Will the Detroit Lions be able to continue to win with opportunistic defense?
By Bruce Walker
This one is the challenge. No? Maybe? Partially?
Chance. Luck. Charmed. Fortunate. Those words have rarely been associated with the Lions. But can they control that element?
The ball has bounced in the favor of the Lions a number of times this year.
Read that again. I’ll wait.
An example is Dalvin Cook dropping the ball as he planted and injured his left knee in a non-contact moment of the game. That is much more happenstance than skill. An all-important consideration is that Safety Tavon Wilson was in place to recover the fumble.
The fact is demonstrated that the Lions have exceptional awareness of the ball location during all phases of a play. As such, they have been able to capitalize on opportunities. As a result, a portion of this element is sustainable simply because they do make a habit of knowing where the ball is and are in position scoop up or fall on a loose ball.
Take this example. The Lions had the ball at their own 35 with 3:08 remaining in the third quarter and nursing a seven-point lead. Stafford aborted a pass and the ball squirted out and skidded towards the Lions end zone. Zach Zenner exploded toward the ball and covered it up at the eleven-yard line.
After a beautiful 49 yard punt, the Vikings drove 39 yards before being stopped. Their field goal attempt clanged off the right upright, no good.
If Zenner had not been aware or as intent on securing the ball, the Vikings could have easily recovered and tied the game, needing only eleven yards to get to paydirt. The result is the eventual victory where in years past, that mistake would have contributed to a loss.
Was the bounce lucky? Sure. It could have bounced closer to a Viking that was also trying to recover the ball. So, yeah, I’d include an element of luck. Of course, it would have been better for the original call of an incomplete pass to have been upheld. In the end, there was no turnover, no points, no real harm done as a result of that mishap.
Next: Who are the 2017 Detroit Lions?
So, part lucky, part good. You can continue to sustain one of those two things. They even say, “Better lucky than good.” They also say that you can make your own luck. I think that is what the Detroit Lions are doing. And that is highly sustainable.