For the first time since being let go as head coach of the Lions nine months ago, Jim Schwartz will be in Detroit in Sunday, coordinating the Buffalo Bills’ defense.
For five seasons, Schwartz helped to build a respectable Detroit team, but one that could never get over the hump and one criticized for having lack of discipline in key games and situations. But despite returning to a spot where he had his first opportunity as an NFL head coach, Schwartz says his emotions returning to Detroit are “about the same as any week”.
“I’ve been a visitor there before, so I know where the visitors locker room is, in addition to the home locker room,” said Schwartz. “It’s an important game for us. It’s a road game and we’re coming off of a two-game skid and we need to be able to get it back. Whether it’s the Lions or any other team, everybody has connections in this league. Every coach has coached somewhere else. It doesn’t play into the game.”
When asked about how he will be received by Lions fans, Schwartz said that it “doesn’t matter” and it’s “not important”. As for the players he is currently coaching on the defensive side, Schwartz said that rookie linebacker Preston Brown has been “outstanding” since the team drafted him in May, compiling 40 tackles, which ranks fourth in the NFL, and playing in place of a suspended Nigel Bradham in Week 1, and playing for Keith Rivers when the veteran was dealing with a groin injury.
“Go back to OTAs, minicamp, training camp and he’s played Mike, he’s played outside linebacker,” Schwartz said of Brown. “He’s played at a high level. He’s been good against the run and the pass. With losing Kiko [Alonso] coming in, I don’t think we could be where we are right now without Preston.”
The linebackers and defensive front have worked seamlessly within a new scheme that uses more 4-3 fronts to be the third best total run defense in the league, only allowing 71.5 yards per game on the ground. But despite the early success defending the run and being tied fifth in the NFL in takeaways with eight thus far, Schwartz isn’t satisfied.
“We’re 2-2,” said Schwartz. “That’s the only thing you can talk about. We need to make one more play. In our two losses, we’re a play away from putting our offense in a position to win. We’ve just got to find a way to make one more third down stop, make one more red zone stop or give up one less big play. The standard is high and we have to be able to live up to it.”
Despite a talented backfield with Reggie Bush and JOIQUE BELL, the Lions are 26th in rushing, averaging only 87.3 yards per game, along with only 3.1 yards per attempt, which is tied for second-to-last in the NFL. As for how much knowledge of Detroit’s players and schemes, Schwartz doesn’t see much there.
“I think that’s probably overplayed because they have a new scheme on offense and defense,” said Schwartz. “There’s completely new terminology and new coaches and things like that. There are some position coaches that are left.”
“We know the players every week. I mean, that’s what we’re paid to do. We have scouts and we know the league. You try to accentuate the positives of your guys, try to minimize the negatives of your guys and you try to exploit the weaknesses of opponents. That doesn’t change this week as opposed to last week or any other week.”
Both linebacker Nigel Bradham and defensive tackle Kyle Williams are listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game with knee injuries. Schwartz said he doesn’t comment on injury situations, but did say the team will “have to come out with a way to get a win, regardless of who’s out there”.
“It’s not anything that’s unusual for us,” said Schwartz. “We’ve done it since the opener. We didn’t have [Stephon] Gilmore in the opener. Corey Graham stepped up and had an interception in the game and had an overtime pass breakup and a breakup on the last drive of the game that set us up to be able to get the win. If a guy isn’t able to play, we expect the next guy to step up and execute our scheme.”
One player for Detroit that’s nearly impossible to scheme for or cover is Calvin Johnson. At 6’5”, 235 pounds, Johnson’s size and speed combination (4.35 40 yard dash) are unmatched by any receiver, let alone any defensive back.
Johnson is questionable with an ankle injury, but Schwartz says he doesn’t think anybody has “figured out a plan” to stop Johnson when he is on the field. However, Buffalo’s previous experience with the challenges of playing large receivers this season (Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffrey, Malcolm Floyd, Andre Johnson) could be helpful.
“We’ve played some guys that are just about as big,” said Schwartz. “They’re becoming more and more common, but I don’t know if anybody can compare to Calvin Johnson. He didn’t look like himself last week against the Jets, but the others guys stepped up. GOLDEN TATE stepped up and had a big game for them. They scored enough to win and that’s the only thing that’s really important in this league.”
The Lions offense has done a great job converting on 3rd downs, as they rank fourth in the league, converting 52.4% of them. But Schwartz says that stats prove there are weaknesses in their ability to convert.
“Their percentage on third downs comes from third and two to six,” said Schwartz. “They’re almost 80 percent in those areas. They’re really efficient. The ball is coming out quick. (Matt Stafford’s) always been a quick trigger guy. The ball is coming out fast and they’re keeping the chains alive. They’re 50 percent on third downs. That number drops significantly when they get over seven yards. We talked a little bit about run defense; that’s the job of our run defense to put them in some third down and long calls to give time for Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes and Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus to get home to the quarterback in those situations.”
Forcing Detroit into tough situations on offense will be one way to give Buffalo a chance to pull off the upset. Another will be Kyle Orton playing well in his first start under center for the Bills.
