball forty times. But then you’d get another week where (quarterback) Russell Wilson would go off for three hundred yards and three touchdowns. So, it’s that adaptability that I think is going to be good here in Detroit.“"

Adaptability sounds great. The New England Patriots have made yet another Super Bowl run this year because they are able to adjust their game plans between run and pass. Their Super Bowl opponent – the Los Angeles Rams – also feature both a run and pass game that is equally effective.

This is where the Detroit Lions need to get. There is an obsession with the passing numbers, but being able to run the ball only makes the passing game that much more efficient. But implementing that balance is yet another challenge ahead.

Last year’s offense was a complete and utter joke. The fall guy for that is former offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. Honestly, I don’t believe that after two plus years of helping Matthew Stafford to his best play, Jim Bob forgot how to coach last year. So, the blame might not be fair.

Then there is Stafford, who played awful last year. That may have been due to some lingering injuries. The prevailing thought is that Stafford lost something last year. If he is on a downward tread career wise, then all hope is lost for the 2019 Detroit Lions. But there is another possible explanation.