Detroit Lions Weblog

Portsmouth-Detroit Lions

Today’s Detroit Free Press had an excellent article about early football legend and Hall of Famer, “Dutch” Clark. Bill Dow wrote an excellent article. The early history of the Lions has been lacking in documentation, in my eyes. The article “Clark first Lion King” really helped fill a void for me as a Lions fan. Boy, do I love those plain throwback uniforms. I really wish the Lions sported those on gameday as opposed to adding the black trim last season.

Now would would also be an appropriate time to pay tribute to Jerry Green, local sportswriter, who is a legend. He retired this week and I am still in awe of his having attended every single Super Bowl that has been held a honor few others can boast.

Lastly, the oldest former professional football player, and former Lion, Glenn Presnell passed this week. In the past year, he was interviewed quite frequently on sports talk and covered in many articles. (Here are a couple: first, second.) It’s sad to see one of the last living links to the NFL’s past disappear without his receiving his just due.

Also for anybody who is interested in that halcyon era of the gridiron, you may refer to Jim Dent’s Monster of the Midway: the Life and Legend of Bronko Nagurski. It is now currently available in paperback and is a very enjoyable read.

Lions 28 Texans 16

Sunday was a nice victory for the Lions over the Houston Texans. We learned a lot about what potential this team may have. In an ugly first half I was very concerned that the Lions were going to let the Texans hang close enough to make the result of the game go down to the wire.

Joey Harrington is starting to show signs of understanding the offense. He is still very inconsistent and too quick to give up on a play when pressured but he has asserted himself as the definite number #1 QB on the roster. His fourth quarter stats have been stellar in the first two games. So at least, in those two starts he is showing the poise and leadership necessary in order for the Lions to win games. In seasons past, the Lions have been missing this element. Also importantly, as a team they showed signs of having the ability to respond to a score by answering back. Eddie Drummond’s kickoff return for a TD really was crucial to the outcome of the game.

The emergence of Roy Williams was a sight to behold. His first TD pass was hauled in with such authority I immediately leapt from my seat. Hopefully, he will continue to emerge as a playmaker and draw the attention necessary to make Tai Streets and Az Zahir Hakim even more effective.

The Texans turnover woes were a major contributor to Lions victory. That being said, the Lions had to go out and make the plays necessary to get the ball on Texan miscues. “Big Baby” Shaun Rogers continues to make argument for his consideration as the best and most athletic defensive tackle currently strapping it on the NFL. I have been very impressed with James Hall’s early ability to pressure the passer. The lack of depth and experience at linebacker has yet to be fully exposed. Short of Chris Cash being burned badly a couple of times, the secondary has been adequate.

This victory is a nice building block, but this weeks game versus the NFC favorite Philadelphia Eagles will be indicative of the Lions season. The Eagles are coming off a major victory last night but will have a short week of preparation to face the Lions. It is imperative that Lions get off to a better start versus the Eagles so that they don’t find themselves in a situation where they have to play catch up throughout the game. The Lions must limit turnovers and have to play what will amount to being their best game of the season just to stay close in this game.

David Kirkus released

Yesterday’s announcement of the release of David Kirkus added another chapter to the unfortunate saga of this young wide receiver. With his record breaking college career many Lion fans were hopeful he may be able to obtain a role similar to that held by Jeff Chadwick in years past (another Grand Valley alum). If Kirkus clears waivers he will probably return to the practice squad. Kirkus has had some opportunities but has unfortunately not taken full advantage of them. The addition of Reggie Swinton makes a lot of sense. He has more utility as a special teams player who can contribute on offense. Also with Eddie Drummond’s injury history he makes a nice insurance policy should Drummond go down.

Lions vs Texans

This is a pivotal week for the Lions as an organization. Overcoming adversity, or a big win for that matter have never been tendered among it’s strong suits. The Texans are a slowly developing expansion franchise who have accumulated some talented young skill players in their short history.

The Lions rush defense must be stout and contain Domanick Davis and his backup Tony Hollings. Davis fumbled twice last week so expect the Lions to be attempting to strip the ball whenever he gets carries. After a season where the Texans allowed the most sacks ever in the history of the game (2 yrs ago) they have gradually improved their O-Line so that David Carr has more time to make decisions in the passing game. The Lions will need to put some pressure on Carr and the Texans vertical passing game to compensate for their lack of depth in the secondary. In the Lions home opener, Kalimba Edwards must become a factor in the pass rush. I don’t believe the Lions will have the luxury of using many blitzes with the injuries to their linebackers and secondary. Andre Johnson and Corey Bradford are serious downfield threats to get big gains in this game.

On offense, the Lions will need to establish the run against Houston’s 3-4 defense. The 3-4 scheme features a lot of blitzing by the linebackers and the D-linemen must be fire hydrants in the trenches in order for the linebackers to flow to the ball carrier. This a week where the Lions experienced O-line must really step up, they have to get to the linebackers with their blocks. If Kevin Jones is capable of establishing the run the Lions will be more effective in the passing game. Harrington will have to be efficient and be prepared to make the right “Hot” reads to throw to their injury depleted receiving corps. This a big week in the development of receiver Roy Williams. With all of the blitzing the Lions should be able to stretch the secondary who were burnt more than once by the Drew Brees lead Chargers. Antonio Gates was particularly successful, so expect for Harrington to look to Casey FitzSimmons and Stephen Alexander to have some big catches. it will also be important that Artose Pinner and Kevin Jones do a good job in their blitz pick-ups. We are now familiar with the fact that Harrington rarely gets sacked, but when pressured he tends to throw the ball away taking the Lions out of their offense.

In the home opener coming of their first road victory in a long time I believe the Lions will win a close game 27-21.

