NOTEBOOK: Lions need to get back to basics in run defense

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The Detroit Lions' defense has really struggled to stop the run the last couple weeks.

Cleveland racked up 201 yards, Chicago went for 222 and the Lions now rank 19th against the run, allowing 114.2 per game on average.Authentic Ted Ginn Jr Jersey,

The Lions still won both contests vs. Cleveland and at Chicago, but the Browns and Bears have three wins between them. If the Lions allow 200 rushing yards to Minnesota on Thanksgiving or Baltimore in their next contest Dec. 3>womens Alan Branch Jersey, the likelihood of them escaping with a victory is slim.

So,Authentic Marcus Cannon Jersey, what’s been the problem, and how do the Lions fix it? Head coach Jim Caldwell and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin have blamed poor tackling and bad run fits. Those two issues have certainly been problems the last two weeks. But why?

Veteran safety Glover Quin offered a bit of an explanation in his weekly session with the media on Tuesday.,womens Larry Warford Jersey”

“You say it like it’s just,Authentic Ryan Allen Jersey, ‘Oh a misfit’ or ‘Oh, it’s just a mistackle,womens Cameron Jordan Jerseyis because a lot goes into it Quin said. “The thing about football in general and that’s why it’s the greatest team sport, and when you see great defenses, you see great chemistry. You see guys trusting the next guy. Guys are on the same page.

“When you play a couple games where you see a couple guys may have a couple misfits, ‘OK, then it’s kind of like, can I trust the guy? Do I need to do more?’ Now you get out of your gap.”,Authentic Alan Branch Jersey,

Quin said his teammates on defense need to continue to hone in on everyone just doing their job in the run game. If they do, he thinks plays will start to be made.Authentic Patrick Chung Jersey,

“It may not be your play to make the tacklethe linebacker is going to make the tackle, because on the next one,womens Patrick Chung Jersey,” Quin said. “But if you hold that edge'womens Ryan Allen Jersey, he’s going to shoot the gap and the o-linemen are going to have to come off and block him and then you’re going to make the tackle.

“It’s all going to work together and there’s enough to go around for everybody. We just have to make sure we’re trusting the process,Authentic Cameron Jordan Jersey,trusting the calls and executing at a high level.”

Lions middle linebacker Jarrad Davis hasn’t been around long[url=http://www.saintscheapstore.com/a.j.-klein-jersey-cheap' ]Authentic A.J. Klein Jersey[/url], but even he knows that once a player starts worrying about anything more than his job,Authentic Alex Okafor Jersey, bad things happen.

“When you get to a point where you’re doing so much to kind of make a play, that’s when you get out of position and big plays happen,” Davis said.'Authentic Larry Warford Jersey

“Just coming down and fighting for our gaps and making sure we’re doing exactly what we need to do and being physical and getting off blocks and making plays on the back.”womens A.J. Klein Jersey,

The Lions have played the run well at times this year. The held Carolina to 28 yards on the ground. Arizona had just 45 rushing yards Week 1. The Giants and Steelers were held to under 75 yards on the ground.,womens Marcus Cannon Jersey,

Defensively,and it sounds like everyone has to focus on doing their job, the Lions just need to get back to basics,womens Alex Okafor Jersey and not the job of the player next to them.

Jamal Agnew missed his second straight practice Wednesday with the knee injury he suffered Sunday. His status for Thursday is very much in question now.

Agnew currently leads the NFL in punt return average (min. 10 returns) at 16.8 yards per return and return touchdowns (2).

Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said either TJ Jones or Golden Tate, or a combination of both,womens Ted Ginn Jr Jersey, could return punts against the Vikings Thursday. Tate’s returned 89 punts in his NFL career for an average of 10.6 yards per return. Jones has an average of 8.4 yards on seven returns.

Ameer Abdullah could fill in as a kick returner. Abdullah was one of the best kick returners in the NFL as a rookie in 2015.