Where Has the GRIT Gone?

The Core of This Team is Missing: GRIT

Let’s Talk About What Has Happened

Okay folks, I could take a bunch of time and break down what happened in the Carolina Panthers game last night. However, we all saw what happened. The Lions defense looked… exactly as it did during the Buffalo Bills game. Incapable. Terrible. Rough. Undermanned. Choose your adjective. I can tell, everyone is frustrated, confused, and asking why? Initially some writers stated that the Lions dearth of talent was the reason for our poor performance. However, that’s not what I am seeing. I could satiate my own thoughts around that initially by saying we just needed a corner. However, there is more going on here…

The Lions Defense Looks Lost

First and foremost the Lions defense looks lost, and without purpose. This falls back on two people, Kelvin Sheppard and Dan Campbell. We all know Dan Campbell has had issues with keeping coordinators, but he did lose both his OC and DC in the same offseason. I can give him a bit of grace here. Not saying I’m happy, but I can say that Dan had reason for his poor hire of John Morton, and then improvement with Drew Petzing. I can also give Dan a bit of grace for year one with Kelvin Sheppard, and seeing games like the “Legion on Whom” game which made it look like Sheppard was legit and would be able to hold up. I think we all had some hope. However…

Unfortunately, It’s Time For Another Change

Last night’s game puts the Lions squarely in last in a lot of defensive categories. I believe it slaps them into the bottom 5 on the ones that aren’t last. Furthermore, last night pulled the GRIT right out of this team. This year we have seen moments of GRIT, where we have stood up and pushed through and succeeded. However, it’s inconsistent. And so I ask you where has the GRIT gone?

I would argue that it is being drained by Kelvin Sheppard and his inability to lead the players we have on defense. Do I think the players we have are perfect and going to give us a top 10 defense? Absolutely not. However, this team CAN make do with lower end players and has done so before. What is out there is unacceptable. Why did the offense lose its steam last night? Wouldn’t you?! You go out there and fight, and the defense is literally the complete inverse of what you are on offense. You are competent, they are incompetent. It all comes back to this defense sucking the life and GRIT out of this team.

I Call For Kacy Rodgers

No defensive coordinator candidate is going to touch this scheme or players mid season, they are going to want their own scheme and players. We aren’t hiring Jim Schwartz mid season, get that out of your head. It’s simply not how things work. However, the Lions defense has had one unit that has been capable, and that’s the defensive line. Thus, I think we need to let Sheppard go at the BYE, and install Kacy Rodgers, defensive line coach. He knows the players, knows the scheme, and has shown capability. Again, this isn’t to try to push us to a great defense. It’s simply to take the one person who is showing a capability and put them in a position of power to hopefully find some GRIT again. They need it. Badly.

Thanks to GrootTheDutch for the help with the idea for this article, and the title.