Church of Schwartz

1. How do you fix our special teams units? (After, of course, firing Stan Kwan)

Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: Regarding the Lions special teams units, there is nothing they can do but continue to emphasize that crucial aspect of their team (via meetings, additional drills, etc.). They obviously need to make it even more of a priority than it has already been. It makes you wonder, though. Their obvious lack of preparation there, doesn’t reflect too well upon Jim Schwartz as a head coach, does it? Especially with them having a recent bye week, where they had ample opportunity to address their concerns (personnel, self-evaluation, film study, etc.) there.

If teams weren’t already aware of the Lions special teams struggles, in both coaching and personnel, than they certainly know about it now. I fully expect to see the full gamut of trickery and gadget plays tossed at the Lions. Until they have proven to have tightened up this area of their game, they deserve to continue to be embarrassed with plays like Sunday’s fake field goal.

I am also ready for more personnel/roster shuffling on the special teams. Derrick Williams appears to be a wasted pick, is it too late to bring back old reliable, Aveion Cason? I am glad that Zach Follett has earned some time on special teams and seems to have performed well there. It shouldn’t go unrecognized,either. Other players should earn a similar opportunity, if necessary.

I guess that I am really surprised that there hasn’t been more continuity from Chuck Priefer to Stan Kwan, who was Priefer’s assistant for several seasons. Priefer and the Lions special teams seemed to be one of it’s few strong points during recent seasons.

Ty, The Lions in Winter: Oh man, what a loaded question. The post-game quotes from the Rams indicated that every time the Lions line up the way they lined up to defend that field goal, it’s hard rush from the right. They knew they could throw it over our rush, and it worked to perfection. That’s just being outcoached, pure and simple. Follett’s emergence on special teams might help set the tone, but at this point the Lions simply need better coaching from Kwan. I don’t know how they’re going to coax a better performance out of him, but the Lions’ special teams units have got to stop costing the Lions games. They weren’t going to win many, but given their current record, squandering any victories is a crime.

Big Al, The Wayne Fontes Experience: Good drafting in the lower rounds. Find a few undrafted college free agent diamonds in the rough. Using the waiver wire judiciously. Hiring a new special teams coach…who knows what the Hell he’s doing. More than a little luck.

In other words, there is no quick fix, save for putting more of your starters on special teams, and that’s not going to happen. A long term fix can be found, but it’ll take good scouting. Which was nowhere to be found during the Millen years, and a big reason why special teams are in such disarray today.

Special teams are normally manned by backups and specialists whom are found staring for small schools, starting as role players at big schools, and sometimes under rocks and off the street. Meaning they are found late in the draft, signed off of waivers and as undrafted free agents. The sort of players you depend upon your scouting department to identify.

An example of such a player would be the Lions’ 7th round pick out of Cal, special teams demon Zack Follett. He may not have the skills to be much more than a backup as a linebacker, but has a nose for the football, and is absolutely fearless. From all accounts, Follett may also be just a little crazy.

He’s perfect for special teams.

Find a handful of players like Follett, and your coverage teams are set. But finding more Zack Folletts will take time, in drafting well over the next couple of years.

That, and making sure nothing happens to Dorian Gray…uh…I mean…the ageless Jason Hanson.

Josh, Roar of the Lions: This is not an easy determination to make. Sure, the Fake FG and the setup on the field for it was an obvious coaching blunder. But how about the bad angles and missed tackles on coverage units? The lack of anyone sparking anything as a returner? There have been decent creases at times in the return game, but the returners either haven’t seen them, or didn’t have the ability to take advantage of it. After a horrible outing in the first Bears game, Nick Harris seems to have found his mojo again (along with a couple more children – congratulations Nick!) against the Rams doing a good job of the net returns.

What the Lions need is more backups/special teams players like Follett. St. Louis’ returner never re-entered the game after Follett took the train to him. The key is, Follett was schemed (it appears) middle right, but kept his eye on what really mattered – the guy with the ball – whereas a lot of times it almost seems like the special teamers are looking for someone to block them, or trying not to get hit…

The biggest problem facing special teams is the same thing facing the roster – there still isn’t quality depth at most positions outside of LB. If you don’t have quality backups (and starters) you need to keep guys who can rotate in more often on the defense/offense. Better teams have excellent starters, one or two guys to spell them, and at least 3 -4 guys who have positions listed, but really should just be listed “special teams”. Right now the Lions have one – Zack Follett. I’m sure they will add more over time – but if Follett can have more days like he did against St. Louis on a consistent basis, that will help considerably.

