Teams win Super Bowls with great defense, not with all this crap around going for it on 4th down. It was mentioned that we won many games doing that—yeah, good luck with that in a playoff game. So basically, we don’t have a defense. Name one dominant defensive player we have. We don’t, other than some fan favorites 
. This shows we’re far away from a Super Bowl. Don’t be upset with me; I’m just giving a reality check. The GM and coach literally have no clue how to build a defense.See you all in training camp
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Monkey never go on 4th down!
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You can certainly make that case about Great Defenses this year, the Trent Dilfer Buccaneers, and the 85 Bears. And you can certainly find some holes in our defense.
But Great Teams generally win Super Bowls. You are correct that going for in on 4th isn’t going to move a flawed team into Championship contention. Gimmicks/Trick Plays can impact a game, but they are not a consistent solution. The only consistent solution is talent on the roster (speaks to talented front office) and talented coaching.
I would suggest that most of this board knows and understands how far we fell this year and the distance that will need to put us back into contention. We may all have differing views of how to accomplish the objective, but this board isn’t comprised of fools.
As for our defense, we all want better. Our leadership has taken injury risks that have not worked out. But I recall our board pointing those choices in real time. Concerns about relying on Davenport. Our propensity for signing injured players in the secondary. This board pointed out the risks of the choices made and their concerns with those choices.
Regarding our Defense, we have one. In 2025 it ranked 22 in scoring defense, 20 in passing defense, and 14 in rushing defense. source: fox sports. The difference between being 22 and 10 is 4 points per game. That is 68 points over the course of the season. No small task. But you can win with a top 10 defense. And a Top 10 Offense. And solid special teams.
So yes, we have work to do. But this isn’t insurmountable. Just hard work.
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Ah yes. Remember them well.
Ray Lewis and Derrick Brooks were unstoppable!
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I started a thread about this too.
8-10 defenses made the playoffs.
The teams that went all the way were top 10 on both the offense and defense.
Our problem is our defense isn’t good enough. I do not think we’re built properly on that side of the ball.
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yea I was like…uh…
those ravens were one of my favorite teams.
“Imma run at you. all the time. also will punish you defensively (short of murder winkwink)”
You have better memory than me! 
Thanks for that.
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We were a top 10 defense at the bye, with a rookie DC. I think losing the entire starting secondary to injury (Reed was never the same after his hammy) played a huge part in the falling off of the defense, and it took the rookie a bit longer to figure out how to adapt.
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I really think that was a mirage
We gave up 27, 30, 24, 30 in 4 of those first 7 games
We held the Browns to 10 and Bucs to 9 that biased those rankings
2 good games,
The Lions were like 30th in average time to pressure. That is all on the DL and the read and react defensive approach we employ. Puts too much pressure on the back 5 that had no depth.
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Like I’ve said …. They’ve played well at times but consistency is their problem.
The last 3 years we’ve been devastated with secondary and DL injuries.
Most NFL teams suffer significant injuries in their secondary. That’s why teams carry 11-13 DB’s on their roster. The avg being 12. The Lions carry 10…. Two fewer than the league avg. that lack of depth shows once injuries mount.
On the DL several of our injuries are the same players every year. Throw in an injury from anyone else and suddenly the DL is depleted. It is time we move on from the guys who miss a majority of the year almost every year.
We can’t keep relying on PS players and street free agents to fill the voids we’re planning poorly for.
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for a while I was a proponent, because of the salary cap, of building the hell out of one side of the ball. Well I’d say we had one of the top offenses ever but it was our defense that let us down, continually. and it’s easier to stop a high powered offense than a high powered defense, IMO.
Now, you can get away with an average offense or defense if you have excellent coordinators and coaches. Putting the players into their positions of strength and not force them into a system that they can’t do well just because of what the coordinator wants to run.
the lions are in a bit of a grey area right now. this offense needs olinemen. they’re kind of the most important part of the offense. Even if we had to play a backup QB if he has time he can move the ball.
Our defense has almost the right people playing already. almost. even with branch and joseph out. It’s the pass rush issue. We have the players to do that as well. It is 100% defensive coaching. Here I think Dan is going to be too loyal again. I think we’ll fix the defense in the short term but I thnk we’re going to see the same issues. Offense will still be top 10, and probably top 5 rushing. With the DC and scheme we have, we’ll be a bottom third defense. Might make the playoffs and then get drummed out. again.
Just how I see it.
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Winning Championships starts with defenses typically.
But the fastest way to go from crap to solid is through the offense. You then build the defense as the offense is holding down the fort.
Look at KC.
I have been told by multiple coaches that their ideal way to build a team is as such:
- Best Athlete put at QB or RB but on offense
- The next 11 best athletes go on defense
- Then what is left build your Oline
- “I can then throw one of my defensive backfield guys in at RB and WR”
Even KC got on the map with offense and then hung in there with their defense.
If we have better offense Campbell will go on 4 th downs,if we have better defense we negate Campbell on 4 th down calls
Crunching the numbers.
Snap counts vs available snaps since 2023
DL: 230%
LB: 135%
DB: 265%
So the defense needs at a minimum 170% more snaps on the DL. Paschal, Levi, Wingo and Williams you would THINK at least contribute a little.
LB: 100-150% more snaps. minimum of 1 full starter
DBs: 200% more. Minimum of 2 starters.
And that INCLUDES depth!!!
No only are they missing 4-5 starters. They are missing 3-4 backups.
I dont want joey ,injury prone and over rated
Lions’ Top Free-Agent Target Immediately Clear After SBLX Lions' Top Free-Agent Target Immediately Clear After SBLX
good post….
also… 7 of the past 10 Super Bowl champs were top 5 scoring offenses.
Man. All this time I thought the key was just never get to 4th down.
Its almost alway top 8 in BOTH. Offense and defense.
And theres a few teams where one side is top 3 the other is top 12.
But the vast majority are top 8 in both
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I think it is often chicken/egg correlation
Teams with great defenses give their offenses more opportunities. Teams with great offenses limit the opposing teams opportunities
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