Detroit Lions hit Bucs QB Josh McCown so hard, they felt sorry for him

DETROIT -- How badly did the Detroit Lions beat up Tampa Bay quarterback Josh McCown?

They were actually feeling sorry for the guy after a 34-17 win at Ford Field.

"I felt sorry for him," defensive end George Johnson said. "We beat him up pretty good."

Defensive end Ezekiel Ansah did the most damage, hitting McCown four times and sacking him once. Star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh certainly did his part too, with three hits and one sack.

"Those are the guys you have to be concerned with," coach Jim Caldwell said, "and you'd better find different ways to block them because you get one, and the other guy's loose."

Johnson and Andre Fluellen added one sack apiece. Even linebacker DeAndre Levy, who entered the game with 1.5 career sacks, dropped McCown twice.

Add it all up, and Detroit sacked McCown six times, plus hit him 14 times.

The Lions' defensive line has been among the league's best, but this was their most dominant effort since sacking Minnesota's Teddy Bridgewater eight times in October.

Bridgewater will be at Ford Field next week, as it happens, and might feel a little queasy watching film of McCown get battered more times than he could count.

"I don't know,' McCown said, when asked if this was the most he'd ever been hit. "I have to look at the tape and see, but I don't know."

Even McCown's receiver felt bad for him.

"I'm going to take him out for a nice dinner when we're all (done) here this year," Vincent Jackson said. "Maybe help him get some ice bags and have them sent to his house."

Detroit's defense was so successful against the pass in part because they knew it was coming. Tampa Bay, just like every other team the Lions face, simply could not run the ball.

The Bucs attempted just 14 runs for 26 yards. That's one week after the Bears attempted just eight runs for 13 yards.

Detroit is the first team since 2006 to allowed fewer than 40 yards rushing in back-to-back games, and could become the first team since 2006 to allow fewer than 1,000 yards in a season.

The Lions are on pace to allow 1,004 rushing yards this year.

"It seemed like we got off schedule so much that we were pulled out of the run game," McCown said. "That's what happens when we get behind the sticks. You can't get your runs up."

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Source: http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/12/detroit_lions_hit_bucs_qb_josh.html

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Rookie Travis Swanson enters Detroit Lions' starting lineup to rave reviews

DETROIT -- There were plenty of defensive players available when the Detroit Lions were on the clock in the third round of May's draft. And the Lions were thought to have some big-time needs on defense, especially in the secondary.

But they really liked what they saw in Travis Swanson, a center out of Arkansas. They thought he could be the future of their interior offensive line.

And now that future appears to have arrived a lot quicker than anyone expected.

Right guard Larry Warford suffered a knee injury during the first series of a 20-16 win Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. He will miss several weeks, including Sunday's tilt in Arizona against the NFL-leading Cardinals (8-1).

That means it's Swanson time.

He is being groomed as Detroit's center-in-waiting, whenever Dominic Raiola moves on, but is also the top reserve at guard. He replaced Warford against Miami, and acquitted himself nicely under tough circumstances.

There were a few blips -- including a holding penalty, which was declined, and three QB hurries -- but he also ranked as Detroit's best run blocker, per ProFootballFocus. And he did so against a Miami defense that ranked third in the league.

"I thought he played awesome," said Raiola, who lined up next to Swanson. "Few things here and there, but for your first (extensive action in an) NFL game, thrown in against the third-ranked defense, thought he did a great job."

Warford was terrific as a rookie last year, when he played every offensive snap without allowing a sack. That's a tough act to follow.

But Swanson showed signs against Miami that he's up for the task. He'll be in the starting lineup this week against Arizona, and practice-squad lineman Rodney Austin could be promoted to be his backup.

"Felt good," Swanson said. "Obviously got to get your feet wet those first few plays out there. Got a lot to learn. They always say if someone goes down, next man up, and I always prepare like I'm going to start, because you're one play away."

The Lions also lost right tackle LaAdrian Waddle in the second half of the game. Cornelius Lucas took his place.

That means Detroit mounted its fourth-quarter comeback against Miami with an all-rookie alignment on the right side of the offensive line. Stafford completed 8 of 11 passes on the final drive, and was not sacked.

"I'm proud of those guys," Raiola said. "I was proud of those guys for stepping up and owning it. And shoot, we had to go down and win the game. And we did."

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Source: http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/11/travis_swanson_impresses_while.html

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