Kyle Vanden Bosch and the Detroit Lions defense hit Tennessee's Jake Locker only once in their last game, and Vanden Bosch says that just isn't acceptable. The Lions defensive lineman spoke to the media on Wednesday, and he had the following to say on the lack of pressure (via Mlive.com):
"To have a game where the quarterback drops back 40-some times and he gets hit once, it's unacceptable for this defensive line, said Vanden Bosch. "And we understand the expectations, and we understand in order for this defense to work, in order for this team to be a good team and win a lot of games this year, we have to get back there and get more hits and get more sacks."
"But we do the right things in practice. We prepare the right way. We have the right tools to get back there, but for whatever reason, it didn't happen on Sunday. Now, we don't go into this week and panic, we don't go into this week and press, we don't look for a new way to reinvent pass rush. We go and do the same things we've been doing, go with what we believe in - some of the things that got us there last year, and it'll work. Hopefully, this week we'll get back on track and get a bunch of sacks and a bunch of hits on the quarterback and affect the game, make him float some balls and throw some interceptions. Get back to the type of defensive line play we're used to seeing around here."
The Lions are expecting the Vikings to be focused on getting the ball out on time, and Vanden Bosch understands that they'll need to take advantage any time the opposing offense does not. The Lions defense has registered seven sacks thus far in 2012, down slightly from the pace of their 41 sack season in 2011.
The Vikings offensive line has done a decent job in keeping Christian Ponder upright so far in 2012. The second year quarterback has been sacked a total of six times in Minnesota's first three games, the Vikings will need to continue that good protection if they hope to improve to 3-1 on the year.
The Lions will host the Vikings on Sunday from Ford Field in Detroit. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, with FOX televising the game.