How are the Detroit Lions doing? And the survey says…
By Robert Jones
Customer satisfaction
While many fans were cautiously optimistic about the Detroit Lions offense entering the 2019 season, it was the defense that had them excited. After starting the season ice cold last year, general manager Bob Quinn acquired Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison and suddenly the defense took off.
They did an about-face and finished the season as the number 10 overall defense in the NFL. A performance, if it had carried over, that would still have the Lions in contention today.
Instead, the defense has been awful. The defensive line has had injury issues and been unable to consistently get to or even pressure opposing passers. Meanwhile, the linebackers have been as much to blame for all the issues this unit had through the first half of the season stopping the run as any other unit.
Truth be told, the linebackers play actually seemed to be more consistent in the first few games when Jarrad Davis was out with injury. Not to point the finger at him for all the issues surrounding the linebackers, but he does continue to be inconsistent and it shows in the lack of defensive stops.
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Let’s be honest, as the season has unfolded, have any fans actually felt like this defense was capable of closing out an opponent to win a game?
This defense is Matt Patricia’s brainchild and it is also not completely devoid of talent. Trey Flowers has fought injuries this season but has played well over the last several games when he’s been healthy.
Darius Slay, Devon Kennard, and Tracy Walker have all been solid contributors this season while Da’Shawn Hand, Jahlani Tavai, and Will Harris have all continued to show potential.
Is that enough talent alone to make a great defense? No, but given some solid performers around them, they should at least be average. Unfortunately, the Lions defense can only aspire to be average right now.
So if Martha Firestone Ford really wants to know how satisfied the fan base of her team is, we should oblige her and let her know.
The negatives of a team that cannot perform well defensively when their head coach is a defensive specialist is alarming. Matt Patricia’s general ability to relate to his team has improved from last season.
This is punctuated by the fact that they have played hard for him, but if they can’t win games, they have to at least make progress. Yes, the offense is making progress and if healthy could be very good, but the defense has regressed.
I still say that defense wins championships and the Lions record this season is a testament to that very fact. They have found ways to get the lead each week, even when Matthew Stafford has been out injured, yet the defense is unable to close out their opponents and invariably has doomed this franchise to another disappointing and unacceptable season.
If the Detroit Lions franchise truly wants its fans to be satisfied and happy with the product, then the answer is simple; fix the defense, win the division and make a playoff run.
I realize it’s too late to do so this season, but if the plan is to have Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia return next year, then that has to be the mandate. No more talk about having to do their jobs better. Get it right or we need to find someone who will.
Only when the Lions are real contenders will the sour taste of 60 plus years of unacceptable football be set aside. Only when this franchise is no longer pretending to be something special, but actually is special, will the fans have complete satisfaction.
Next. Ranking the top 10 quarterbacks in Lions history. dark
Until then, the truth is that the Detroit Lions are not satisfactory and no amount of stadium bling or customer service can make up for fans watching this team be a continual laughing stock. If the Ford family took losing as personally as the fans do, then they would find a solution. Thank you for the survey.