Lions have high octane offense in plans for saints (1 Viewer)

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

Obviously this is good news for both Saints and Lion owners fighting for a playoff spot/in the first round of the playoffs

Lions have high-scoring game plan for Saints

By Carlos Monarrez / Detroit Free PressSaturday, December 3, 2011 - Added 1 hour ago


DETROIT - The Lions insist their offense is not interested in controlling the clock or keeping New Orleans' nuclear-powered offense off the field. There is only one goal, the Lions say."We're trying to score points on offense," coach Jim Schwartz said Thursday. "We're not trying to do anything else."The Lions controlled the clock well on Thanksgiving against Green Bay. They used a steady mix of runs and passes and by halftime led the Packers in time of possession, 20:02 to 9:58. But they trailed, 7-0, on their way to a 27-15 loss."Yeah, we had the ball a lot," offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. "Really, we had the penalties. The penalties knocked us back and out of good drives and possessing the ball. But possession of the ball is only a benefit for you if you're able to turn those drives into points."Regardless of whether they were trying to control the clock, the Lions put together a good run game against the Packers. Kevin Smith left early in the second quarter with a high-ankle sprain, but the Lions still rushed for 90 yards in the first half and finished with 136.Smith made some progress Thursday when he practiced for the first time this week. He was listed as limited and appeared agile running in drills during the portion of practice open to reporters."Kevin got work today, and he's making progress," Linehan said. "I think he'll tell you he's getting better every day, and we'll see come Sunday."With or without Smith, the Lions have chosen to get into an arms race this week with the Saints' No. 2-ranked scoring offense, despite sputtering against the Packers' No. 1-ranked scoring offense."I think more important than keeping them off the field is just putting points on the board," receiver Nate Burleson said. "It makes it difficult for everybody. It makes it difficult for their defense and their play-calling."And then offensively they've got to call the game differently if we have points on the board. If we're up by seven or 10 points, they can't sit back there and be gunslingers and basically call every play they have available in the playbook."The Lions' defense is hurting and will be without suspended defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh as well as injured starting defensive backs Chris Houston and Louis Delmas.Linehan said he is trying not to worry about issues that concern the Saints' offense."Well, you try not to," he said. "As a team, we talk about who we're playing. We know we're playing a real prolific offense as a team this week."Of course, the Lions' No. 4-ranked scoring offense is no slouch. While the run game has helped the offense, it has been the high-flying passing game led by receiver Calvin Johnson that has set the table for the run and the entire offense.

"When you've got two or three guys covering Calvin Johnson," running back Maurice Morris said, "that definitely leaves a lot less guys in the box to run the ball."Good news And score points.

"It’s important to have a good run game," Burleson said. "But I think for us the passing game is kind of our fuel. That gets the engine going.

"Once we start moving the ball we utilize everybody. At times, our running backs are our passing and running game at the same time. Once we get the passing game going and we get points on the board, for us it’s just about scoring."

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©2011 the Detroit Free Press Distributed by MCT Information Services

 

[LargeMouthBass]

Talk is cheap, show me the money!!!!

 

[southeastjerome]

DETROIT - The Lions insist their offense is not interested in controlling the clock or keeping New Orleans' nuclear-powered offense off the field. There is only one goal, the Lions say."We're trying to score points on offense," coach Jim Schwartz said Thursday. "We're not trying to do anything else."

Its news that the Lions are going to try to score points on offense?

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

DETROIT - The Lions insist their offense is not interested in controlling the clock or keeping New Orleans' nuclear-powered offense off the field. There is only one goal, the Lions say."We're trying to score points on offense," coach Jim Schwartz said Thursday. "We're not trying to do anything else."

Its news that the Lions are going to try to score points on offense?

No it's news that unlike the GB game where they tried to choke the clock and play keep away from the packers (which obviously didn't work out so well) isn't their goal going in. It''s nice to know that instead they will just run their normal offense and not try to take the air out of the ball/limit possesions as a gameplan. If you can't see how this might be useful info when choosing to start/sit burleson/lance moore etc then color me shuked.

 

[rawdog]

Titus Young has been limited to 3 targets apiece the last 2 games. Anybody think this may mean more looks for him? Does he mostly play on the outside while Burleson is the inside slot guy?

