Lions film breakdown: Why Detroit struggled in the red zone vs. Bucs

If in case you have been watching soccer lengthy sufficient, then you recognize simply how fickle this recreation could be. Wanting on the field rating of the Detroit Lions’ Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with out realizing the precise final result of the sport, you’d would possibly assume that the house crew gained by a couple of scores. Perhaps extra, relying on a couple of elements.

Sadly for the Lions and what was one other raucous crowd within Ford Area, that wasn’t the case. Regardless of errors by each coaches and gamers alike, the Lions nonetheless had a number of probabilities to return out on prime in opposition to Tampa Bay, earlier than finally falling quick, 20-16.

And if you’re one explicit aspect of the sport the place the Lions may have probably reversed their Week 2 fortunes, look no additional than the offense’s efficiency within the purple zone—an uncharacteristic one-for-seven on the day.

The purple zone is a degree of emphasis for each soccer crew within the historical past of time. Complete durations of apply are usually devoted to working it, and for good purpose. House is proscribed, home windows are tighter, and the necessity for near-flawless execution is turned up a number of notches.

In 2023, the Lions have been top-of-the-line purple zone offenses in all of soccer, so whereas this two-game stretch the place they’ve gone three-for-11 (27.3%) has not been enjoyable to observe, I’m a agency believer in issues getting again on observe.

Earlier than we stay up for the Lions Week 3 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, let’s check out a few of the elements that restricted Detroit’s success within the purple zone in opposition to the Buccaneers.

Third-and-goal on the Tampa Bay 3. 7:19 left in first quarter

To start, one factor I didn’t like about how the Lions have been working within the purple zone was their shotgun utilization. Out of the 19 snaps taken for Detroit contained in the Tampa Bay 20, 16 of them have been with Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff within the gun. And whereas it’s potential to have an efficient operating recreation out of shotgun, most operating backs will inform you that it’s nonetheless not their desire.

After a roughing the passer penalty on Tampa Bay, the Lions had a recent set of downs on the Buccaneers’ 10-yard line. After a throwaway on first down, and a 7-yard rush by operating again David Montgomery on second, the Lions have been now dealing with a third-and-goal from the three.

Initially, the Lions are in 11-personnel with Montgomery on Goff’s left and tight finish Sam LaPorta cut up out vast to the correct of receiver Jameson Williams. Pre-snap, Goff alerts for LaPorta to movement in direction of the formation.

Now subsequent to proper sort out Penei Sewell, Buccaneers’ cornerback Zyon McCollum doesn’t journey with LaPorta—normally an honest indicator to Goff that Tampa Bay goes to be in some type of zone protection. As a substitute, McCollum finally ends up exterior Williams in direction of the boundary, giving him exterior leverage on Williams previous to the ball being snapped.

Williams runs what is actually a pace out in direction of the boundary, and it seems as if Goff has predetermined the place he needs to go along with the soccer. With a defender now in path and one other excessive, this turns into a extremely troublesome throw for any quarterback to make, and Goff finally ends up throwing it out of the attain of anybody.

Detroit would come away with three factors of their very own, making the rating 6-3 in favor of Tampa Bay.

Third-and-10 on the Tampa Bay 18. 13:34 left in second quarter

Later within the recreation with the rating nonetheless 6-3, the Lions as soon as once more discovered themselves within the purple zone, and as soon as once more discovered themselves behind the sticks due to poor execution.

The primary snap was a first-down handoff to operating again Jahmyr Gibbs that resulted in a no acquire due to a pleasant play from Bucs’ linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. On second down, the timing was off between Goff and Williams, leaving the Lions with one other third-and-long scenario to work via.

Again in 11-personnel with Gibbs now cut up subsequent to Goff within the shotgun, vast receiver Kalif Raymond goes in movement in direction of the underside of your display, leaving LaPorta alone to the highest. The Buccaneers solely rush 4, whereas dropping seven into protection. The Lions try to get Gibbs occurring a quick-screen to the correct, however Tampa Bay wasn’t fooled. They shortly rally to the soccer and get the elusive Gibbs onto the bottom, forcing one other Lions subject purpose from kicker Jake Bates.

The design of the display isn’t dangerous, and neither is the execution on this explicit play. But when the protection isn’t fooled by what you might be throwing at them, particularly on third-and-long conditions, your offense goes to have some bother.

