Detroit Lions Keys to Victory Over San Francisco 49ers Dan Campbell
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is well aware of the challenge his team faces in the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
“It’s an offensive defense and they certainly have some parts up front. They have a damn good middle linebacker and a pretty good secondary,” Campbell told reporters on Monday. “That’s only on the defensive front. Offensively, I think there are very few who do a better job offensively than (head coach Kyle) Shanahan. He’s got guns, starts with (George) Kittle. The things they can” about do, mix up the running game, play pass and a lot of eye candy to try to get your defenses on your heels. This is a great test for us. This is a good team and it is a well trained team. ”
Here are some keys to the Lions winning their Ford Field season opener.
Watch management
Detroit’s Offense will attempt to control the pace of the game with a balance between running and passing games.
A successful running game is important to any NFL team, but only to the Lions.
By investing in the offensive, Lions will try to win possession time – by a large margin.
If D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams and Jermar Jefferson can eat the clock, it would keep Shanahan’s offense off the field, and it would be a bonus for the Lions’ defense.
Avoid falling for the eye candy
Campbell mentioned the challenges the 49ers’ offense can pose to opposing defenses.
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The Lions will prepare for two quarterbacks, Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance.
The 49ers have high-end talent in multiple positions on their offensive, and it will be important that the Lions defensive remains disciplined in all four quarters.
“I mentioned eye candy, they are going to give you some eye candy. They are going to do the wrong sweeps, the wrong jet sweep move, try to pull your eyes or see if you are undisciplined: ‘Are your eyes? Follow you instead of following your barrel key, or is your description in the passport? ‘ I think they do, and then they know how to cut the defense, “said Campbell. “They can move you in one direction and then they bring the full-back back. They bring (Kyle Juszczyk) back # 44 and they will cut you in the back motion on some of these runs, move your eyes in that direction and they throw the ball to the ball carrier who moves in the same way with the Casper move back and he cuts off the defense. “
He added: “I think they are as good as any other on some of these runs. But then they stretch, stretch, stretch, and then they stretch and misdirect, be it with litter or some of the other things they do. Then they build their play-action-pass game, their run-action-pass game, out of all of the same stuff. It’s easy to tell if you can stop the running game, then it will make your life a lot easier. It’ll make it a lot easier, but that’s easier said than done. “
Feed TJ Hockenson early and often
If there is one player who will consistently shift the chains for the Lions offense, it will be the third year tight end ready to emerge as one of the best tight ends in the game.
Quarterback Jared Goff quickly developed a relationship with his # 1 option in the passing attack.
There is no question that Hockenson can help his team to victory, and in order for the Lions to leave Ford Field with the victory, Goff has to target him with very high frequency.
“It’ll be good. I hope our man has a much better game than his man, I know that. I’ve had a lot of respect for Kittle from afar. When I watch him, I think he’s one of the rare ones Tight Ends is who can do anything and do it well, “said Campbell Block, but still he’s a dynamic receiver. He’s tall, strong, physical. Our guy is damn good too. He can do a lot of things that Kittle does, and I think he can do it for us – we have to find ways to get him the soccer ball and let him do what he does because I know he can help us win. “
