While many people felt the Lions’ defense would be a major problem with the loss of Ndamukong Suh to free agency, the real problems have been on offense, which is puzzling with a Pro Bowl quarterback in Matthew Stafford, a Pro Bowl receiver in Golden Tate, and an other worldly receiver in Megtron, Calvin Johnson.
But an offensive line that can’t block its way out of a paper bag, and some highly questionable play calling by offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, is bringing heavy criticism from the media, and now, inside the lockerroom.
On Tuesday, Tate told the media that one of the problems with the offense is that it is too predictable. He said, opponents know their plays
“I’ve had a couple occasions in literally each game where they called out our play, for one, then afterwards been like, ‘Hey, we knew what you guys were doing,’ “said Tate, in a story that appeared in Mlive.com “I don’t know how they know, or what film they’re watching that we’re giving away. That’s something we got to go back and watch our tendencies to figure out where we line up or how we line up or what formation or whatever it may be.”
“We’ve got to figure it out because we’re clearly giving it away. All three weeks, a player’s come up to me and said, ‘We knew where you were going to.’ That’s bad.” There is no question that comment was for Lombardi, who is in his second season as the Lions OC.
But ultimately, the blame goes beyond Lombardi to head coach Jim Caldwell. Everything stops at his desk. First, he has is to get the offensive line to block somebody. Because it won’t matter if the Lions are running super secret plays, if there are defensive lineman in the backfield on every play. Until that is fixed, nothing is going to work.