Third-and-6 from the Tampa Bay 16. 12:40 left in third quarter

A 15-yard run by Jameson Williams put the Lions contained in the Tampa Bay 20. Sidenote right here to breakup the movie research—extra endarounds for Jameson Williams, please.

A brief move to Kalif Raymond netted the offense 1 yard, Montgomery up the center obtained one other three, and but once more, the offense is in want of a conversion on third down.

This time, newly-signed receiver Tim Patrick is within the ball recreation, alongside receivers St. Brown and Williams. Pre-snap, the Buccaneers are mugging up the road of scrimmage, making Goff suppose twice about the place the potential stress is likely to be coming from.

General, the Lions’ offensive line did a great job of preserving their quarterback clear on this rep, regardless of the sport being run by linebacker Yaya Diaby.

Goff hangs within the pocket, however no one uncovers, and he’s compelled to test the ball all the way down to Montgomery, nicely in need of the primary down marker. That is the place it will get robust to move the ball successfully contained in the purple zone. The Bucs solely rushed 4, leaving seven defenders to cowl up inexperienced grass on the again finish. Take a look at how issues look as soon as everybody drops into protection. Not lots of choices for Goff to work with.

Second-and-16 on the Tampa Bay 28. 7:41 left in fourth quarter

A 24-yard scamper by Gibbs on third-and-4 moved the ball nicely into Tampa Bay territory. Down 20-16, the Lions have been seeking to put one into the endzone and hopefully discover a method to hold on.

After a holding penalty referred to as on All-Professional heart Frank Ragnow put the Lions at second-and-16, the offense was once more in dire want of a giant play. And whereas it doesn’t occur typically for this offensive line, this one was totally on them.

To their credit score, the Buccaneers executed a reasonably candy simulated stress right here—a staple within the Todd Bowles protection. A simulated stress in easy phrases is when a crew blitzes a linebacker or defensive again, whereas concurrently dropping a defensive linemen, normally an edge defender, into protection. So primarily sending a non-traditional rusher after the quarterback, and dropping a standard rusher into protection.

On this occasion, Tampa Bay drops Tryon-Shoyinka into zone protection, and blitzes off-ball linebacker Lavonte David. Gibbs does an honest job of stepping up into the A-gap and slowing down David, however confusion between the road shortly units in, inflicting defensive lineman C.J. Brewer to have a free shot at Goff as he lets go of the ball. Ragnow seems to be to his left to assist Gibbs with David, proper guard Kevin Zeitler turns proper to chip the sting defender being blocked by Sewell, and that’s what causes Brewer to be turned free.

There additionally seems to be some confusion between Goff and Tim Patrick based mostly on the place Patrick ended up on his route, however that difficulty nearly finally ends up being a non-factor with how a lot stress Goff had proper in his lap.

I’m certain this will likely be a giant educating level for Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley this week. With an offensive line filled with veterans, the communication must be higher.

Fourth-and-8 on the Tampa Bay 11. 1:01 left in fourth quarter

That is the place a few of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s calls started to get beneath my pores and skin. At this level within the recreation, we’ve got seen what Tampa Bay needs to do when they’re backed up of their territory on protection. Rush 4, and flood the again finish with defenders who can cowl house and make issues troublesome for Goff to take a shot within the endzone.

They began issues off with a 4-yard loss on a move to Gibbs out of the backfield. The second-year again by no means stood an opportunity, and as quickly as he caught the ball, he had two defenders bearing down on him. On second down they’d get 5 yards again due to a connection to Williams that obtained them out of bounds and stopped the clock.

What do the Bucs do on protection? You guessed it. Rush 4, drop seven. And predictably, the Lions tried one other(!) display to Gibbs on third-and-9 that netted them one yard.

Fourth-and-8 and with the sport on the road, and the outcomes are extra of the identical—a catch behind the first-down marker and Tampa Bay’s protection rallying to the soccer.

Are most of those points correctable? 100% sure. Am I overly involved with what I’ve seen out of the offense via the primary two weeks of the 2024 season? Probably not.

In my view, they should get again to what made them such a potent purple zone offense in 2023. Get Goff beneath heart, and run the ball behind the perfect offensive line within the recreation. Try this, and I imagine all the things else will handle itself.