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Lions disappoint

By Chrissie Wywrot

Chrissie Wywrot

Detroit received the opening kickoff and went three-and-out. Seven plays later, the San Diego Chargers had moved 62 yards to the endzone – all but 10 yards were on the ground – and never looked back.

“I think the whole thing kind of (got out of control), really,” said Head Coach Rod Marinelli after the game. “We tried to run the ball early – we couldn’t. We couldn’t establish the run. The turnovers hurt us early. Then we’ve got to stop the run.

“That whole thing together; it’s a full team and the coaching staff. It all kind of unraveled today.”

It’s a problem the Lions have faced off and on all year: intensity on the road.

At Oakland and at Chicago, Detroit came out fierce right out of the gate and rolled over the opposition. For the other five games, however, it was the other team that had the intensity advantage and it showed in the end results.

“One week we’re going to tackle very well; the next week we don’t,” said Marinelli. “Then turnovers one week and sometimes we’ll protect the ball well. But it’s (still) about a team. As a team and a coaching staff we’re not executing.”

As he has each week, Marinelli took ownership for the loss.

He put the blame on himself and the coaching staff stating that, “you work with these men and coach them and it’s still on us as teachers – bottom line.”

The question of talent came up after Sunday’s game, but Marinelli reiterated the importance of teaching and consistency. A week ago – though it wasn’t good enough – the team played well. They tackled well, hustled and executed.

At San Diego, it almost seemed like an entirely different team.

“We’ve got to get these guys to play better,” said Marinelli. “If they’re not intense, not as emotional as they should be, that’s on us – that reflects me. I’ve got to get this group of men flying to the ball better, consistently.

“A week ago we did it – but not good enough. This week we didn’t. That’s the consistency I’m looking for and I’m not getting it.”

Detroit had trouble doing just about everything against the Chargers.

Running the ball didn’t work and – on the other end – San Diego accrued two 100-yard rushers in LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles. The Lions also turned the ball over six times – five interceptions and one fumble on a kickoff return – while they were unable to take the ball away.

“We just can’t turn the ball over like that – you can’t win,” said Marinelli. “Even though we weren’t playing very good run defense, obviously, but at least you give yourself a chance. Protect the football. We didn’t get any takeaways either.”

If Marinelli knew exactly why his team was having trouble with consistency, he would flip a switch and fix it – but unfortunately it isn’t that easy.

He will be, however, looking for a particular type of player as the season winds down.

“The thing I told them is we’ve got to get back and find out what we’re made of this week,” said Marinelli. “We came out last week and played about as hard as you can play: tackled, hustled, those things and we come out here and we don’t do that.

“It’s a lack of consistency, mental toughness – whatever you want to call it. But it’s just inexcusable and we’ve got to get it right.”

After Sunday’s loss, the Lions are 6-8 heading into their final two games against Kansas City and at Green Bay. Though Detroit may be out of the playoff race, Marinelli sees the great importance of not finishing the year on a losing streak.

“It’s really important – key,” said Marinelli. “This has been a struggle – this hurts – but its football and you get what you deserve in this league. You get exactly what you deserve, so hopefully if we can stay after it, keep working – we can break this streak.”

As the season winds down in its final two weeks, Marinelli will be looking for something very important.

“What I told them and what I believe is: we come in, we come back to work this week and we see who can do it right now,” he said. “I want to see who’s going to line up and play.

“I know we’ll come out at home and fly – I know, we’ve been doing that most of the year – but I want to see who can finish both games right now.”