Pride of Detroit
This week’s Detroit Lions coordinator recap focuses a little more on recapping the loss to the Los Angeles Rams rather than a look forward to the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, it features a lot of interesting topics, including Jameson Williams’ explosion in the past six games, some important self-scout on defense, and a full-throated endorsement of kicker Jake Bates despite some recent struggles.
Here are my six biggest takeaways:
Run game struggles start up front
The Lions running game has been explosive at times, completely neutralized at others. Coming off one of their toughest performances against against the Rams (70 rushing yards, 3.5 YPC), Morton was asked about why the running game has struggled this year more than they historically have. His answer was relatively simple: they need to be better up front.
“Bottom line, it’s just coming off the ball and using the right technique and being disciplined,” Morton said. “That’s the biggest thing. So, I mean, we’ve got the backs and we’re going to get going. Looking forward to this challenge, because historically it’s been tough to run the ball on Pittsburgh, but we feel good this week going into it.”
Jameson Williams’ rise
In Williams’ last six games, he’s produced 31 catches for 581 yards and four touchdowns. Only four other receivers (Puka Nacua, Trey McBride, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Nico Collins) have more yards than Williams over that span. Morton says part of the reason Williams’ production has exploded was the loss of tight end Sam LaPorta, who has missed the last five games. But he also said they are putting more on his plate every week, and he’s rising to the challenge—while also getting some favorable looks from the defense.
“There were certain things he was doing in OTAs and training camp that weren’t going our way in the beginning of the season, now we’re kind of getting those looks,” Morton said. “I’m giving him a little bit more every week, that way we can change it up, that way so they’re not just saying, ‘Oh, he’s just doing this and that.’”
Note: We wrote a solo story on Sheppard’s odd response to criticism of Detroit’s run defense vs. Rams here.
Pass game troubles, more changes coming
While Sheppard may be denying struggles in the run game, he is more than aware of the problems with the team’s pass defense. He took responsibility for the unit’s struggles over the past month, noting that no good coach is going to blame his players. If the players aren’t playing well, it’s on the coaching staff to find what they do well and formulate the scheme around that. So with that in mind, Sheppard promised more changes in personnel and strategy are coming.
“Can’t be hard-headed and say, ‘We have a system. This is what we’re going to do. You either do it or you’re not playing.’ No, that’s B.S. in my opinion, that’s not coaching,” Sheppard said. “Coaching is...
