Lose in the trenches and you lose games
The Lions got absolutely dominated Sunday up front. Stafford was seven for 20 under pressure which in my book is job one well done.
The Vikings got up in the face of the Lions offensive line and they buckled. The run game was taken away early and it forced Detroit to throw, throw, throw. I don’t care who you are, if your team doesn’t run block it puts the run game at an extreme disadvantage. Shariff Floyd continuity ate the interior of the o-line up allowing Brian Robison and Everson Griffen to have play dates in the Lions backfield.
Offensive tackles Riley Reiff and Cornelius Lucas looked more like turnstiles than NFL tackles. This goes back to the lack of giving your team what’s needed. Right tackle Joseph Barksdale who was a good run blocker for the Rams last season was available late in free agency and Lions didn’t even go after him.
Then you look over the past two drafts where the Lions took a tight end in Eric Ebron while passing on offensive tackle Taylor Lewan then draft Laken Tomlinson… a guard that isn’t ready while still failing to address right tackle in the third round this past draft when TJ Clemmings was available.
On the d-line front, defensive end Ziggy Ansah had a decent game but that was it. It’s clear Baltimore knew Ngata was on his last leg and looks so far toasted you have to question whether it’s his age, missing camp or both? The rest of the line looked like what they are, rotational or backup players.