Still, despite the talent lacking, I can’t help feel what everyone else does at this point – Kwan’s schemes just aren’t fitting what the players can accomplish. A perfect scheme or call is useless if the players you have can’t execute it. The best fix would be a new special teams coach – after all, how much worse could it be?

Reverend Spielman, CofS: It’s time to use a little creativity. Everything the Lions do on special teams is so predictable, a two year old will know whats coming. On returns, how about throwing in a reverse or two? How about a fake punt if we’re somewhere near the middle of the field? As for the coverage units, you need to get better players on there. That means potentially guys that are starting on defense will also need to play special teams. Ernie Sims loves overpursuing every play and going 1000 miles an hour, which sounds exactly like a special teamer to me.

2. What is your ideal personnel grouping for our secondary?

Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: Are you being facetious? The Lions could play with 13 defenders (with 6 DB’s!) and opposing teams would still find the means to abuse the Lions weak secondary through the air.

I guess as far as safeties go, you could do worse than start Louis Delmas and Ko Simpson, although I am little alarmed that Delmas hasn’t had a swifter, stronger impact on the Lions defense thus far. Honestly, I believe you could draw the Lions CB’s names from a hat prior to each game, and it would make no tangibly visible difference in their performance. If push comes to shove, Will James should start at one CB, Anthony Henry should play the slot/nickel role, and Philip Buchanon needs to wake up and earn back the other starting CB role, like he has been so copiously paid for. The dime role could go to the better of either DeMarcus Faggins and Kevin Hobbs.

I thought that it was impossible for them to be any worse than they were last season in their secondary, seemingly, there is no difference between the level of play between the two units.

Ty, The Lions in Winter: Champ Bailey, Cortland Finnegan . . . oh. You meant, of actual Lions? Okay, I’d like to see Buchanon pull his head out of his posterior and play like the #1 CB he’s capable of being–and being paid to be. I’ll take Anthony Henry at the #2 spot, if he can play like he did in the preseason and first couple of games. Will James at the nickel spot. Louis Delmas, of course, at safety, and Ko Simpson at the other spot. Manuel is a liability, and Simpson, though inconsistent, at least has the physical tools to be a legit starter. I know the Lions would love to slide Henry back to that spot, but the CB position is so decimated that it’d be suicide. Newcomer Jason David is mostly famous for getting burnt to a crisp after trash-talking his old team . . . not promising.

Big Al, The Wayne Fontes Experience: A grouping with four solid, legitimate NFL defensive backs. Not too much to ask for, is it?

At the moment, there’s only 1 who meets the criteria, Louis Delmas, and he’s making all kind rookie mistakes due to over aggressiveness. Delmas is going to be very good…in another year or 2.

At this point, Jim Schwartz and Gunther Cunningham are grasping at straws. The defensive backfield has had so much turnover due to performance issues and injuries, you can’t even call it “patchwork”. It’s nothing but leftover rags.

You can’t have a rotation when there’s no talent to rotate. Schwartz can only go by what he sees from his backs in practice, and if you go by what we’ve seen in games, he doesn’t see much.

So what’s the ideal personnel grouping? The Lions’ defensive backs grouped together on the bench as the offense controls the ball, keeping the defense off the field.

Josh, Roar of the Lions: With all the guys who hit IR, I actually had to look up the Lions’ roster to see who was left where in the secondary. My first thought was “there isn’t one” and I may just stick with that. At Safety, Delmas is starting to settle down and tackle, as well as stick with his coverages. He is also delivering some powerful hits when it is appropriate. He gets one starting safety spot. The other spot needs to rotate a bit – I had thought Simpson was doing better in pass pro, Manuel on run D and Pearson should be unemployed. However, I can’t get the image of Simpson dogging it on the fake FG when he could have gone all out and possibly caught the WR when Avril slowed him down. Best bet is a rotation there with how the coaches have them right now – but I would still be in favor of Henry moving to Safety. Rotate Jason David, William James, and Philip Buchanon at the two CB spots, with all three out there in the dime. In the nickel, I’ve liked how Levy and/or Dizon have been on the field. King I felt was best suited to the nickel, but he is on IR.

