The Detroit Lions tried to make it work without experienced weapons

Matthew Stafford on Sunday.Once again Justice Hill Jersey , the offense couldn’t do enough as the home team lost 30-16 to the Los Angeles Rams, the Lions’ fifth loss in six games.Without three of its top skill position players from the beginning of the season, coach Matt Patricia’s staff was scrambling to move the ball against the Rams. Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter dialed up a touchdown pass to an offensive tackle, used a reserve lineman as a fullback, and attempted a wide receiver pass by Bruce Ellington. Detroit also attempted two onside kicks, but recovered neither.“Everybody understood that we were trying to do everything we could to keep it tight,” Patricia said. “There were some things we’re trying to do, by design, to give us a little bit of an advantage in the game.”However, the team failed too many times on third down, going 2 for 12 (17 percent) on what Stafford called the “money” downs http://www.ravenscheapstores.com/ben-powers-jersey-cheap , often going with conservative play calls.For the Lions, wide receiver Golden Tate was traded to Philadelphia on Oct. 30, wide receiver Marvin Jones (knee) is out for the season, and running back Kerryon Johnson (knee) missed his second straight game.The Lions (4-8) scored 16 points for the second straight week. Detroit has scored 22 points or fewer in each of the last six games, losing five.“We have some new guys in some new places obviously,” Stafford said. “We’re trying to develop some of those (bread-and-butter plays), to tell you the truth. It’s the constant battle in the NFL, really for every team. You have to figure out what’s working in that game against a certain opponent.”Even when the Lions caught breaks against the Rams, they couldn’t capitalize.After Quandre Diggs made an interception early in the second quarter, the Lions went three-and-out, gaining 2 yards.In the third quarter Iman Marshall Jersey , after a horse-collar penalty on Ndamukong Suh gave them first-and-goal from the 4-yard line, the Lions went backward and settled for a 29-yard field goal, one of Matt Prater’s three. The crowd booed as Cooter called a draw play to Theo Riddick on third-and-goal from the 19, gaining 11 yards.Later, Cooter dialed up a wide receiver screen for Ellington on third-and-13, falling 8 yards short with the Lions trailing 16-13 in the fourth quarter, forcing a punt.Detroit went 1 for 5 in the red zone, while the defense kept it close for three quarters against the high-powered Rams.“We just have to do a better job of making the play when it’s there,” Stafford said.Cooter inserted reserve lineman Joe Dahl as a fullback on three plays, and also called a pass to tackle Taylor Decker that went for an 11-yard touchdown.“I thought it was a great add (to the playbook), the situation was perfect http://www.ravenscheapstores.com/trace-mcsorley-jersey-cheap ,” Stafford said. “I think our crowd got really loud when he was telling everybody that 68 reported eligible, which I thought was great.”Decker said the play was added late in the week and his heart rate went up when it was called.“I walked into breakfast one morning, heard that they were going to have a little wrinkle for me, and I literally said, ‘I’m going to score a touchdown right now,'” Decker said. “We ran it once (in practice). It’s more of a scheme thing. It’s not like I’m beating any man coverage.”But even with the trickery, the offense couldn’t provide enough.Kenny Golladay was targeted twice in the first half, and the Lions were led in receptions by seven from Ellington, a midseason pickup. Tight end Levine Toilolo’s four tied the career high for the six-year pro.“We’ve got to find a way to win, that’s the biggest thing,” Patricia said. “We’re in the game David Montgomery Jersey , we just have to keep grinding it out and in the end we’ve got to try to figure out how to get that scoreboard to reflect in the end that we’re winning.” The Minnesota Vikings drafted Air Force long snapper Austin Cutting with their 12th and final selection of last week’s NFL Draft.If that selection had been made a few years ago, Cutting may have been allowed to join the Vikings and begin an NFL career while serving in the reserves. However, the Department of Defense overturned that policy in 2017, which in turn has put Cutting’s football career into temporary limbo.According to Chris Tomasson of the , Air Force associate athletic director for communications Troy Garnhart said in an email that a decision has yet to be made on Cutting’s status for this season.“At this point, about all we can say is that he will absolutely serve and may have an opportunity to play in the NFL,” Garnhart wrote in an email. “It’s very early in the process and discussions are ongoing. We will not have a resolution for some time.”Former Air Force wide receiver Jalen Robinette tried to go to the NFL two years ago only to have the Air Force nix a waiver request that would have allowed him to play. Robinette is nearing completion of his two years of duty and hopes to latch on with an NFL team at some point this year. Former Navy quarterback-turned-wide receiver Keenan Reynolds was able to get a waiver before the policy was changed. He’s spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins and Seattle Seahawks. He played in two games last year for Seattle.In the meantime, Cutting will participate in Minnesota’s rookie mini-camp this weekend.