Detroit Lions: 5 lessons learned in latest loss to Bucs
By Reuben Gasee
#4 – The Lions run defense is getting better
How bad the Lions pass defense is was on full display Saturday as they allowed the Buccaneers to get 491 yards in the air with six passing touchdowns. As the Lions pass defense is weak, the Buccaneers went with a pass heavy game compared to how many times they ran the ball.
The Buccaneers combined for 111 rush yards on 26 runs averaging 4.3 yards a run. Still not great but it’s been better than what we’ve seen in previous games.
Running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn who’s a rookie led the Buccaneers in rush yards with 62 yards on 15 carries. Their other running back in Leonard Fournette ran for 34 yards on nine attempts with a touchdown from four yards out.
The defensive line also seems to be getting to the quarterback a bit more and putting more pressure on him. The Lions recorded only two sacks this game coming from defensive ends Romeo Okwara and Everson Griffen although the latter could have gotten a second one if it wasn’t called back because of a penalty.
There’s still lots of work to be done in stopping the run and putting more pressure on the quarterback but it’s been getting better, especially since Griffen arrived in Detroit.