Backup Quarterbacks Woes
Unlike in previous seasons where the first drive of the first preseason game is lead by the starting quarterback Mathew Stafford, this game feature none. Instead we were "treated" to the performances of the two competing for the backup quarterback job, Jake Rudock and Matt Cassel. I think it is safe to say that if Stafford goes down to injury for any period of time this season that the team will be in deep trouble for the duration. Despite the differences in experience levels, styles, and teams they played on, both quarterbacks exhibited the same problems, namely bad decision making and holding on to the ball too long and getting sacked as a result. Neither QB could reliably sustain a drive and both lacked the throwing strength and accuracy to be effective passers.
Run Game Optimism
We saw some life in the run game, possibly for the first time in half a decade. Friday's preseason game against the Raiders feature good runs from Ameer Abdullah (who scored the only Lion's touchdown), Kerryon Johnson and LeGarrette Blount. Zach Zenner even had a nice run thrown in there as well. Johnson was obviously the highlight of the group and very much the back that everyone was looking forward to. He mostly played in the back half of the game against 3rd and 4th string defenses but he was used in both the run game and the passing game. Johnson even had a long run that was called back due to a questionable offensive holding call. Even though there is little to base optimism for the run game on at this point (having only seen one preseason game) I never the less feel optimistic for this teams offense provided that its number 9 leading it (as opposed to 8 or 14).
Defensive 7 Chaos
The front seven on the defense is clearly a work in progress. The defensive line was missing Ziggy to be fair but it seem unable to generate pass pressure or be effective in stopping the run game. I am not surprised at the front line's ineffectiveness as it received the leas attention of the team's needs in the off season but I was surprised by the performance of the linebackers. The seem to leave large gaps for running backs and tight ends to blaze through and always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I do expect this group to get much better as the preseason goes on and as we approach meaningful football as it has to for the team to be as competitive in the NFC as I expect.
Grains of Salt?
To sum things up:
- The team needs to keep looking for a quality backup quarterback as it clearly does not have one right now.
- The Rung game is looking substantially improved at this very early point and I will have to update my 53 man roster prediction in the near future (which I was already planning on doing anyway).
- The new hybrid/flexible defense is a work in progress at this early point and needs a lot more time and effort to work its self out (as well as some additional talent).
There is not a single one of those points that are the least bit surprising to me. Many people have been urging caution about the seemingly improved run game but considering the resources that the team has invested to fix the situation over the last few years our expectations should be this high. When healthy we should have a very good offensive line and we have a wealth of talent in the backfield. I do think the defense will get better (and even in that one game, we only lost it by one possession) and it is hard enough to get a quality starting quarterback yet alone a decent back up. I choose to look at the positive aspect (the run game) of this games as I think it is more meaningful in the long run.
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