For the second week in a row, the Lions played defense with 10 men on the field. And for the second week in a row, it ended with the other team in the end zone.
Matt Patricia gave his usual response when asked about the problem after Detroit's loss to the Vikings Sunday: "We have to coach it better."
Defensive coordinator Cory Undlin was much more forthcoming on Monday.
"It's embarrassing is what it is. And I would say this: it's just poor, poor coaching. It's just what it is," Undlin said, who vowed after last week's breakdown to get the issue fixed.
It happened twice in Week 8 against the Colts, including on a successful two-point conversion try for Indianapolis. That was bad enough. Against the Vikings, it resulted in a 70-yard touchdown run for Dalvin Cook.
Undlin, Detroit's first-year defensive coordinator, said it's his job to get the offensive personnel from his staff in the booth and then call the corresponding defense, with each position coach making sure his players are on the field.
"I make the call and that's how it goes down. So when you have 10 guys out there, obviously there was some miscommunication at some point somewhere down the line, and that's it," Undlin said. "It's poor coaching. I met with the whole defense yesterday and I told them exactly the same thing. We're trying to be critical of these guys, we put a lot of pressure on these guys all the time. And then when as coaches we can't get 11 guys out there, that's on us. So the remedy is, we gotta do a better job."
Lions safety and co-captain Duron Harmon said Monday he needs to be more aware of the defensive numbers on each snap. Undlin said it's not Harmon's job.
"Duron's got enough stuff on his plate, OK? He doesn't need to be counting how many guys are on the field. ... That's not on him," Undlin said. "So the remedy is not to let it happen again. And I know I said that last week and I failed you guys at that, I failed the players at that, but ultimately it comes back to me."
