Season Opener.. Some things never change..
Sun, Sep 7
Final 1 2 3 4 Tot
Detroit 0 14 7 0 21
Atlanta 21 0 10 3 34
Preview | Box | At the Stadium | Recap
Leader Detroit Atlanta
Passing J. Kitna 262 M. Ryan 161
Rushing K. Smith 48 M. Turner 220
Receiving C. Johnson 107 M. Jenkins 62
Schedule 2008
Week Date Opp Info
1 9/7 @ Atl L 34-21
2 9/14 vs. GB
3 9/21 @ SF
4 Bye Week
5 10/5 vs. Chi
6 10/12 @ Min
7 10/19 @ Hou
8 10/26 vs. Was
9 11/2 @ Chi
10 11/9 vs. Jac
11 11/16 @ Car
12 11/23 vs. TB
13 11/27 vs. Ten
14 12/7 vs. Min
15 12/14 @ Ind
16 12/21 vs. NO
17 12/28 @ GB
Lions' poor tackling about talent, not coaching
Atlanta's Michael Jenkins heads to the end zone for a first-quarter touchdown against the Lions on Sunday on the third play from scrimmage.ATLANTA -- Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson created something a stir last week when he officially changed his name to Chad Ocho Cinco, reflecting the number on his uniform (85).
In light of their embarrassing 34-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, perhaps the Detroit Lions should change their name to reflect their brand of football over the last eight years: Washington Generals.
The Lions, like those lovable losers who could never beat the Harlem Globetrotters, just can't win. The only difference, of course, is the Generals weren't really trying to win while the Lions actually are trying to be competitive.
Which, of course, raises a lot of questions about this Lions team:
Big picture, what's the problem?
Exactly what I said in last week's column: The offense is good but it doesn't matter when you have a defense -- particularly a front seven -- that can't stop anybody. The offense basically has to score every time they touch the ball to stay in the game. Every mistake by the offense is magnified because it usually ends up in points for the other team.
If poor tackling really was the biggest problem, can it be corrected?
Well, the coaches and players can talk all they want about going back to work and emphasizing this and that, but poor tackling isn't about coaching, it's about a lack of talent. Now you know why the Lions tried so hard to upgrade their linebackers in the offseason, hotly pursing both Jonathan Vilma and Takeo Spikes.
The Lions aren't going to tackle this poorly in every game, but this performance should be a daunting reminder that this team is capable of this kind of meltdown at any point.
There seemed to be a lot of frustration between the coaches and players during the game, including a minor dustup between quarterback Jon Kitna and receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. Are the coaches losing control?
I don't think it's gotten anywhere close to that kind of situation yet, but there's definitely trouble brewing. The coaching staff has to get their act together, too. On the second play of the game, the Lions screwed up a personnel change and only had 10 men on defense. How can that happen? What could have possibly happened that caught the coaching staff that off guard?
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And, offensively, they've got to get a better flow and understanding with their personnel. Kitna obviously was confused -- and frustrated -- by what he was seeing. If those issues begin to boil over, it could be a long year.
The Lions made a lot of substitutions during the game, some because of injury and apparently some because of performance. Is that going to continue?
Coach Rod Marinelli doesn't seem to be the sort who is going to let the same guys keep killing him week after week but, in the end, he doesn't have a lot to work with. By the way, they don't refer to it as a player getting benched -- they're just "part of the rotation.''
And that's the problem with this team. There aren't enough solid players who never should be taken off the field. They have too many "rotation'' players.
Speaking of which, wasn't Ikaika Alama-Francis supposed to compete for the starting left defensive end job? Not only did he not win it, but rookie Cliff Avril beat him out for the backup gig and Alama-Francis was inactive against the Falcons. Is this the first significant sign that Alama-Francis, last year's second-round pick, is a bust?
The Lions can give all the excuses they want about it not being the right matchup or scheme or whatever reason for Alama-Francis not to play, but, no matter how you slice it, it's not a good sign.
Whether it's a "numbers'' game or not, you play your best players and Alama-Francis, who has the added bonus of playing both inside and outside, simply wasn't good enough to make the active list.
Having said that, don't count out Alama-Francis just yet. Remember, Jared DeVries was inactive for the first two games last year but was forced back into the rotation because of injury and he went on to have a career year.
There's a long way to go before any final determinations are to be made but, clearly, Alama-Francis isn't headed in the right direction.
Should the Lions get any credit for clawing back into the game in the second quarter?
Yes, they should. But more blame should go to Atlanta coach Mike Smith for some of the worst coaching I've ever seen in the NFL. His team is ahead 21-7, they have a rookie quarterback and they field a punt at their own 12-yard line with 1:32 left in the first half.
The Lions already had used up all of their timeouts.
Smith and the Falcons should have run the ball three straight times and gone into the locker room with a comfortable lead. Instead, he runs it once, throws twice -- one was a near sack/fumble and the other was nearly intercepted. The incompletions stopped the clock and the Lions got the ball back and were able to score a touchdown to make it 21-14.
Give the Lions credit for pulling it off, but they only were able to do so because of the lunacy of Smith.
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