Maybe Dan is like Goff were things need to be perfect, people give Dan all the credit but maybe it was Ben Johnson offense that was carrying this team. Dan’s assessment seems to make it sound that way.
We’re right back where we were before Ben Johnson. Goff completing 9 of 10 passes for 46 yrds, Morton and Lynn have a lot in common, and Dan sure didn’t help much.
There will be growth during the season - there is little doubt there. The question is will it come fast enough to be in the playoff race in a tough NFC this year against what looks to be a brutal schedule.
As for roses and unicorns and Dan being ‘out to lunch’ with his analysis, he knows what happened. We’re lamenting the O-line sucking, dropping our best pass rushers into coverage, Morton not dialing up the right plays, etc. He knows he has guys that need to grow into their positions (both coaching and players) and publicly, he’s doing his best to not call them out. Privately, it most likely is a different message.
Ben is/was underrated around these parts. Especially after he left.
The Redskins once had Sean McVay. They kept Jay Gruden. Sometimes the coordinator is the better coach. That’s to be determined in the Lions case. But the reality is this team won games because of its ability to score and Ben was the one orchestrating the offense. Yes, Dan was part of it. But he was also part of Lynn as well.
Mouse - it was a shitty game and performance, we all know that. But don’t you think we should see a larger sample size before concluding that Dan was just being carried by Ben and Aaron? I have my concerns about Morton and the offense, don’t get me wrong, but I think we need a bit more data before concluding that Morton is terrible as an OC and Dan/Goff need everything to be perfect in order to succeed.
The beauty of Ben is he’s not a Parcells / Payton disciple like Dan and John. He brings something a bit different to the table that now we’re lacking.
Maybe we should’ve kept Tanner.
For the record, I was and am still not a fan of the Morton hire. Given the talent we have, we could have done better. I thought Shep was a good hire - he will have growing pains, but I think he’s capable. Something about Morton just seems off to me - can’t pinpoint it.
That’s why I say maybe, I need to see more , but people making excuses , a lot of the problems we seen yesterday was problems that have been identified by plenty here, yet was told “Were Good”. The Oline is what a lot here thought it might be, and the pass rush was exactly what was said. So me got a feeling Ben had a lot more to do with the success this team had them people here think. I have thought this but needed more proof . I tried telling people there is more to calling plays then the Xs and Os.
Agreed. That’s where our former OC was so good - he knew how to call plays to set up other things he wanted to do. Being a good play caller is more about setting up what you want to do and seeing 2-3 or plays ahead (if not more) - that’s where the ‘art’ of it comes in. I don’t think Morton has ‘it’. I’m willing to concede the O-line isn’t what Ben had to work with, but John showed me nothing that indicates he is capable to adjusting to the strengths we do have.
100% agree , that what I’m waiting to see, this team started getting good when Ben took over, I still waiting on this Dan Campbell impact that some think was part of it to show up
I think it was within reach if the INT isn’t overturned due to the D holding and Hutch’s penalty (pretty much the only time his name was called all game 
)
That was a HUGE reversal of fortune.
I hate saying this, but we lost the fist fight. looked like a lack of effort…I NEVER ThouGhT I’d say that about a team coached by Dan.
players might get yelled at this week in practice.
we lacked grit…ben wasn’t the one that provided that. problems w/offense? …yup. OL and play calling? yup
dan reliant upon ben… no f’n’ way
Ben Johnson didn’t. He dictated the game and made the defense adjust to what he was doing. We have way too much talent to take what the defense gives us. That is just weak azz sauce. This team, coaches on down were not ready for game 1. His post game presser follows suit.
The way Dan has been talking it’s as if he understands that the team is gonna suck:take it slumps. It reminds me of his first year here.
It’s like he is trusting Brad’s pace and knew all along he was gonna struggle to execute with the flavor and the rookie guards. This seems like one of those “let’s just get better every week” type of seasons.
I’ve Brent resenting the lions lack of aggression the past two years. It seems like Brad is waiting for the eagles to fall off the map the way the 49ers did to then become the eagles as far as aggression.
Letting zeitler walk, not signing Z (or anotjer DE), even his litttle stunt with anzalone, Campbell proved he can’t lock running backs and tight ends down on his own like AA can.
Just feel like Brad has been getting too cute the way BJ got in be Russ Washington in the play offs.
I mean if we all agree the offensive line is a downgrade to last year, not sure I’m ready to completely blame Morton as the issue. When your oline is struggling, it’s not easy calling plays, and Ben has talent in Chicago and they just looked very blah at home last night.
If your main gripe is with Dan/Brads offseason plan to not appropriately look for a Frank replacement and ignore edge rusher yet again, then I’m on board with that. I think relying on GG at center is a huge mistake and relying on a guy coming off a huge injury and a guy who can never stay healthy at end is a recipe for disaster.
This week is a MUST win game.
Is it because he’s up in a booth and not roaming the sidelines?
No it’s bc we’re all deeply paranoid.
During last night’s game, Tirico mentioned that it wasn’t just the two coordinators that left, but also 5 or 6 other guys that went with them. That has to be awful tough on those players to deal with relationships they depended on to be instantly gone.
Small expound here
I see it, as four separate pieces that when each is correct for the other three, we have total synergy
It’s is not imho about a more vertical thing …
Dan is the right HC. He needs the right OC and DC and Sat to implement his plan….
I think we will be fine and by fine is simply playing good football over time and seeing growth and yes it would be nice to win the game too
But I love this team and trust the long term process. So if we go 5-12, so be it. And on to the next year