Lombardi

[kdp1980]

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/10/detroit_lions_oc_joe_lombardi_4.html



Detroit Lions' Joe Lombardi admits play-calling gaffes, seeks to put Matthew Stafford in better situations



By*Justin Rogers | [email protected]*
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on October 16, 2014 at 3:48 PM


ALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi is still finding his way in his new role. The rookie play-caller will tell you he's made some questionable decisions on early downs, including having an offensive guard run a route in the red zone, and he still working on finding the right set of plays to put his quarterback in a position to succeed.

But it has been far from a total disaster to start the season. Lombardi likes the way his unit has protected the ball, minimized mistakes, and done enough to help the team get off to*a 4-2 start that has the Lions atop the NFC North heading into Sunday's contest against the New Orleans Saints.

"Our first goal is to not beat ourselves," Lombardi said. "We've had a couple games where we've had too many turnovers, but for the most part, I think we're starting to minimize some of those things. That's the thing we're most encouraged by is we're not beating ourselves. Now it's time to pick it up and start beating people."

For the Lions to start putting away opponents with their potentially high-powered offense, they'll need to start finding ways to more consistently move the chains and put points on the board. The team currently ranks 14th in total offense and a dismal 27th in scoring at 19.7 points per game.

While injuries to Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush, LaAdrian Waddle, Joseph Fauria and Joique Bell have been a factor, Lombardi feels he's contributed to the**issues by making some aggressive play calls on first downs that have backfired and put the team in*a hole on later downs.

"I feel like I've made certain calls in situations that has put us in some tough (spots)," he said. "We've had unusually large amounts of second-and-longs and third-and-longs. Certainly I'm not going to take the blame for all of that, but there have been some, I guess you could say, aggressive play calls that if I had back, maybe you call something a little safer."

Lombardi highlighted the trick play he called last week as a example.

Nursing a 7-0 lead in the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit's struggling offense worked its way into the red zone for just the second time in the contest. That's when Lombardi decided to dial*up a pass play for 330-pound guard Larry Warford, hoping to surprise the defense.*

Instead, the play resulted in a sack and a loss of four yards. After another sack on third down, the Lions settled for a 44-yard field goal attempt that kicker Matt Prater missed off the left upright.

"It sure seemed like a good idea in practice," Lombardi said. "We call that an outhouse-or-castle play. You're either in the outhouse or (the castle). It turned out to be an outhouse play. There have been a few of those, whether it's a bad play call, bad execution, bad luck, that I'd certainly like to have that one back."

The end of that drive*highlighted another problem Lombardi has struggled to correct*--*the amount of punishment quarterback Matthew Stafford has taken this season. He's already*been sacked 21 times.

Against the Vikings, the Lions*simplified their run blocking*to get the offensive line back on track with that aspect of the game. Lombardi admitted he's working on something similar to help keep Stafford off the ground.

"Pass blocking, we certainly have a number of protections, but I think it's more the timing of the routes, making sure the quarterback is getting the ball out of his hand on time and calling some plays that develop a little bit quicker," he said. "Some of it is me having a better feel for understanding what (Stafford) is comfortable with so I'm not calling these plays in my mind are like, 'Hey, these are great ones,' but sometimes a quarterback has a different feel for different plays. It's us coming to understand exactly what he's comfortable with, communicating with him, and making sure we're getting him in the right situations."

Lombardi will look to get the Lions offense humming*against the team that employed him as their quarterbacks coach the past five seasons. New Orleans comes into the contest ranking 25th in total defense and 28th in scoring defense.*

 

[lgolfer]

Nice to see that he's willing to accept some of the blame and understands the ball needs to get out quicker some times. I'm hoping he'll be able to make good adjustments and the offense improves. If our defense can keep it up, we could really make a run with a good offense.

 

[kdp1980]

Trick play in the red zone just baffles me. Offensive line can't block for shit with quick receivers out there, and we put one of our olinemen out there trying to catch a pass. Silly

 

[zyxt9]

Only took how many weeks to see that Staff needs to get the ball out quicker via play calling and routes???

I'll give him slack as it is his first year, but seriously it should not take weeks to diagnose what fans are capable of doing while watching the initial game that showcases the problem. Obviously he has far more going on than the fans in terms of having to pay attention to thousands of little things, but on the flip side it is his job now to notice those things far faster. Hopefully all of this leaves a lasting impression.

Unfortunately though, by the comments, he is going to become less aggressive, which is the opposite of what needs to happen. Stop the trick plays, yes...but don't stop being aggressive, just call smarter plays at better times which is more about having a proper feel for the game than anything else, and that comes with experience IMO.

 

[mhughes0021]

aka...Stafford is uncomfortable with the offense.

 

[tonyballs]

aka...Stafford is uncomfortable with the offense.

You would be to if you took a snap and immediately a defensive player is in your grill. It's up to Lombardi to put his QB in a comfortable setting. The OLine can't run or pass block, our RBS are doing nothing up until last game and Stafford seems gun shy. They're still 14th in total offense, but scoring is for shit. The whole thing needs to be re-addressed.

Nothing wrong with being uncomfortable in a offense, but you better right that ship right away. Don't forget, Stafford under Schwartz was a carefree QB with not too many responsibilities. His coaches were a joke, his HC was a joke. It was playgroundesque. Now, he's in a totally different system. He's not bitching, he's not pointing fingers. He's being a TEAM guy. Gotta get healthy and gotta work out the kinks.

 

[kdp1980]

I think the most frustrating thing about this season has been the sacks. What the fuck happened? Guys in the backfield almost immediately, and Stafford is getting hammered out there. I want to Caldwell make an example out of these olinemen that aren't doing their jobs out there.

