In Week 3 action, the Detroit Lions will embark on their first road trip of the season and face a formidable challenge in stopping Kyler Murray and covering talented youngster Marvin Harrison Jr. Three important questions will be addressed in this piece prior to the Lions vs. Arizona Cardinals game.
QB Kyler Murray of the Cardinals: Can the Lions contain him?
Last Saturday, Kyler Murray was in the kitchen. Watch some of the highlights from Arizona’s crushing victory over the Los Angeles Rams, please. In route to a perfect passer rating, Murray was stretching plays in the pocket, letting the ball fly, and only throwing four interceptions.In several crucial areas last week, Baker Mayfield’s inaccuracy caused the Lions to stumble; therefore, the key to victory is rising to the challenge of a player like Murray. Murray and Harrison’s developing relationship is one to keep an eye on; the two have connected four times for 130 yards and two touchdowns. With Harrison appearing to be settling into the NFL nicely and Murray’s ability to stretch plays and allow the ball to go downfield, the Lions know what has to be done to turn things around in Arizona.Lions head coach Dan Campbell stated earlier this week, “And the fact they have incorporated under center with it and the heavy runs with boots off of it, really hard action, get him out of the pocket completely, let him see the field, and if it is not there you see what he can do with his feet.” “So, I just think it is great because it gives them a lot of control over the game,” If you let them, they can take charge of the game, and I believe it has been beneficial for him. It is exactly what he needs. He received a perfect quarterback rating, after all. Simply put, I believe it matches him well. I believe that they are still utilizing the weapons with which he can cause trouble.
“He dodged so many missed tackles and sacks last week that I have not even begun to count, but that will be a project for me tonight because it was incredible. It is just, like, over and over again. He is thus deadly, dude. He poses a threat.
Will Aidan Hutchinson benefit greatly from yet another winning matchup?
Leading the NFL in almost every pass-rushing category is Aidan Hutchinson. In addition to recording 17 pressures and 5.5 sacks, he has won over 40% of his pass-rushing reps. Hutchinson has benefited greatly from advantageous matchups thus far, and he will have the opportunity to do so once again in the west.With Christian Jones and Jonah Williams out due to injury, Hutchinson is evaluating Paris Johnson Jr. on the left and Kelvin Beachum on the right for the Cardinals. But most of the time, Beachum, it is going to be the right tackle.Hutchinson asserted, “It all comes down to being in the right place at the right time and timing. A lot of those were just because the d-line, we were all rushing together as one, too. That always helps. Again, just everybody rushing together is vital in anybody getting sacks, really. It is a culmination of a lot, definitely physically, definitely mentally, just being in the league now, seeing what I have seen. Everything just kind of slows down more once you have been in the game. Just my development as a player, too, I think all those things, year after year, as those develop, your level of play will only rise.”
But really. It is not acceptable to score on just one out of seven trips inside the 20-yard line. The Lions have been working hard this week to improve upon that terrible performance since they are aware of this. No matter how much sugarcoating is done on the subject, several of those drives were doomed by hard early-down looks that forced them into the red zone. However, the field-goal unit is end-of-half punishment and the missed opportunities were the game-ending plays.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff stated, “I really think that is uncharacteristic of us.” We were able to shift the ball, as you mentioned. We had a good number of yards. In some of those circumstances, I need to be more diligent in looking after the ball and “We did not play well enough on offense, and we only got down there seven times, which is probably the most since Ben has been calling plays,” the player said. “In the end, we did not capitalize on it, and they did a good job on defense.”
