Will THIS be fixed this year?

[zyxt9]

Yes, the D lacked sacks, but the biggest issue to me was the surrendering of first downs on 3rd and 7+ to go.

Often it seemed the QB had 10+ seconds to throw. Okay, maybe it was actually 5, but you get my point...5 seconds is an eternity for an NFL QB.

Sure they did well versus the run and hopefully the D improves all around, but THIS is the deflating thing that resulted in too many losses. Fix this and they would have won the division last year, IMO. Not that the D will ever be 100% on this, but it sure seemed they were astoundingly terrible at stopping 3rd and long, especially in late 3rd and 4th quarters.

Ironically they seemed decent in 3rd and short.

Maybe LKP has all the stats to (in)validate this?

 

[LKP]

Lions had the best 3rd down stop % in the league. Were you drunk when you watched games?

And it was a lower rate than most teams for the past 7 years.

 

[LKP]

The first stat that doesn?t get enough attention is third down defense. Very simply put, it?s the percentage of third downs that the defense allows the offense to convert into first downs. Since the majority of third downs are passing downs nowadays, this stat is very meaningful in determining how effective a team?s secondary and pass rush are. The Lions finished the season allowing a third down conversion ratio of 30.3%., which was the best ratio in the league ... since 2006. That?s right. Not only did the Lions have the best third down defense in the league, they had the best third down defense since the 2006 Baltimore Ravens.

 

[zyxt9]

Lions had the best 3rd down stop % in the league. Were you drunk when you watched games?

And it was a lower rate than most teams for the past 7 years.

ummm, as I stated, they actually did well on 3rd and short...so not sure why you are bashing me like that. the issue was more with their 3rd and LONG inabilities that shown through late in games.

so, yes, they did a decent job early in games, but the end of games it seemed they were incapable.

 

[LKP]

They allowed 64 out 211(attempts) 3rd down conversions. I'm sure you see more pass than rush obviously since teams throw alot more on 3rd down.

 

[tomdalton22]

so they were good at stopping 3rd downs but gave up long TDs on 1st and 2nd downs!

 

[LKP]

So far in the 4th Quarter in losses
at Zona 1/3 conversion (the only one allowed was the Bentley PI that allowed a TD later)
at GB 2/5
Cincy 0/2
at Pit 3/4 (and allowed 4th down after one 3rd down stop). Note this game missing Ansah, Jones, Bentely and Quin
Tampa 1/4. Allowed first down run 1 yard then big play to Underwood

 

[zyxt9]

yeah, looking back it seems they actually did ok with this in the early part of the year. maybe I'm just remembering the end of the year when the team imploded?

 

[tomdalton22]

yeah, looking back it seems they actually did ok with this in the early part of the year. maybe I'm just remembering the end of the year when the team imploded?

it makes the defense look worse when Stafford is giving them good field position or just giving their defense a pick 6.

 

[LKP]

at Philly 1/3 but McCoy ran wild early and Eagles converted the two 4th downs after 3rd down stops
Baltimore went 1/5 but hit a miracle 61 yard FG (good ST return on that drive)
Giants 1/6 but converted 4th down
Vikings 0/2 (but ran well on 1st and 2nd on last drive to eat up clock)

9/31=29 % But allowed 4/4 4th down conversions. Combined together that is 37% in 4th Qtr in 9 losses.

 

[LKP]

it makes the defense look worse when Stafford is giving them good field position or just giving their defense a pick 6.

Bucs and Giants the pick 6s cost us. Not the only play of the game though.

Ravens game was special teams KR by Jones then one big pass play on 2nd down.

Bengals game shanked punt late.

Vikings game allowed a 50 yard punt return before Patterson TD in redzone.

The Lions defense was much better than it looked. 34 turnovers (not just Stafford) screwed them.

 

[LKP]

So out of all those 9 losses, the defense sucked 3 times. at Zona, at Pittsburgh(with many hut) and at Philly (couldn't stop McCoy in snow)

Ebron was the right pick.

 

[Mitchrapp]

So out of all those 9 losses, the defense sucked 3 times. at Zona, at Pittsburgh(with many hut) and at Philly (couldn't stop McCoy in snow)

Ebron was the right pick.

So how many did the offense suck..

 

[Mitchrapp]

Bucs and Giants the pick 6s cost us. Not the only play of the game though.

Ravens game was special teams KR by Jones then one big pass play on 2nd down.

Bengals game shanked punt late.

Vikings game allowed a 50 yard punt return before Patterson TD in redzone.

The Lions defense was much better than it looked. 34 turnovers (not just Stafford) screwed them.

23 were his fault..which is way too many. And he was fortunate most of his fumbles were recovered..

 

[LKP]

23 were his fault..which is way too many. And he was fortunate most of his fumbles were recovered..

Only 12 of the picks were Staffords fault and 2 fumbles. So 14 of the 34.

 

[LKP]

23 were his fault..which is way too many. And he was fortunate most of his fumbles were recovered..

Most of his fumbles weren't recovered in the non blizzard games. That rate is skewed by one game recovering snaps.

 

[dubbsco]

LKP, is there anything that you actually hold the Lions responsible for?

 

[atxlion82]

LKP, is there anything that you actually hold the Lions responsible for?

Having a Super Bowl caliber team and having the worst injury/fumble recovery luck in the NFL.

 

[LKP]

LKP, is there anything that you actually hold the Lions responsible for?

Lions were accountable for 30 of the 34 turnovers. Stafford 14 of them.

I don't know what you are assuming that I don't hold players accountable. I just give the entire picture.

 

[tomdalton22]

Lions were accountable for 30 of the 34 turnovers. Stafford 14 of them.

I don't know what you are assuming that I don't hold players accountable. I just give the entire picture.

So, Stafford had 21 turnovers but only 14 were his fault...the Lions had 34 and only 30 were the Lion's fault?