 

[tonyballs]

I think the most frustrating thing about this season has been the sacks. What the fuck happened? Guys in the backfield almost immediately, and Stafford is getting hammered out there. I want to Caldwell make an example out of these olinemen that aren't doing their jobs out there.

I don't think Caldwell is that guy. If you're looking for a HC who is going to rant and rave, point out individual players while frothing at the mouth, you're in for a long season. This guy is about team and he may say that certain players "need to get better", but I don't think he's throwing anybody under the bus. Now, by saying that...is that a good thing? All depends on how the players react to his reactions. Football is a complicated sport. It's a reactionary game from top to bottom.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

Unfortunately though, by the comments, he is going to become less aggressive, which is the opposite of what needs to happen. Stop the trick plays, yes...but don't stop being aggressive, just call smarter plays at better times which is more about having a proper feel for the game than anything else, and that comes with experience IMO.

Being more conservative isn't bad as long as it works more consistently. Sometimes you have to be more aggressive (3rd and long), just as sometimes it's better to be more conservative (3rd and inches). Being aggressive isn't inherently good (aggressive playcalling also can lead to more turnovers, which our offense can't currently overcome).

The fact is, the team has struggled to block for deep routes or move the ball on the ground. Rather than being aggressive every down until we hit a 10+ yard play, we might be able to generate more first downs by settling for more 3-6 yard plays that the offense can execute more often. Maybe then we also aren't kicking as many 44+ yard FGs if the drive does stall before the end zone.

But a lot of it is on Stafford too. He needs to make quicker decisions. Early on we saw Stafford even scramble for first downs because he saw the opening and made the decision to run right away. Now he's just getting antsy in the pocket (for good reason) and running away from defenders before the pocket has actually broken down; making easy passes harder and taking more sacks than he should. I'm glad Lombardi has owned up to his faults so far, now let's just hope he can do what he says by putting Stafford in better position to succeed.

 

[kdp1980]

Caldwell has gotta be that guy, accountability was one of his main points the second he was hired, right? What I've read is that he was a mild mannered coach that didn't have to scream to get his point across. This must not be working with the offensive lineman. I don't even know who's mostly to blame. If it is in fact Dom like I've heard around this board, then there is no fix, cuz Swanson isn't ready. This season would go up in smoke quickly with Stafford getting hurt.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

Caldwell has gotta be that guy, accountability was one of his main points the second he was hired, right? What I've read is that he was a mild mannered coach that didn't have to scream to get his point across. This must not be working with the offensive lineman. I don't even know who's mostly to blame. If it is in fact Dom like I've heard around this board, then there is no fix, cuz Swanson isn't ready. This season would go up in smoke quickly with Stafford getting hurt.

We don't know that he isn't lighting a fire under these guys though, we only know that it's not something he's saying in press conferences. That's the way it should be. What would it help to call out Dom (known to be a hothead) in the media? Now Dom spends more time combating journalists instead of focusing on his assignments? No thanks.

None of know what his disciplinary practices are, but there's already a lot more accountability in terms of discipline. Playing poorly is not the same as playing undisciplined. Dom, for example, has always been a very smart player who reads coverages well. He's also always been physically overmatched in his career. With the rest of the team playing smarter/more disciplined, I don't believe that lack of accountability is the issue.

 

[kdp1980]

Disciplinary action might not help Dom though, maybe he's just shot. We be fucked at Center this year without signing another veteran center that has something left in the tank, unless there is someone on the roster now that could man the center spot until Swanson is ready (whenever that may be)

 

[kdp1980]

With how terrible the oline has been, are we looking elsewhere or bringing anybody in for a look?

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

I haven't heard/read anything about the team bringing in anyone to take a look. But some of that is understandable. Waddle just returned from injury recently and there's evidence to suggest he'll get better. Warford is still holding down the fort. Reiff is never going to be an elite LT, but he's not getting blown up all the time. There is reason to suspect the line can improve without getting new players. At worst we are probably looking for a new OG (Sims) and RT next year.

 

[mhughes0021]

I haven't heard/read anything about the team bringing in anyone to take a look. But some of that is understandable. Waddle just returned from injury recently and there's evidence to suggest he'll get better. Warford is still holding down the fort. Reiff is never going to be an elite LT, but he's not getting blown up all the time. There is reason to suspect the line can improve without getting new players. At worst we are probably looking for a new OG (Sims) and RT next year.

and we have that high round back up center.....we could use him one of these days. Right now hes in charge of making sure the Gatorade is full.

 

[LKP]

Rumor is Swanson may play some blocking TE this week with Ebron and Fauria down.

 

[Mitchrapp]

I haven't heard/read anything about the team bringing in anyone to take a look. But some of that is understandable. Waddle just returned from injury recently and there's evidence to suggest he'll get better. Warford is still holding down the fort. Reiff is never going to be an elite LT, but he's not getting blown up all the time. There is reason to suspect the line can improve without getting new players. At worst we are probably looking for a new OG (Sims) and RT next year.

Not sure there's an opportunity but I'd try and get a LT, a really good one, and move Reiff to RT. That would help a bunch imo.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

Look, I wasn't a fan of the Swanson pick from the beginning, so I'm not going to go out and say that he would make a difference. His scouting report made him out to be a lot like Raiola: physically weak, not particularly athletic, but smart and experienced.

Getting an elite LT always helps, but probably doesn't fit our current cap structure.

 

[dubbsco]

And yet, in that "playground" style system, Stafford had his best year and got universal praise from the Stafford slaps. Sometimes it's okay to actually question whether or not a player is truly great.

 

[dubbsco]

That is the scouting report on Swanson. He is basically Raiola Part 2, he will be over matched by a lot of DTs, but will survive on competitiveness and intelligence. Sounds familiar.