The Lions’ 46-21 blowout loss to the Titans Sunday was a prime example of the challenge awaiting their new regime.
Bob Quinn left the cupboard nearly bare. The Lions only have a handful of players to build around, if that, and no apparent genuine difference makers.
Frank Ragnow, who didn’t play Sunday because of injury, is an excellent center. Taylor Decker is a pretty good left tackle. They should be solid. They were first-round draft picks and Decker already has a hefty contract extension. Tight end T.J. Hockenson has some promise, as does running back D’Andre Swift, although each turned in pedestrian performances Sunday. In an ideal world, the Lions would re-sign injured wide receiver Kenny Golladay, but at what cost? Likely not at what Golladay is expecting.
There is nothing of substance on defense other than perhaps an OK gap-control defensive tackle in John Penisini, and that’s a bit of a reach, and former Patriots Jamie Collins and Trey Flowers, who are vastly overly compensated.
It’s no mistake the Titans methodically put 46 points on the board. Predictably, Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill dominated.
And that’s before you get to the real elephant in the room, the Matthew Stafford decision.
The Lions’ lack of talent should dictate Stafford’s departure. The Lions are more than a few roster moves from any sort of contention. If they can get sufficient draft capital for Stafford, the Lions should move on from him with no regrets.
Stafford is not going to reach his team goals if he remains in Detroit, either. The Lions need to take a stride back so they can take several forward rather than running in place.
Ask yourself this question, Would the Lions’ chances of beating the Titans have been any less if Chase Daniel started at QB instead of Stafford?
It’s not going to be different next season.
The key is being willing to listen to GM and coaching candidates. If someone interviews and says the Lions’ have “a talented team,” which owner Shiela Ford Hamp said when Quinn and Matt Patricia were fired, or that Stafford is playing at a “high level,” which team president Rod Wood said on 97.1 The Ticket Friday, they aren’t being honest.
The truth is clear about the Lions.
We’ll see if they wise up and handle it for a change.
