Megatron vs Optimus Ryan

[mmohican29]

I'm confident that Rob will come up with a scheme that will make life very difficult for Matthew Stafford, but what would be the best way to combat CJ's edge vs either Jenkins or Newman?

Also: I know CJ is a deep threat, but he doesn't seem to be a possession type receiver. Should we dare match Ball up on him on the outside with safety help and move Newman to the slot to cover Ryan, w Jenks on Burleson?

Any ideas?

 

[baj1dallas]

I think you'd definitely want Jenkins on Johnson in hopes that he can knock down deep balls, being relatively tall and a good leaper. The way to stop Johnson though is to keep rushing the passer and you do that by forcing one on one against Jeff Backus, who stinks.

 

[realtick]

What "scares" me is that Johnson has wheels, and Stafford has the arm to outthrow the coverage. We won't be seeing a repeats of Jenkins near INT on Grossman's underthrown ball with Stafford and Johnson.

 

[windjc]

What "scares" me is that Johnson has wheels, and Stafford has the arm to outthrow the coverage. We won't be seeing a repeats of Jenkins near INT on Grossman's underthrown ball with Stafford and Johnson.

Stuff the run. Pressure the quarterback. Provide safety help over the top on Calvin. Create turnovers.

That's how to beat Detroit.

This game, like the first 3, will come down to turnovers and 4th quarter execution on both sides of the ball.

Hopefully we can have no bad snaps and have Dez close to 100% with one of the no-names stepping up again as a wideout.

 

[JBell]

Demarcus Ware/Anthony Spencer will be our best option at shutting down Calvin.

Deep routes take time to develop.. gotta get to Stafford before he gets the ball out.

Elam and Sensabaugh have been doing their best Ken Hamlin impressions though... you don't notice them out there, but when's the last time we gave up a deep completion?

They've done an excellent job at defending the deep ball this year, but the true test comes on Sunday.

 

[The Emperor]

Stuff the run. Pressure the quarterback. Provide safety help over the top on Calvin. Create turnovers.

That's how to beat Detroit.

This game, like the first 3, will come down to turnovers and 4th quarter execution on both sides of the ball.

Hopefully we can have no bad snaps and have Dez close to 100% with one of the no-names stepping up again as a wideout.

You make it sound so easy.

 

[nablives]

The Lions run game hasn't been too impressive, so one would think it shouldn't be too difficult to slow them down there. Now that's not necessrily to say their O-line is bad. I keep reading fans (across the internet) proclaim that the Lions O-line is awful. Well maybe they are, but there's 22 teams that have allowed more sacks than they have, and they're passing the ball more than all but 4 teams in the NFL. At the least, that tells me that their pass protection isn't too bad, granted I'd like to see hurries, knock downs, etc. Oh, and Stafford isn't exactly averaging 5.0 Yards Per Completion. He's over 8 yards, which is good, and also suggests that they're not constantly dinking and dunking, or they're pulling off plenty if big plays.

Another key to winning this one might actually be the Cowboys offense sustaining long, time-consuming drives. The Lions run defense hasn't been amazing, although if Fairley comes back, that could be a serious boost.

 

[DetLionsFan]

Stuff the run. Pressure the quarterback. Provide safety help over the top on Calvin. Create turnovers.

That's how to beat Detroit.

This game, like the first 3, will come down to turnovers and 4th quarter execution on both sides of the ball.

Hopefully we can have no bad snaps and have Dez close to 100% with one of the no-names stepping up again as a wideout.

That's how teams used to beat Detroit. The reason it hasn't worked this year is the amount of legit weapons Stafford has now. CJ has the TDs but not the yards or receptions for a reason. Burleson, Young, Best, and our 2 TE's Pettigrew and Sheffler are all targeted often and are big time YAC players, especially Burleson and Best. Stafford has been spreading the ball around, but CJ is the best end zone target in the game right now.

You never single CJ unless you are Revis. He's the only one who has been succesful at man coverage on Calvin.