Bittersweet Victory

The Lions won the battle on Saturday, but it will be questionable as the season progresses whether or not they can win the war. Sunday’s victory, was a huge moral victory. Not winning a road game in over three seasons is nearly unfathomable.

Yet, heading into this season, if there were 5 players who needed to remain healthy and perform well in order to ensure Lions success. That list would include three who have already suffered serious injury(Dre Bly,Charles Rogers, Boss Bailey). Even more disappointingly, these players have major impact on any possible future successes the organization may hope to enjoy.

Charles Rogers loss in particular will hurt the team. He worked hard in the offseason to rehabilitate and prepare himself for a break-out season. He was very sensitive to being tagged as injury-proned and often walked out of interviews when questioned about his durability. Now, in what appears to be a season ending injury many questions have arisen about his future in the NFL.

In the meantime, this may represent the final chance for David Kirkus to become an NFL player. He has shown flashes, but will have to perform consistently when given the opportunity to play. The Lions success for the rest of the year will hinge upon keeping valuable players like Joey Harrington and Shaun “Big Baby” Rogers healthy. Otherwise, their interminable “rebuilding” process may have to start yet again.

Season and Weekend Preview

Five Things that will need to happen in order for the Lions to have a successful season.

1.Joey Harrington must reduce his interceptions, be even more accurate and effecient as a passer, and assume his role as a team leader.

2. Kevin Jones and Artose Pinner need to combine for at least 1400 yards rushing or the Lions will again be in deep trouble offensively.

3. A pass rusher has to emerge from their defensive line. Kalimba Edwards where the Lions hopes lie, must remain healthy and begin to fulfill his potential as a pass rusher. Hopefully Robert Porcher in less plays will be able to concentrate his efforts and be overall more effective. In a defense that will not blitz often under new defensive coordinator, Dick Jauron, it is imperative that Jared Devries, James Hall and Corey Redding step up the pressure.

4.The Linebacking corps that is thin to begin with must remain healthy. Dirty Davis and Teddy Lehman have a lot to learn. Their continued development will make or break this defense.

5. The Lions offensive line will have to be effective enough so that Harrington will not rush to throw the ball away, provide the type of blocking that will lead to rushing success and pass block well enough so that the Lions will have the occasional luxury of having the time necessary to stretch the field with the deep ball. Otherwise NFL Corners will jam the younger Lions receivers constantly at the line of scrimmage and prevent them from running their routes.

The matchup with Chicago is an intriguing one. The Lions have a wonderful opportunity to get a monkey off of their backs by getting an early road win. The Chicago offense and defense will be quite different under the watch of 1st year head coach Lovie Smith. To be truthful, I have a hard time seeing where Chicago will get their points from. Rex Grossman is a very young Quarterback, who is learning a new system. In order to beef up their defense, Chicago traded it’s best receiver, Marty Booker for Defensive End, Adewale Ogunleye. They will now rely on David Terrell, Justin Gage and Bobby Wade. Terrell is in a do or die situation. Thus far he has been a major bust. The bears are also taking a risk by going to the still unproven first rounder, Thomas Jones, who has rarely lived up to expectations. They do have some depth here with an unhappy Anthony Thomas, riding the pine.

Their defense is also questionable with their lack of depth in the secondary. They are forced to use RW McQuarters, who is normally a a nickle back. They have invested a lot in their defensive line with high draft picks used on Michael Haynes and Tommie Harris in recent years. It also remains to be seen if Ogunleye will be effective with all the attention he will draw. (In recent years he would be one on one on the outside while Jason Taylor, the best DE in football drew all of the attention)

The Lions will have to play a very solid football game in order to win in Chicago. Paul Edinger always seem to get a lot of crucial field goals versus the Lions. I think that this will be a low scoring affair, even with all of the question marks on both defenses. Their always seems to be an unknown contributor who causes the Lions troubles ala Brock Forsey or Jerry Azumah or Marty Mornihnweg when the Lions face the Bears. The Lions can outmatch the Bears if they control the time of posession and don’t turn the ball over. I predict a 23-13 Lions victory.

Lions Blog

With Brian’s encouragement I will have the great fortune of expanding the constellation of weblogs that orbit around this one in the upcoming weeks. I will be starting a Detroit Lions blog, with an extreme amount excitement on my part. I have been a lifelong Lions fan who has been drinking Honolulu Blue Kool Aid for my entire life. In the meantime, I will make some preliminary contributions here hopefully to everyone’s delight. I am open for any constructive suggestions on what you might like from a weblog of this nature.

I think that this weblog will be very fun, this might be the most exciting time in Detroit Lions franchise history. The Lions have remained one of the more inept teams in NFL history. What Lion’s fan doesn’t remember Eddie Murray’s missed field goal, Dave Williams 100 yd kickoff return and the playoff blowout by a Rodney Peete quarterbacked Eagles. Who will ever forget Billy Sims going ballistic on a table full of Gatorade, the Coin Flip in Chicago or Barry Sanders silently riding off into the sunset.

All of the Lion’s past disappointments have entered a newfound era of hope. The organization feels it has a credible coach in Mariucci. It still believes it has a franchise quarterback in Joey Harrington. The last two drafts have given the Lions even more hope because it’s recent lack of success has provided it’s roster with such potential stars as Roy Williams, Charles Rogers, Kevin Jones and Teddy Lehman. It is also a very critical year because the Lions have to make steps forward. The road losing streak MUST end this season and hopefully it will. Mooch must prove he is something more than Wayne Fontes with movie star looks. Joey Harrington must establish his role as team leader and become a more complete player. A franchise and city that will be hosting an upcoming Super Bowl must prove that it is truly first class.