ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions are back on the road to face the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football.
Here are three burning questions heading into the prime-time showdown between two 1-1 Super Bowl hopefuls:
The Lions fixed their O-line communication issues last week. What are they doing to make sure that stays the case back on the road?
It’s one thing to fix communication issues on the offensive line for a home game. But it’s another for those struggles to remain fixed through a tough road environment like the Lions will face in Baltimore on Monday night.
And while it’s understandable to feel frustrated talking about these issues, especially for a fanbase taught to expect greatness in the trenches. The Lions are operating with two new starting guards, and Graham Glasgow shifted back to center to replace the great Frank Ragnow. It takes a minute for those pieces to jell together on the fly, and those concerns came to light in the team’s season opener against the Green Bay Packers.
In that opener, there were missed assignments and confusion coming out of the huddle. The Packers took advantage of that by incorporating late shifts on the defensive line to add confusion to Detroit’s side of the operation. They ravaged Detroit’s offensive line, hitting ball-carriers in the backfield on 16 of 22 carries, sacking Jared Goff four times and hitting him another nine times.
But those mistakes were corrected against the Bears, and this week’s game will show if those were the home environment or a true solution. Detroit’s offensive line allowed only two pressures last week, the running game hit some explosive plays, and Goff was not sacked once.
Coach Dan Campbell said the Lions would roll out the speakers for practice and make it as loud as possible. And they are banking on that and the continued development of their new starting line to bring it all together.
“Well, you practice in the noise. You make it hard, you make it loud,” Lions offensive coordinator John Morton said. “I think that helps. The communication, we’ve got to do it in practice, so we feel good about it. And if there’s anything that’s a problem, we just take it out.
“But that’s the main thing, we’ve been doing that. That’s what you have to do. And these guys, listen, they’ve been on the road. We’ve all been on the road. We’re going to be smart in the things that we do, so we don’t have miscommunication. I think that’s important.”
How can a defense actually prepare for Ravens QB Lamar Jackson?
Say your prayers and eat your vitamins. But, seriously, as defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson does everything well and doesn’t have any weaknesses.
And as Lions linebacker and captain Alex Anzalone said, “Nothing really prepares you for Lamar Jackson, to be honest.”
Jackson’s dual-threat ability is the first thing everyone talks about. But he’s such a better passer than he gets credit for, and the Lions are well aware of the threat he poses as a passer. Jackson has six touchdowns and no interceptions through the first two games, meaning his touchdown-to-interception ratio since last season began is 47 to four.
He’s not turning the ball over. He’s as accurate as quarterbacks get. And to top it all off, Jackson is as good a runner as they get (ever) at quarterback. Throw in the Derrick Henry factor, the receiver duo of Zay Flowers and DeAndre Hopkins, tight end Mark Andrews and the loaded O-line, and it makes Jackson and the Ravens all the more dangerous.
“What does Lamar do well? Everything. What does he not do well? Nothing,” Sheppard said. “I mean, he could beat you all in different ways. Run game, pass game, pass game, he could do it in the pocket, out of the pocket. So, I mean, it’s why he is who he is, a multi-year MVP in this league, and I have the utmost respect for this player. He’s a dynamic player in this league, and he’s hard to prepare for.
“I’ve gotten lack of sleep this week due to him, so I’ll make sure I let him know that after this game.”
Is more finally coming for rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa?
It sure sounds like it.
Isaac TeSlaa has two catches through his first two games. And he hasn’t even used his left hand yet to do it. TeSlaa was limited for the opener after dealing with an illness throughout the week of practice. He was up to 19 offensive snaps last week, and while he saw only one target, the third-round rookie receiver made the most of his opportunity.
That’s been the theme with TeSlaa since he landed in Allen Park. He’s been a steady improver who has taken advantage of every single opportunity to this point. At the same time, Kalif Raymond will always have a role in this offense as long as he’s here. TeSlaa’s 50-50 ability, size and speed combination looks like something to add to this already dangerous vertical passing game.
Morton said he wants to see better technique on his release so he can catch it and score, instead of relying on highlight-worthy one-handed catches every week. The offensive coordinator said, “You can’t live every day like that,” but credited the rookie for his continuous improvement.
“It really gains a lot of trust being able to put the ball kind of anywhere near him and see him come down with it,” Goff said of TeSlaa after the Week 2 win. “And that was part of why he was drafted here, is to be that type of player, and he’s shown up, man. He really has. And he gets better every week, and I’m sure his route tree is really going to grow.
“I mean, we’ve hit the two go balls with him, but allowing him to run some different things as well and get the ball in his hands, and see what he can do after the catch, all that stuff is coming for him. But, yeah, he’s certainly a deep threat, and those 50-50 balls are dangerous when he’s out there.”