Sharp: Lions closer to a rebuild than a playoff run

There are no easy answers for the Detroit Lions, because when a team collectively reeks as they have through two games, there never are any snap-of-the-finger solutions. It’s never as simple as blaming the scheming, because that implies there’s already an abundance of talent.

But when in doubt, it doesn’t hurt looking at the quarterback.

Matthew Stafford moved gingerly through the locker room Monday afternoon following a quick walk-through. He understandably wouldn’t divulge specifics of his physical state. But he’s obviously nowhere close to 100% physically two weeks into the regular season. He might not be anywhere close to 75%.

At the very least, he has sore ribs. That’s the equivalent of putting a bull’s-eye on Stafford’s chest.

Whatever anyone thinks about Stafford’s aptitude as a winning NFL quarterback, don’t ever question his toughness. Don’t ever doubt his resolve in getting up after taking a brutal hit. As receiver Golden Tate noted Monday, the man is “one tough son-of-a-gun.”

But the underlying issue as the Lions press forward from an embarrassing 0-2 start isn’t how much punishment Stafford already has endured, but rather how much pain awaits this team as it finally realizes that it simply isn’t as talented as the apologists initially thought.

The NFL is a quarterbacks league. I get it. But the Lions’ problems extend beyond the lingering questions regarding their seven-year quarterback.

Stafford says he's OK, but Week 3 uncertain

The defense is an atrocity. Minnesota manhandled the Lions’ front four despite not having 40% of its expected starting lineup due to season-ending injuries. The Lions had the league’s top rushing defense a year ago. They surrendered nearly 200 rushing yards against a Vikings’ offensive strategy that lacked a single shred of mystery. They were feeding Adrian Peterson the ball until he collapsed from overuse.

The Lions’ offensive line remains a work in progress. Any offensive line that has replaced 60% of its starters needs time building the necessary cohesion. But there isn’t a time frame fast enough that could satisfy the rabid expectations of those who foolishly thought a month ago that this rebuilt offensive line already was better than last year’s unit.

It’s time to admit that the Lions have an aging core. Calvin Johnson has become a possession receiver. He got targeted 400% more at Minnesota than a week earlier at San Diego. But he never once had that field-stretching play that defined his career. Middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch is slowing down. Through two games, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is only a shell of his former Pro Bowl-playing self. And wasn’t he supposed to be better than Ndamukong Suh?

It’s finally time to admit these Lions already have reached their competitive ceiling. They’re much closer to another dramatic personnel rebuild than they are to a long playoff run.

The season’s probably over after two weeks.

Since the NFL converted to its current playoff format 25 years ago, 24 of the 205 teams that started the regular season 0-2 made the playoffs that season. That’s just under 12%. Or basically one out of 10 teams.

It has occurred only twice in the previous seven seasons.

With Lucas struggling, Lions counting on Waddle

There could be as many as nine 0-2 teams following Monday night’s game.

Don’t you think 0-2 Seattle or 0-2 Baltimore has a much better shot at becoming the 25th team since 1990 to make the playoffs than the Lions? Of course they do. They’ve got a better chance because they’ve won previously. The challenge of overcoming a poor start doesn’t intimidate them as it does the Lions. It doesn’t leave them with serious questions about the direction they’re headed in the coming weeks — unlike the Lions.

That’s because the Seahawks and Ravens know what they are. They’ve won before. They know their identity. They know their strengths.

The Lions don’t have an identity because their greatest strength is also their greatest weakness. Hope was their biggest blessing entering a season of high expectations. But after a 0-2 start with two tough games against Denver and Seattle waiting, that hope has become their curse.

Believing they were better than they actually were.

It’s easy primarily blaming the quarterback, because that’s what Detroit always has done when it angrily lashes out at another Lions season tilting toward disaster.

Contact Drew Sharp: dsharp@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @drewsharp. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/drew-sharp/.

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