Cardinals' Mathieu on Lions: 'They look out of sync'
Allen Park -- The Cardinals will spend much of this week reviewing the Lions’ offense ahead of Sunday’s game, and safety Tyrann Mathieu has already diagnosed at least one problem.
“For me, they just look like they don’t quite understand the system yet, so to say, because you think about it, those guys, they could easily put up 30 points a game,” Mathieu said on a teleconference Wednesday.
All offseason, Lions players and coaches discussed how much more comfortable the team looked in the second year of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi’s scheme. Any improved comfort level has yet to manifest itself as the team ranks 29th in total offense and points per game.
Despite having one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL with Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, the Lions have scored just seven offensive touchdowns with those players combining for just one.
“I’m very, very, very surprised,” Mathieu said of the Lions’ offense struggling. “You look at those guys’ personnel on offense along with Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate. I think those two guys alone have you raising your eyebrows as to wondering why they haven’t been putting up a lot of points this season.
“It’s one of those teams, man, that they look out of sync right now, but they’ll find their rhythm at some point during the season.”
Lions favor reform to NFL's review system
The few times the Lions have appeared to have much rhythm on offense is late in games as they try to mount comebacks. They nearly had a go-ahead, 91-yard touchdown drive against Seattle Monday, but Johnson fumbled at the 1-yard line. Asked why that drive worked after failing to reach the red zone in the previous nine drives against the Seahawks, quarterback Matthew Stafford simply pointed to execution.
In discussing the Lions’ offense, Mathieu also praised Stafford and the Lions’ running backs.
“They have the personnel to score 30 points a game, and all you can do is really raise questions as to why they aren’t clicking on all cylinders,” he said.
jkatzenstein@detroitnews.com
twitter.com/jkatzenstein