It appeared Lions quarterback Joshua Dobbs had a quick and easy throw to make.
In the first quarter of Saturday’s preseason game against the Commanders, Dobbs looked across the line before the snap and saw seven defenders itching to blitz him, three defensive backs in man-to-man coverage, and a single safety sitting 20 yards back. The math would tell him that getting the ball out fast could lead to a big-yardage play.
But when the center snapped Dobbs the ball, only four of the would-be blitzers rushed. The other three joined defensive back Antonio Hamilton Sr. in zone coverage about 10 yards away, with the remaining three defenders another 10 yards behind them in a deeper zone.