Tate on Lions' 0-2 start: 'We have to start getting in a groove'
The Detroit Lions have shown few signs of life through their first two games of the 2015 season. They are currently winless with a big game versus the Denver Broncos coming up on Sunday night.
Lions wide receiver Golden Tate says the team lacks rhythm, according to Ron Beard of The Detroit News.
"We have to start getting in a groove. We have to find a way to get in rhythm, let [quarterback Matthew] Stafford hit a few of those short passes and eventually hit a bomb to Calvin [Johnson]," Tate said, per The Detroit News. "We have to get Calvin more involved; that guy is too special not to have 100-yard games after 100-yard games."
Johnson, the Lions' All-Pro wide receiver, has 12 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown through two games this season. That's not terrible production, but it hasn't been enough to bring a victory to Detroit.
In order to get the ball to Johnson, Stafford needs more time in the pocket. It doesn't take long for Tate to look around the league and realize the ramifications of a quarterback dropping back to pass without proper protection.
"We have to keep that guy off the ground," Tate said, via The Detroit News. "There's only so many hits you can take as a QB and we've already seen early with (the Saints') Drew Brees and (the Cowboys') Tony Romo that you have to keep your QB up."
Stafford is already aching after weathering several crushing hits this season. The Lions better find their rhythm soon, because their quarterback isn't going to last much longer at this rate.
(h/t The Detroit News)
