Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi is best known for his lineage, but wide receiver Golden Tate says opponents know a lot about Lombardi’s play-calling, too.
During an interview on 105.1 FM in Detroit (h/t ESPN’s Michael Rothstein), Tate said each week an opponent has admitted to him that the defense recognized what was coming before the snap.
“I don’t know how they know or what film they’re watching that we’re giving away. That’s something, we need to go back and watch our tendencies to figure out what, where we line up or how we line up or what formation, whatever it may be, we got to figure it out because we’re clearly giving [our plays] away.
“All three weeks, a player has come up to me and said ‘we knew what you’re going to do.’ That’s bad.”
Although Denver Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby mentioned that same thing after the game, the second-year corner wasn’t who told the Lions wideout, per Tate.
Broncos safety David Bruton Jr. also revealed he knew a specific play because of a particular block by the running back. Bruton proceeded to pick off a Matthew Stafford pass.
Whether it’s play-calling tendencies or giveaways by the Lions on the field, the team needs to discover the problem. Detroit has trudged to an 0-3 start, and its next two opponents are the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals, who each boast one of an elite NFL defense.
The Lions were considered the a potential sleeper team, but right now, Detroit is simply one of the most predictable.