Poor defensive game-planning

[TheSport78]

You would think with the media and all of the "analysts" talking about how Detroit won't run the football and doesn't have the ability to run the football, that maybe Mike Martz would try to RUN THE BALL. The Lions havn't faced an offense like the Cowboys all year and the logical gameplan for Detroit would be to have a balanced running attack, control the TOP, and keep the Dallas offense off the field. That's exactly what happened! Wade Phillips, Brian Stewart, etc. IMO did not prepare the players for this. It's concerning especially b/c of how poor the DET offensive line is and we not did adjust well defensively throughout the game. I really don't understand what happened because time and time again, defensive players on this team have said this 3-4 defense is ALWAYS "made to stop the run first," and that didn't happen against a terrible OL. I'm happy to be 12-1!!!! lol

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I believe Dallas took Detroit lightly and got a rude awakening!

 

[TheSport78]

I believe Dallas took Detroit lightly and got a rude awakening!

No doubt that happened as well...glad to get the win!

 

[lspain1]

Yeah, our coaches stink. Of course, they're also 12-1. :

 

[Bob Sacamano]

it's poor execution

 

[newlander]

I'm with Bob S. all the way on this one. Our game plan was FINE; but our defense expected to roll their helmets out there and win: still a little young in spots and they found out today it doesn't work that way: EVER in this league. Luckily, Romo bailed them out. Everyone is complaining about the coverage but where the 'F' was the front seven? They were M.I.A. until the last 3 minutes of the game.

 

[Nightman]

With our high powered offense, why would we devise a game plan to keep them off the field? I hate this soft defense, bend but don't break, let them make mistakes scheme.

I would rather have the other team score on a bomb once in a while then give up more 10+ play and 8:00 drives. Our O can't be stopped, please stop shortening the game.

ps- I am thrilled we are 12-1 and I'm thoroughly enjoying the ride.

 

[newlander]

I agree bkight: if someone is dinged: like Henry, then get Reeves back in there and go after some people. Bump, run, blitz.....GET AFTER THEIR ARSES.................GODDARNITT THEY WERE SOFT TODAY.............

 

[DragonCowboy]

With our high powered offense, why would we devise a game plan to keep them off the field? I hate this soft defense, bend but don't break, let them make mistakes scheme.

I would rather have the other team score on a bomb once in a while then give up more 10+ play and 8:00 drives. Our O can't be stopped, please stop shortening the game.

ps- I am thrilled we are 12-1 and I'm thoroughly enjoying the ride.

no the OP is saying that the Lions would want to devise a game plan that would keep the dallas O off the field.

but yeah, the zone D, whether it's game planning or execution, needs some work.

 

[Doomsday]

All you hear is excuses as to why our defense gets lit up. They took them lightly, they had a low avg yards per attempt, it was just one game, the secondary is banged up, the defense is 12-1, they had a let down when Favre went out and on and on. How about we face the facts and just admit this defense isnt very good.

 

[Biggems]

I say let Courtney Brown have a try....i mean he can't do any worse in coverage than we have been seeing with this prevent zone we run.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

The second half Cowboy defense only gave up 7 pts. Cowboys were down 20-14 at halftime. Seems like some halftime adjustments were made. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the game. Most of the run damage by the Lions ocurred in the first half. 20 points to Det in the first half and only 7 points total in the second half. What was the difference between the halves?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

it's funny how 2 defensive gurus in Parcells and Wade Phillips can't manage to put a great 3-4 scheme in place here

is Dallas the defensive Bermuda Triangle?

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

it's poor execution

I will just scream if someone posts "we didnt gameplan for Martz to run on us"

rarghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

All you hear is excuses as to why our defense gets lit up. They took them lightly, they had a low avg yards per attempt, it was just one game, the secondary is banged up, the defense is 12-1, they had a let down when Favre went out and on and on. How about we face the facts and just admit this defense isnt very good.

You forgot one /\

 

[DBoys]

All you hear is excuses as to why our defense gets lit up. They took them lightly, they had a low avg yards per attempt, it was just one game, the secondary is banged up, the defense is 12-1, they had a let down when Favre went out and on and on. How about we face the facts and just admit this defense isnt very good.

Honest post and so true. They will stop making excuses when the defense blows a game in the playoffs. This defense will not win us a Super Bowl.

 

[pugilist]

All you hear is excuses as to why our defense gets lit up. They took them lightly, they had a low avg yards per attempt, it was just one game, the secondary is banged up, the defense is 12-1, they had a let down when Favre went out and on and on. How about we face the facts and just admit this defense isnt very good.

true.dat

 

[Dcz84]

They hit us with the same play over and over taking advantage of our reaction speed, what they did was if the running play went left they would pull there tight end that was set on the left and he would pull to the right side and seal off ware and or Ellis creating a huge cut back lane. I've never seen that type of play before, then to top it off they would throw out of that set to the same TE who was open all day long because we were to worried about the cut back on the play fake. They ran this play 75% of the time on there running plays.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Honest post and so true. They will stop making excuses when the defense blows a game in the playoffs. This defense will not win us a Super Bowl.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think what made it hard was the early success of the running game. By doing this it forced Dallas to respect the run which helped Kitna run play action. Det seem to have a very good mixture of run\pass for most of the game and their players executed very well. Fortunately this defense does have some pride as they held Det from a very critical series right before Det was forced to punt.

 

[DC_Addict]

Why does it always have to be after 'halftime' before we make defensive adjustments? Why didn't we make adjustments in the first quarter after the first few times they ran all over us? It was obvious that the Lions gameplan was to run the ball and take us by surprise. They just kept doing it over and over again. Glad we won but damn it shouldn't ever come down to 4th quarter before we figure out what the other team is doing. I think I had 3 minor heart attacks yesterday.