Afternoon Lions Links for Monday 9-21-15

Lions Articles:

National Media:

Matthew Stafford shows toughness, but Lions have to protect him better:   http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/18966/matthew-stafford-shows-his-toughness-but-detroit-lions-have-to-protect-him-better

Lions will need to buck history to have successful season:   http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/18972/to-have-a-successful-season-the-detroit-lions-will-need-to-buck-nfl-history

The reason for Matthew Stafford’s bad start:  https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/09/21/the-reason-behind-matthew-staffords-bad-start/

$.10 After NFL Week 2 ($.02-- I don’t apologize for being a Lions fan, or run from it when the team isn’t playing well. But this week’s loss at Minnesota was particularly brutal. After last season’s unexpected playoff berth and defensive revitalization, the prevailing wisdom was that the sluggish offense would catch up and the defense, while missing Ndamukong Suh, would remain upper echelon thanks to Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin’s brilliance. Through two games, neither has proven true. Austin’s coaching star is falling faster than Vanilla Ice’s career post 1991. The smart blitz calls, the confusing mixed coverages, the tenacity of the run defense all have gone the way of the lines shaved in the eyebrow (yes, I did that. I was 19. Sue me). The A-gap blitzes, the perfectly coordinated syncopation along the defensive front, the confusing (to opposing QBs) coverages are all gone. The defense has become vanilla, caving under pressure with Ice Cold play calls and a decided inability to Stop That Train. (If you’re scared that I know Vanilla Ice’s discography a little too much, my beautiful wife shares your fear) Through two games, the opposing offense has had its way with Austin’s defense. Missing Suh is definitely a factor, but it goes far beyond that. Having the two defensive tackles attack out and ignore the A-gap, the hole between the center and two guards, is a terrible tactic other than the occasional surprise attack. It seems to be Detroit’s defensive M.O. so far, and Adrian Peterson and the Vikings kept exploiting it. The Lions surely miss star LB DeAndre Levy, but one linebacker can only do so much. A lot of criticism gets leveled at Lions QB Matthew Stafford. A lot of times it is deserves. Not on this day. Stafford took an absolute pounding, needing X-rays on his ribs and elbow after the game. Right tackle Cornelius Lucas flat-out whiffed on multiple blocks, and Stafford paid the price. There were drops by Calvin Johnson and Eric Ebron. There were asinine play designs, like forcing a tiny window on a third down throw to Johnson on the right sideline that had about a 2% chance of staying inbounds. Stafford stood tall and won respect from his teammates and the vast majority of Lions fans, and deservedly so. Yet this creates an entirely different problem for Lions fans who have been quick to criticize the highly-paid quarterback for not being better. If he’s not the problem, then the whole narrative about this team’s ongoing struggles is proven incorrect. And that’s even worse. Losing a scapegoat, even if it’s a false scapegoat, is a terrible fate for a fan base. It’s akin to trying to find the next musical douchebag to eternally loathe after Vanilla Ice quickly became a passé joke. We needed Vanilla Ice to make us feel better about liking Snow and Color Me Badd. If the problem is Austin, or Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi or even Head Coach Jim Caldwell--all are valid discussions right now--and not perennial whipping boy Stafford, it’s a massive upheaval. It’s the mid-90s rap rock garbage making us long for the old, fresh innovation of “Word to your motha” and not-quite-synced backup dancers in a poorly produced video. At least we knew it was trash, but we liked it. Nobody likes what Detroit is doing right now, except that week’s opponents.):  http://football.realgm.com/analysis/2676/$10-After-NFL-Week-2

Local Media:

O'HARA'S MONDAY COUNTDOWN: Looking ahead to next 3 games:   http://www.detroitlions.com/news/ohara/article-1/OHARAS-MONDAY-COUNTDOWN-Looking-ahead-to-next-3-games/68adfa56-8a06-461c-8ca7-4e4460bf7855

Lions' Stafford sore, could miss Sunday's game:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/21/matthew-stafford-injury-detroit-lions/72568234/

Lions' Tate: '110%' certain Vikings took cheap shots:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/21/detroit-lions-golden-tate-minnesota-vikings/72589176/

With Lucas struggling, Lions counting on Waddle at RT:   http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/21/detroit-lions-right-tackle/72577628/

This is how bad the Lions' running backs were against the Vikings:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/matthew_stafford_rushes_for_mo.html

Column: Matthew Stafford hurting, and so are the Lions:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/column_matthew_stafford_hurtin.html

History of NFL teams that have started 0-2 and made the playoffs:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/history_of_nfl_teams_that_have.html

Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch loses playing time against Vikings:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/lions_linebacker_stephen_tullo.html

Detroit Lions snap counts: Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick shoulder RB load against Vikings:   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/09/detroit_lions_snap_counts_amee.html

Detroit Lions — Matthew Stafford pressured too often; Rodney Harrison wrong:   http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150921/detroit-lions-x2014-matthew-stafford-pressured-too-often-rodney-harrison-wrong

Articles from Opposing Team's Media:

Upon further review: Vikings vs. Lions:   http://www.foxsports.com/north/story/minnesota-vikings-detroit-lions-nfl-football-sunday-upon-further-review-092115

Video:


Local Media:

Problems abound after Lions' ugly loss at Minnesota:   http://www.freep.com/videos/sports/nfl/lions/2015/09/20/72545404/