–The Lions have found alternative ways to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks while their best pass rusher is battling another injury.
Four Lions linebackers accounted for all six of the team’s sacks in last week’s 30-27 loss to the 49ers.
Defensive end Ziggy Ansah did not play in that game because of a shoulder injury, but Devon Kennard (two sacks), Jarrad Davis (two), Christian Jones and Eli Harold got consistent pressure on Jimmy Garoppolo thanks to good coverage from the secondary.
Just two teams have more sacks than the Lions’ eight through two weeks, the Bears and Cowboys, and Kennard ranks among the NFL leaders with three sacks.
“When we need to, we’ve got to make the quarterback uncomfortable, we’ve got to try to be disruptive,” defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni said. “And (our linebackers) work, fundamentally and technique-wise, they’re working as hard at that as they are stopping runs. So, they understand it and they’re excited about it and they’re a hell of a group to work with.”
–The Matthew Stafford-to-Marvin Jones connection was one of the deadliest in the NFL last season, when Jones averaged 18 yards a catch and ranked among the NFL’s leader in explosive passing plays.
But Stafford and Jones have yet to find their groove this year, as the Lions quarterback and No. 1 receiver have connected on just eight of 17 pass attempts, with just one of those plays going for more than 20 yards.
Stafford missed an open Jones on three deep shots last week against the 49ers, but offensive coordinator Jim Bon Cooter called that performance and “outlier” and said he expects the duo to find their groove soon.
“I think they’re obviously lower percentage throws than anything else, but just for me, I’ve got to give him chances,” Stafford said. “He’s a great — all of our guys, really, are great at going and getting the ball when it’s in the air, so just maybe take a little bit off of them and let those guys jump up and catch them.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 11 — Kenny Golladay became the 11th different player to have a 100-yard receiving game with Matthew Stafford as his quarterback when he caught seven passes for 114 yards in a Week 1 loss to the New York Jets. Lions receivers have 84 100-yard receiving games in all with Stafford, including 37 by Calvin Johnson, 12 by Golden Tate and five by Marvin Jones.
