Tampa Bay Buccaneers Game Plan: how they should attack the Lions defense

I would like to see them go with the quick strike passing offense. Spread the field with the two tight end set with a hurry up pace on offense. If they did that their D-line couldnt substitute, it would tire them out and freeman seems to excel when he is in a two minute drill scenario. And when there line is now tired they would be able to pound them with blount. Coincidentally, they could then take some chances downfield with the deep ball. If course that would be the best scenario I would like to see.

Couple that with a dominant defensive line and the Lions’ run defense should be much improved. But the same can’t be said of the pass defense.

The Lions starting corners aren’t worth writing home about, but once they get to their third and fourth cornerbacks they really lack some quality. Brandon McDonald and Aaron Berry are the only other cornerbacks on their roster, and neither of them is going to stop anyone

As a Fan of the team and a fan of the game i try my best to be very objective.

Brandon Mcdonald has been a starting corner in the NFL prior to falling out of favor with coaches he is very good in the slot and a very good tackler. Though i must admit he doesn’t display anything really special as a player.. but a solid 5th corner none the less.

Aaron Berry last year as a rookie was our best defender in the secondary but was hurt during camp… finally played in game one and was hurt on a interception in the first game. He has been very impressive in camp (been to their practices) and really hasn’t displayed this “can’t cover anybody” trait. Infact he and Darell Revis trained together and is really improved…..very good in run support and really hasn’t been beaten at all in his short stint with the team through preseason and one game…..not enough really to show me he is a liability..If anything he could become very good …solid dime corner ..a guy who could was a legitimate running for a starting role.

Alphonz Smith is small and when healthy will likely be the Nickle back.. Prior to injury he was on pace to lead the NFL in interceptions with 5 with 6 games to go (and he had become a starter 5 games into the season)… he makes plays and is always getting his hands on the football….. hardly a weak nickle back to be honest.

Chris Houston wasn’t earth shattering but yet he held his own… teams rarely tested him. And granted that may have to do with the issues at the other corner spot. But Houston is a solid corner who did a outstanding job of denial. Didn’t make as many plays … but again that is mainly because he really didn’t get alot of action because teams didn’t throw in that direction

Eric Wright… prior to the 2010 season Eric Wright was in conversations as one of the best corners in the NFL…. he injured his Knee in training camp and never was 100 % throughout the season… after some drama with death threats after Santonio Holmes beat him for a TD vs the Jets he went into a slump…. overall in his 4 year career he has 9 interceptions

None of these guys are Deion Sanders…. but they really aren’t as “terrible” as this piece suggests. THE REAL issue with the Lions pass defence for those that watched EVERY snap of the seasons is the Lions where ranked 24th vs the run (16th vs the pass)…. The Lions stayed in terrible down and distance situations and made our average secondary even worse…..then again what team is going to be really good vs the pass if they can’t stop the run?

The 2nd thing that was the “real issue” was personel…namely the prior starting right corner Jonathan Wade…it took awhile but after about 6 games he was not only not starting but he was cut…… And CC Brown (the guy who was taken advantage of during his brilliant coverage of Winslow in the End zone)…CC Brown has a highlight real of plays teams made on him last year…..Adrian Peterson long TD run….Winslow overturn TD…Aaron Rodgers (i can’t even name all of the times he was abused)….so really he is addtion by subtraction.

With the Addtion Tulloch (2nd leading tackler in the NFL last year)….and Justin Durant (solid vs the run but will likely get used and abused by Winslow) ….The Lions run defence should be much improved (and a health Levy)…….. better defence vs the run= better down and distance situations = easyer to pass defend.

Spievy…Delmas….Wright….Houston…. to be honest personel wise it really is the best secondary the Lions have fielded in years…But if you get caught up in the media talking heads sometimes you can miss it when teams makes strides…..not a special unit… but not the same secondary from last year and yes it is MUCH improved….pass rush helps

Honestly i think running the ball would be a better option… i think this secondary is average … but it isn’t as bad as you think…..run defence is really what i think is more questionable.

counters, draws, screens, and play actions have proven effective in the past. That quick pass on underneath routes to TEs and RBs was another – that had a lot to do with attacking our sap of a LB corp last year…

I disagree that our CB depth is really lacking. I understand why you’d underestimate Aaronn Berry. He reinjured his shoulder game 1 of the 2010 season (he was our starting nickel). So there’s NO knowledge of him outside of Lions camp. But he’s stronger and playing at a higher level.

There’s also been rumors that Eric Wright has been moving inside to the nickel back and Aaron Berry has been in the RCB position for our Nickel – So you might want to rethink that strategy a tad bit (as the vulnerability would be a little more to the outside then, though Berry’s a physical press guy who will probably have Delmas helping over top…)

With Tampa’s nice receiving corp, you wonder if Olsen will let Josh exploit DET’s secondary through multiple WR’s? I’d place my judgement on the Buc’s receiving corp having a splendid day against a spread out DET D.