Detroit Lions vs atLanta faLcons JOHNSON'S Mega-PURSUIT 2012 ...

meDia information
Detroitlions.com -- Media.Detroitlions.com
the slot or the X or the Z, whatever he is, and not even blink is
pretty impressive.”
SHOULdeRINg THe BLaMe
With a 38-10 loss at Arizona, the Lions have lost six straight
heading into their matchup with Atlanta. After the loss, QB Matthew
Stafford, who’s two interceptions returned for touchdowns
helped the Cardinals to victory, took responsibility for the loss.
Stafford on the game: “That’s about as bad as I can play. For
us to be successful, I’m going to have to play a whole lot better
than that and I understand that… It’s on me. I have to play
better. I take that loss. I told those guys in there that one’s on
me. And it’s on me to get it right and get this thing going in the
right direction.”
Head coach Jim Schwartz acknowledged that while Stafford
needs to play better, he cannot be held solely responsible.
Schwartz on Stafford taking the blame: “Yeah, Matt’s got
to take better care of the football in a couple situations, but
also we have to do a better job around him. One of those turnovers
was on special teams. We didn’t get out of the way of
a returner trying to catch a ball when the ball was about a
60-yard punt – that’s not on Matt. The other thing is: when
they wanted to double Calvin on every single play, we’ve got to
have another guy step up and make a play and we had nobody,
really, step up and make plays today. We had a chance in the
fourth quarter down 14. We dropped a ball. We had a hard time
getting anything going when they doubled Calvin. Guess what?
That’s what they’re going to do. We have to find a way to be
able to get him the ball – I mean for other guys to be able to
make a play. I thought we got our butts kicked up front. Matt
took too many hits, but of course he’s going to say that, but
there’s other ways that we can help him, too.”
Two of Stafford’s main targets, WR Calvin Johnson and TE Tony
Scheffler, were quick to deflect blame from their quarterback after
he took responsibility in the locker room and when speaking
with the media.
Johnson on Stafford taking the blame: “Right after he broke
it down, he said that. I went up to him. I was like, ‘Man, that’s
not all on you, bro. It’s a team effort.’”
Scheffler on Stafford taking the blame: “You know, I don’t
think Matt needed to do that but I think it means a lot to the
players. We all know that we could have played better. It’s not
on him. It’s not on one person.”
LB Stephen Tulloch, Stafford’s counterpart as the defensive signal
caller, also noted that all of the blame was not on the quarterback,
but rather the team as a whole. He also noted that the
team needs more players like Stafford who are willing to own up
to mistakes.
2012 STaTISTIcaL cOMPaRISON
Category DET Rk ATL Rk
Points Per Game 23.6 14 26.5 7
Total Offense 406.5 2 377.4 7
Rushing Offense 104.4 23 89.9 28
Passing Offense 302.1 1 287.5 5
Points Allowed/Game 27.1 28 18.5 4
Total Defense 337.5 12 354.4 19
Rushing Defense 119.4 18 124.9 24
Passing Defense 218.1 11 229.5 17
3rd Down Offense % 42.5 8 46.4 2
3rd Down Defense % 36.3 7 40.6 23
Turnover Ratio -9 24t +9 8
Lions-faLcons connections
FORMeR TeaMMaTeS
¾ Lions LB Stephen Tulloch (2006-10) and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch
(2005-09) played on the same Titans defense coached by Lions
head coach Jim Schwartz (2001-08) as Falcons S Chris Hope
(2006-11).
¾ Lions LB Justin Durant (2007-10) and CB Drayton Florence
(2008) played on the same Jaguars defense as Falcons LB Mike
Peterson (2003-08).
¾ Lions CB Drayton Florence (2003-07) and WR Kassim Osgood (2003-
09) played in San Diego with Falcons RB Michael Turner (2004-07).
cOacHINg cONNecTIONS
¾ Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan (2005) was the Dolphins
offensive coordinator when Falcons special teams coordinator
Keith Armstrong (2001-07) was the special teams coach.
Falcons linebackers coach Glenn Pires (2003-07) was also on
staff.
¾ When Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham (1991-
94) became the defensive coordinator for the Raiders, Falcons
defensive line coach Ray Hamilton (1993-94) took over duties
coaching the defensive line. Falcons receivers coach Terry Robiskie
(1982-93) was the offensive coordinator of those Raiders
teams.
¾ Lions special teams coordinator Danny Crossman (2003-09) and
Falcons secondary coach Tim Lewis (2007-08) both coached in
Carolina.
cOLLege cONNecTIONS
¾ Lions WR Calvin Johnson (2004-06) and Falcons FB Mike Cox (2004-
07) played on the same Ramblin’ Wreck offense at Georgia Tech for
three seasons. Falcons DT Vance Walker (2005-08) played on the opposite
side of the ball.
¾ Lions QB Matthew Stafford (2006-09), WR Kris Durham (2006-10)
and FB Shaun Chapas (2006-10) played with Falcons LB Akeem Dent
(2006-10) at Georgia.
¾ Lions T Gosder Cherilus (2004-07) protected Falcons QB Matt Ryan
(2003-07) along the Boston College offensive line for four seasons.
FORMeR FaLcONS
¾ Lions CB Chris Houston (2007-09) began his career in Atlanta after
being drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft by the
Falcons. Houston started 37 of 44 games in Atlanta and compiled
162 tackles (145 solo), 34 pass defenses, two fumble recoveries,
one forced fumble and three interceptions, one returned for
a touchdown.
eX-LIONS
¾ Falcons linebackers coach Glenn Pires (2001-02) coached the
linebackers in Detroit for two seasons.
¾ Falcons assistant special teams coach Eric Sutulovich (2008)
was a Lions offensive assistant before joining the Falcons staff
in 2009.
FaMILY TIeS
¾ Lions WR Brian Robiskie will face off against his father, Falcons
receivers coach Terry Robiskie.
Lions-faLcons series
The Lions have dominated their series against the Falcons that dates
back to 1966, holding a 23-11 record. Their .676 win percentage
against the Falcons is their highest against any NFC team and is second-highest
against any team in the NFL. The Lions won the first nine
games, though they have dropped the last two. The Lions also own a
very impressive 14-5 mark at home against the Falcons but are 1-2 at
Ford Field. In their most recent matchup in 2011, the Lions fell 23-16
at Ford Field. Lions K Jason Hanson booted three field goals and QB
Matthew Stafford connected on a 57-yd touchdown pass to WR Calvin
Johnson who finished the day with five catches for 115 yards and the
touchdown grab. The Lions were undone by a stagnant offense that
was held under 300 net yards and gained only 13 first downs.
SeRIeS BY THe NUMBeRS
Regular Season Record vs. Atl: .....................................................23-11-0
Home Record vs. Atl ........................................................................... 14-5-0
Record at Ford Field ..............................................................................1-2-0
Road Record vs. Atl: ..............................................................................9-6-0
Record at Georgia Dome.......................................................................1-3-0
Last regular season game: ................ Det 16, Atl 23 vs. Atl (10/23/11)