Wow. After trying to put together who would be out there in what situation, I’m going back to my first answer – there isn’t one! Outside of Delmas they all do some things well, some things okay, and some things awful — nothing great. So they’ll have to stick with what they have been doing for now – rotate like crazy based on the situation, and hope for the best.

Reverend Spielman, CofS: I’d start Buchanon and Will James at the corners, with Anthony Henry as the nickel back. He just hasn’t shown me enough to warrant a starting spot. At least I’ve seen a little life in Buchanon and James the last few weeks. At safety, it’s all about Louis Delmas and Ko Simpson. Marquand Manuel had a decent first couple weeks, but has faded badly since he got injured. Above all else, the Lions need to draft Eric Berry this year. He’s the best secondary player I’ve seen in years and this is our most desperate need.

3. Whats your prediction for Seahawks – Lions?

Steve, Detroit Lions Weblog: I believe unless Calvin Johnson is healthy, they will stand little chance of keeping the game remotely close. This team is starting to show some of the same tell-tale signs of ratcheting up their ineptitude for an extended run, much like they have during recent seasons. Any remote ground they gained by winning a game and playing a few tough teams close has been sadly eradicated in my opinion. Do you think that the Ford Field fans are going to lay off this team, as they continue to stink up the joint, and players like Dom Raiola show continued signs of cracking, then you have got another thing coming. The few fans who attend their remaining home games will absolutely lambaste them, as they well should.

Oh, and Sunday’s game prediction: Matt Hasselbeck throws for 300+ yards and two TD passes. Seahawks 27 Lions 10

Ty, The Lions in Winter: With Stafford and Megatron back and 100%, and Maurice Morris playing with a chip on his shoulder, I think the Lions’ offense will finally crawl, zombie-like, back up from the grave and stumble around in the manner of a real live NFL offense. The ‘Hawks offensive line is bad enough that Gunther’s blitzes should hurry Hasselbeck. However, after failing to beat the Rams at home, I don’t see them beating anyone on the road. I’ll say 21-17, Seahawks.

Big Al, The Wayne Fontes Experience: The Lions have won all of 3 road games since the start of the ‘06 season, and 2 of those were during their fluke 6-2 start to the ‘07 season. The Lions haven’t won on the road in over 2 years, beating Chicago at Soldier Field on 10/28/07.

I see no reason for the struggles on the road to end. Even against a not very good 2-5 Seahawks team. Matt Hasselbeck isn’t the quarterback he once was, but he’s still plenty good enough to pick apart Detroit’s bend, break and bend over defense.

The difference in the game? The Seahawks are merely a bad team. Unfortunately, the Lions are really, really bad. Merely bad beats really, really bad every time.

Seattle Seahawks 27 – Detroit Lions 17.

Josh, Roar of the Lions: No team outside of the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles is more unpredictable this season than the Seahawks. They follow a huge game with two where they look worse than the Lions. Considering how unpredictable both teams are, I’m not even going to venture a guess. IF Hasslebeck is hitting his WR well, it could be a long day for the Lions depending on which defense shows up; even the Lions on an okay should be able to stop the anemic Seattle run game. (watch Julius Jones rack up 200 yards now that I’ve said that) IF Stafford, CJ, and the O-line have a good day, they could pummel an injury weakened Seattle defense – especially at the LB spot. IF not, it could be GB or the second half of the Bears game all over again – even with Stafford under center (especially the O-Line). In other words, Seattle has only won two games and Detroit only one because they are both inconsistent in all phases, and need all three to “show up” any given Sunday for a win. Lets hope Detroit has more units “show up” than Seattle does. The Lions COULD win this game (just like they had a chance to win vs the Rams). The unknowable is – WILL they?

Reverend Spielman, CofS: With most of our guys getting healthy, I think the Lions keep this close. But in the end, the defense will let us down again as Matt Hasselback puts up an easy 350 yard day. Seahawks 31 – Lions 24

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