The ten things we learned about the Detroit Lions in the Giants game

The struggle is real

The rebirth of Ameer Abdullah as the darling of Lions fandom may have been short-lived. He actually managed to average more than four yards per carry in week one. Abdullah put his downside on full display in week two. He and Matthew Stafford failed to connect on a handoff. Abdullah later muffed a punt. His most defining feature as a player has always been a lack of reliable ball security.

The handoff from Stafford was not perfect, but Abdullah also started cutting before he got the ball secured. That is something that is not acceptable on a high school squad. For an NFL player to just drop the ball is unacceptable.

Theo Riddick reminded Lions fans what he brings to the table after sitting out the first preseason game. He left Alec Ogletree wondering where his feet were with some dirty route running out of the slot for the Lions only big play of the half.

The Lions running game, which looked great in the first week of the preseason, disappeared entirely. The Giants have a stout set of run defenders, and there was no opening for Lions running backs as often as not. The blocking needs work, it wasn’t on the backs this week.

The offensive line was not particularly good in pass protection either. Olivier Vernon and Lorenzo Carter gave Taylor Decker fits. The right side of the line fared little better. Quarterbacks had to step up into the pocket to avoid Decker’s man early and often, but the pressure that got home was more often on the right. Both of the sacks Stafford suffered came from the right side.

None of the Lions starters put up a particularly good performance. Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones each had two receptions, but neither managed 15 yards. Three of the Lions first four drives ended in three and outs. The Giants starting secondary proved too much for the vaunted Lions passing attack.

If someone did not actually watch the game, they could be forgiven for thinking that Jake Rudock had a good game. He was the second quarterback in this week and stunk up the joint before Matt Cassel came in. Cassel was not much better, but he was clearly better.

Rudock finished out the game against the Giants fourth stringers. He put up a bunch of completions on check-downs and short throws against the scout team. Neither Lions backup quarterback is very good, but Rudock was actively hampering his receivers ability to run after the catch with his inaccuracy.