By PFW staff
Oct. 29, 2007

The secret to the Lions’ defensive success has been turnovers and pressure. In the five games they have won, the Lions have forced 17 turnovers and collected 16 sacks. In the two losses, the team has created only three turnovers and three sacks. Offensively, they no longer are a reckless, fly-by-the-seat-of-Mike-Martz’s-pants group, mixing in the pass with the run well. This is a team that at 5-2 is by no means thinking about a Super Bowl realistically, but it is better than many think it is.

The PFW spin

First things first. Give credit to GM Matt Millen: He hired Rod Marinelli, and the seeds of success are starting to bloom in the coach's second season. Marinelli made the tough but proper move to can defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson, who was not versed in the Tampa-2 defense, and hire Joe Barry, who has done an excellent job of coaching up what, on paper, is a very suspect group of defensive backs and made them quite respectable.

Barry and Marinelli also are following the Tampa formula and building around their defensive line. DTs Shaun Rogers, Cory Redding, Shaun Cody and Langston Moore are doing an excellent job one-gapping up front and disrupting the flow of opposing offenses. The ends, Dewayne White on one side and Kalimba Edwards and Corey Smith on the other, are hitting the edge hard and getting into the backfield regularly. This defense requires there to be pressure and disruption up front.

The linebackers are playing well, but this is not a standout group. They have become adept at dropping into coverage but also at helping out against the run. MLB Paris Lenon is limited in what he can do, but he’s playing very well this season. The Lions are mixing in zone blitzes to help with pressure, and they are tackling much better than they did in the two blowout losses. That can make a defensive plan look far more brilliant, when the players are executing.

Offensively, the group has found a new identity with the re-addition of RB Kevin Jones to the mix. He’s at the point where he can carry it 25 times in a game if needed, and since the bye week Martz and Marinelli have played a smarter brand of ball that puts the ball in the best players’ hands without getting QB Jon Kitna killed.

The team is throwing to the backs, tight ends and H-backs a little more, as well as running it at times when it previously threw the ball. Sprinkled in are end-arounds to Calvin Johnson and short passes to the underneath guys. Lest we forget that Johnson, Roy Williams and Shaun McDonald are perfectly capable of hitting on big plays, too. The short stuff has not only made the middle and deep routes more dangerous in moderation, but the new game plan gives the Lions a chance of keeping close on time of possession — plus, stopping long drives on defense.

It’s a formula that had made the 5-2 Lions a winner and an intriguing team to watch.