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Good Job Stopping The Run

TRENDING
The Lions had two big concerns coming out of training camp - stopping the run and running the ball. They came out of Week 1 about 50-50. The defense was very good against the run, limiting the Bucs to 56 yards. Running back LeGarrette Blount, who rushed for more than 100 yards against them last year, wasn't a factor at all (15 yards in five carries). The Bucs hardly played him at all in the second half when they went to a more hurry-up style attack. The Lions also kept a spy on quarterback Josh Freeman. Middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch shadowed him for the most part and he only had 26 yards rushing. As for the rushing offense, it's still not great (126 yards, 3.6 average). Jahvid Best had 72 yards in 21 carries (3.4), but when the Lions tried to ground out the clock in the fourth quarter, neither he nor Jerome Harrison could move the chains. Maurice Morris only carried twice and he fumbled once. His right hand (broken in camp) might still be an issue.

UNDER THE RADAR
With rookie wide receiver Titus Young still learning the ropes, the Lions are starting two tight ends instead of three wide receivers. The second tight end is Tony Scheffler and he's proving to be a matchup problem for teams. He's fast and runs excellent routes, so he's a load for a linebacker or a corner. He ran away from a linebacker Sunday for an 11-yard touchdown catch. Young made his debut, but looked confused at times. Stafford had to redirect him at the line of scrimmage a couple of times. Once he cost the team a long run when he lined up wrong.

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