 

[Addai's Adidas]

This is dumb. "OK for real, this time, we are going to try to score." Whatever.

 

[Sinrman]

I hate to say it, but let's face facts. Our offense isn't as explosive as the Saints. We won't win a shoot-out.

 

[Gopher State]

Good news for those luckly enought to have the Saints defense this week, I mean 9 ints last three weeks, Stafford should be good for 3 ints this week

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Lions fans... gotta love 'em

 

[Im.A.Wizard]

says the broncos fan

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

says the broncos fan

that lives in Michigan. I give them credit, they are the most long-suffering fans I know. This thread just made me chuckle...calm down Francis.

 

[joffer]

well, i guess its better than nothing

just throw the damn ball to Calvin when you're on the 5 yard line

 

[glumpy]

DETROIT - The Lions insist their offense is not interested in controlling the clock or keeping New Orleans' nuclear-powered offense off the field. There is only one goal, the Lions say."We're trying to score points on offense," coach Jim Schwartz said Thursday. "We're not trying to do anything else."

Its news that the Lions are going to try to score points on offense?

No it's news that unlike the GB game where they tried to choke the clock and play keep away from the packers (which obviously didn't work out so well) isn't their goal going in. It''s nice to know that instead they will just run their normal offense and not try to take the air out of the ball/limit possesions as a gameplan. If you can't see how this might be useful info when choosing to start/sit burleson/lance moore etc then color me shuked.

It's a helluva thought. but I still just can't see pulling that trigger. I'm playing against the Stafford owner this week with a playoff bye possibly on the line--and could pick up Burleson to balance instead of playing Harvin as planned. Burleson is the one doing the talking, and he's matched Calvin in targets the past two weeks--but somehow I just don't see it. Hope I'm not wrong.

 

[thatguythere]

New Orleans should just run the ball all day and kill the clock, we won't be able to stop them and it keeps our offense on the bench. Either way I don't see us stopping this offense with the state of our defense. Maybe earlier in the year, but not now.

I think Brees will pick us apart for about a quarter and a half, and then they will run it down our throats. Our D will be gassed and our offense will be forced to press, not a good scenario at all.

 

[FavreCo]

Good news for Calvin Johnson owners, he may get a pass thrown his way in the 1st Q for the 1st time this year.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Best news for the Saints is that Delmas, Houston and Suh are all out.

Guys like Stafford without the war stripes on their sleeve don't really know what playing in the Dome in a night game is like. Even QBs like Brady have crumpled. The Lions will score some decent points like the Giants last week but the ball control program really does work better against the Saints and that crowd but it's their choice.

People may not be aware of it but the Saints are on pace to surpass the greatest offense of all time, the 2000 St Louis Rams (aka Greatest Show On Turf), and Brees is on pace to surpass Dan Mariono's all time passing reciord from 1984. They also carry the 8th best run game in the league. So good luck with all that.

 

[jon_mx]

Good news for Calvin Johnson owners, he may get a pass thrown his way in the 1st Q for the 1st time this year.

The strategy of getting down 20-points in the first half has worked all year, why change? The only reason they lost to the Packers is they did not let the Packers have the big lead until it was too late to mount their inevitable heroic comeback.

 

[jon_mx]

Best news for the Saints is that Delmas, Houston and Suh are all out. Guys like Stafford without the war stripes on their sleeve don't really know what playing in the Dome in a night game is like. Even QBs like Brady have crumpled. The Lions will score some decent points like the Giants last week but the ball control program really does work better against the Saints and that crowd but it's their choice.People may not be aware of it but the Saints are on pace to surpass the greatest offense of all time, the 2000 St Louis Rams (aka Greatest Show On Turf), and Brees is on pace to surpass Dan Mariono's all time passing reciord from 1984. They also carry the 8th best run game in the league. So good luck with all that.

The Lions have good depth on their defensive lion, so Suh is not as big of a loss. It is the secondary that is shallow and those loses which stand out like a sore thumb. Especially the loss of Houston. And yes, I am quite aware of Brees pace, I have him in a league which gives one point for every 10 yards passing which makes Brees the king of the league.