Detroit Lions: Week 5 game balls in loss to Carolina Panthers
By Ash Thompson
A coach, a rookie and a veteran specialist walk away with the week five Detroit Lions game balls. The Lions lost 27-24 to the Carolina Panthers
The Detroit Lions lost a close game to the Carolina Panthers taking their record to 3-2 yards from scrimmage. on the year. they had some heroic performances but came up just short. A first half touchdown where the officials decided to make the wrong call ended up being the difference in the game.
The offensive game ball goes to Jim Bob Cooter. Apparently, we hit the maximum number of times Lions tight end Eric Ebron was going to be allowed to short circuit drives. Sometime in the fourth quarter, the Lions went another direction. Jim Bob Cooter realized, finally, that Ebron brings absolutely nothing to the table.
When the team needed someone to get the job done, Darren Fells stepped up. Fells has already established that he is the best blocking tight end the Lions have. Today he also showed he is their best receiving tight end. Despite the fact that it was far too little, and too late, Lions fans can hope that Cooter does not develop amnesia between now and week six. Put a fork in this draft bust, he’s done.
The defensive game ball goes to middle linebacker Jarrad Davis. The Carolina Panthers dangerous running back group combined for 79 yards from scrimmage on the day. and Davis’ presence was the main reason why.
While it is true that the Panthers were able to throw to tight end Ed Dickson at will, that is on the same player it was on last year. Linebacker Tahir Whitehead just cannot cover tight ends consistently. Davis was busy covering players that were actually dangerous and making tackles in the backfield to kill drives.
Next: Lions lose catfight to Panthers, 27-24
The Special teams game ball goes to Don Carey. On the first two punts of the game, Don Carey made a tackle and then forced a fair catch by Panthers return man Christian McCaffery. Unfortunately, it was at that point Jeff Locke decided to start shanking his punts out of bounds.