NFL Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions’ 2014 Midseason Grade

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By @BrianKalchik

Theo Riddick

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Just like last season, the Detroit Lions are off to a hot start at 6-2. After being surprisingly quiet in free agency and spending high draft picks on rookies who didn’t fill positions of need, there was no reason to suggest that the 2014 Lions would accomplish much. However, after eight weeks, the Lions, and particularly their defense, are the catalysts to another fast start. With Jim Caldwell replacing Jim Schwartz as head coach and coordinators Joe Lombardi (offense) and Teryl Austin (defense) replacing Scott Linehan and Gunther Cunningham, respectively, the Lions are better off this season than they were at this time a year ago.

Despite having the league’s No. 1 ranked defense, the Lions have shown signs of vulnerability despite their solid record. The main examples of this came in Week 7 and Week 8 against the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons. The Lions trailed by double-digits in the second halves of both games, but due to second-half collapses by both teams, Detroit would be hovering around .500 instead of being in first place in the NFC North.

Offensively, Matthew Stafford has been inconsistent this season, but he hasn’t had his full complement of weapons to work with this season. Players like Calvin Johnson, Joseph Fauria, Eric Ebron, Reggie Bush and Joique Bell have all missed time with injuries, which have resulted in Stafford’s unspectacular numbers. What’s most concerning about the offensive unit is that the Lions have been poor at running the ball and even worse at pass protecting. Detroit is only ranked  31st in rushing yards per game, and the offensive line has already given up 24 sacks, third most in the league. On the bright side, Golden Tate has been valuable to a receiving corps that has been decimated by injury. Tate has has recorded a team-high 55 receptions for 800 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, the Lions are ranked No. 1 overall, but it is easy to accomplish that feat when playing against mediocre quarterbacks like Geno Smith, Kyle Orton and Teddy Bridgewater. However, the Lions’ defense has recorded 23 sacks, nine interceptions and three fumble recoveries on the season, showing that they can make big plays that can change a game’s momentum in their favor. Despite losing middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch for the rest of the season and likely defensive tackle Nick Fairley for a significant stretch, the Lions have not missed a beat on that side of the ball.

Special Teams has been the biggest disaster for the Lions. Detroit has already gone through three kickers this season and gave up on seventh-round pick Nate Freese after just three games. So far, Detroit’s kickers have made only one field goal in the 40-49 yard range and missed 10 field goals in 19 attempts. Punter Sam Martin has nailed less than half of his punts inside the 20 and Jeremy Ross, who scored two return touchdowns last year, has been unable to do anything so far.

The Lions have done what they needed to do so far, which is to win the games they are supposed to. However, the schedule gets even tougher after the bye week. In Weeks 10-12, the Lions face an improved Miami Dolphins team at home followed by back-to-back road games against the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals and the AFC East-leading New England Patriots. After this stretch of games, we will know whether Detroit is worthy of being a playoff contender, or if the 2014 Lions are just like the 2013 Lions, a team that collapsed in the second half of the season after getting off to a fast start.

Midseason grade: B+

Brian Kalchik is a Detroit Lions writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

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