If you pressure often and you get to him he will throw picks. If you pressure him often and don't get there, he has the arm to burn a defense badly. The OT game winner last week was a 50 yard fronzen rope with a blitzer right in his face. His history shows he is prone to bad throws when he gets hit alot, like most QBs.

 

[Roadtrip635]

This one has the potential of being another ugly game. They don't rush the ball particularly well and I don't see them starting to on Sunday, which means they'll have to rely on the pass. We have a young OLine and key injuries on offense. I think it's going to come down to which defense can force the most mistakes. Stafford may have a strong arm, but he's young and even though he's in his 3rd year, he hasn't played in all that many games. Their OLine is average at best and will have their hands full with DWare and Spencer. Our secondary even though banged up is better than theirs and if our OLine can give Tony some time he will be able to make some plays. I think we win a close one, but it ain't gonna be pretty.

 

[Clove]

I would jam him at the line with Newman, put a safety behind him, jam the other receivers and send the hounds after Stafford repeatedly.

If he doesn't get off the jam in time, it's lights out for Stafford.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

This one has the potential of being another ugly game. They don't rush the ball particularly well and I don't see them starting to on Sunday, which means they'll have to rely on the pass. We have a young OLine and key injuries on offense. I think it's going to come down to which defense can force the most mistakes. Stafford may have a strong arm, but he's young and even though he's in his 3rd year, he hasn't played in all that many games. Their OLine is average at best and will have their hands full with DWare and Spencer. Our secondary even though banged up is better than theirs and if our OLine can give Tony some time he will be able to make some plays. I think we win a close one, but it ain't gonna be pretty.

Sounds like our games up to this point. I'll take that and the win.

 

[JohnsKey19]

Pass rush and eliminating the big play is the best way to limit a great player like Johnson. I'd let Jenkins follow Johnson but always leave help over the top.

But the key is the pass rush. This is NOT the game where we can afford our pass rushers to come up small.

 

[Fletch]

What "scares" me is that Johnson has wheels, and Stafford has the arm to outthrow the coverage. We won't be seeing a repeats of Jenkins near INT on Grossman's underthrown ball with Stafford and Johnson.

Stuff the run and keep everything in front of you with safety help over the top. Must pressure Stafford!

 

[casmith07]

"Optimus Ryan" :laugh2:

Great name for the matchup this week!

 

[BigDinAZ]

What scare me about Ball on CJ is, Alan Ball NEVER looks back for the ball!!!!! He waits till his receiver catches it, and then concentrates on making the tackle.

Ware, Spencer, and Rat will apply good pressure on Stafford. However, Stafford and CJ have built such a confidence in each other, where if Stafford is feeling the heat he will just bomb it in CJ's direction.

Safety help will be KEY in this game. I forsee a lot of wild throws in CJ's direction. Elam and Sensy have to be there to help combat the ball.

 

[Roadtrip635]

What scare me about Ball on CJ is, Alan Ball NEVER looks back for the ball!!!!! He waits till his receiver catches it, and then concentrates on making the tackle.

Ware, Spencer, and Rat will apply good pressure on Stafford. However, Stafford and CJ have built such a confidence in each other, where if Stafford is feeling the heat he will just bomb it in CJ's direction.

Safety help will be KEY in this game. I forsee a lot of wild throws in CJ's direction. Elam and Sensy have to be there to help combat the ball.

Yep, that's the thing, Stafford has learned quick to trust in Calvin and just throw it up. He's big enough and strong enough to win that battle almost every time. Just have to keep the pressure up and force bad throws and bad decisions.

 

[hornitosmonster]

Jam C. Johnson hard at the line and use the sideline. Pressure Stafford (who is not tough) and hit him hard.

 

[tyke1doe]

Elam and Sensabaugh have been doing their best Ken Hamlin impressions though... you don't notice them out there, but when's the last time we gave up a deep completion?

It's been pretty quiet in our secondary, hasn't it?

 

[Hoofbite]

Diggin Optimus Ryan.

Robtimus Prime wouldnt be bad either.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Stafford is a very good QB when he isn't injured.

An interesting stat this year with him is he has put up a 100+ QB rating in all three games so far this season. While that is nice and all. He did it last week too while being sacked five times during that game.