Lions QB Stafford is now focus of Eagles defense
Jim Schwartz is thankful for Dancing with the Stars this week. In previous years, including Schwartz's five years coaching the Detroit Lions, an opposing defensive coordinator prepared for the Lions by first focusing on wide receiver Calvin Johnson. But in Johnson's first year of an early retirement, he's dancing on national TV. So Schwartz was able to put together a game plan for the Eagles-Lions game on Sunday without needing to worry about Johnson.
Jim Schwartz is thankful for Dancing with the Stars this week.
In previous years, including Schwartz's five years coaching the Detroit Lions, an opposing defensive coordinator prepared for the Lions by first focusing on wide receiver Calvin Johnson. But in Johnson's first year of an early retirement, he's dancing on national TV. So Schwartz was able to put together a game plan for the Eagles-Lions game on Sunday without needing to worry about Johnson.
"I bet you every single game that he played, the defensive coordinator started his game plan with, 'Number 81 isn't going to beat us,' " Schwartz said. "So it does change how you approach them. But a lot of it has to do with the trigger man and has to do with the quarterback."
That quarterback is Matthew Stafford, who was Schwartz's first draft pick in Detroit and is in his eighth season starting for the Lions. Stafford has completed 104 of 156 pass attempts this year for 1,198 yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions. He's on pace for his sixth consecutive season with more than 4,000 passing yards, proving that the Lions can still be effective through the air without Johnson.
It helps that they signed Marvin Jones from Cincinnati during the offseason. Jones, 26, is second in the NFL with 482 receiving yards through four games. He had six receptions for 205 yards and two touchdowns in Week 3 against Green Bay and is questionable this week with a foot injury.
"Everyone realizes there's only one Calvin Johnson. . . . It's not a matter of him coming in and trying to replace Calvin," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said of Jones. "But Marvin has his own qualities, his own uniqueness about him."
Jones is not alone. Golden Tate and Anquan Boldin both have Pro Bowls on their resumes. Tate has not been productive in the season's first quarter (14 catches for 95 yards), but offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter told reporters that Tate will have a "huge week" this week.
The Lions will play without tight end Eric Ebron, who could have presented matchup problems in the middle of the field if not for knee and ankle injuries. But there are still enough options - especially with the way Jones is playing - that Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said it's "not much different" playing the Lions without Johnson.
"Obviously, when you have Calvin Johnson out there, you can always, when you're in a jam, throw it up regardless of who's out there, if he's double-teamed, triple-teamed," Jenkins said. "I don't see that outlet anymore, but they're moving pretty efficiently."
Jenkins' respect for the Lions is also colored by his experience on Thanksgiving last year, when the Lions scored 45 points against the Eagles in a blowout. Stafford threw for five touchdowns that day, including three to Johnson. The other two were to Tate and running back Theo Riddick.
Riddick received praise from Jenkins as a dangerous threat in the receiving game, and the numbers suggest Jenkins is correct. Riddick caught all five targets against the Eagles last year and had 80 receptions. He has 20 receptions in four games this season, putting him on pace for another 80-catch campaign.
That game is not a useful resource, though, because the Eagles are in an entirely different scheme and have different personnel this year. Nolan Carroll was injured early in that game, meaning Jenkins is the only returning defensive back who played the majority of that game. Rodney McLeod and Leodis McKelvin, who is back in the lineup after missing two games, are new to the starting lineup. Ron Brooks is the new slot cornerback. Schwartz is an accomplished defensive coordinator who brought in a 4-3, attacking scheme.
"This year, we feel like our matchups are a little better," Jenkins said, "But we still got to stop the run, still got to get after the quarterback. That's what is allowing us to play well in the back end."
And, of course, the Lions don't have Johnson. Schwartz just needs to remember all the times Stafford threw Johnson the ball when defensive coordinators thought they had the right coverage.
"He's a much easier guy to play defense [against] when he's dancing with the stars instead of on the field because that big joker demanded double teams, and he could wreck your game," Schwartz said.
Now, preparing for the Lions means focusing on Stafford and an ensemble of pass catchers. The Lions can still put up numbers through the air, but the matchup is different than it was for nine seasons.
"Even though Calvin is not there, Stafford moves the ball around to all the receivers," Schwartz said. "He doesn't just have one favorite. . . . We're going to have to play very well to stop him."
Extra points
Eagles defensive lineman Bennie Logan is questionable with a left calf spasm. He did not practice on Friday, but coach Doug Pederson said Logan is "feeling better." . . . In addition to Ebron, the Lions declared defensive end Ziggy Ansah and linebacker DeAndre Levy out for Sunday's game. Running back Dwayne Washington is doubtful.
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