The Lions allowed the most yards and the most points in the NFL in Matt Patricia's final season in Detroit. Two years later, the Lions have allowed the most yards and the most points in the NFL.
Aaron's Glenn's defense was supposed to be better. At the very least, it was supposed to be different. Yet it often bears ugly resemblance to Patricia's, with a lack of pressure up front and cornerbacks being exposed in one-on-one coverage.
"I feel like I’m watching Matt Patricia again," ESPN's Dan Orlovsky said in a film review Tuesday via Twitter.
Orlovsky highlighted two plays from the Lions' 48-45 loss to the Seahawks last Sunday in which Detroit surrendered 555 yards of offense and allowed Geno Smith to post a near-perfect passer rating.
On the first, D.K. Metcalf beats Jeff Okudah for a 54-yard gain on 2nd and 14 with the Lions trailing 24-9 in the second quarter.
"Why are we playing single-high (safety), press-man (coverage) again, guys? Why?" said Orlovsky. "You’ve played so much man in this game early on and Geno has run for two or three first downs because no one’s got eyes on the quarterback. Sure, we can sit here and say, 'Okudah, cover that.' We don’t have to be in 2nd-and-14 single-high press-man. You’re making the QB's job so much easier than it has to be."
And on the second, Tyler Lockett beats Amani Oruwariye for a 34-yard gain on 2nd and 10 with the Lions trailing 38-31 in the fourth quarter. Detroit sent the house and got burned.
"Why? Why all-out zero (blitz)?" said Orlovsky. "It’s 2nd and 10. You’ve gotten your head kicked in in these situations all game by bringing all-out pressure and no eyes on the quarterback and leaving these corners one on one, who might be really good players eventually. As an offensive player, thank you. You’re making my job easy. I don’t have to think. One on one, my guy better than your guy, easy play."
One way or another, the Lions defense will look different Sunday against Patricia and the Patriots. Glenn and Dan Campbell are prepared to adjust both both the scheme and personnel after dissecting the film from the first four weeks of the season. Campbell said Tuesday the Lions have to "calm some things down, go back to the basics and shake up our roster a little bit."
"We’re talking right now about some trust issues: Are you going to be where you’re supposed to be? Can I trust that you’re going to be there and make this call?" Campbell said on 97.1 The Ticket. "A little trust, a little FBI (football intelligence) and a little bit of dog. We’re going to inject some of that into our defense and that can go a long way for us."
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