Detroit Lions Weblog

WEAK 7: Detroit vs. Cleveland

To say that this is the biggest game that the Detroit Lions have played during the short tenures of Matt Millen and Steve Mariucci(weg) is a major understatement. The Lions are facing a team, the Browns, who has beaten two of the Lions NFC North counterparts (Chicago and Green Bay), and has played quite respectably with new QB Trent Dilfer and new Head Coach Romeo Crennel. The Lions on the other hand, have backed into a first place tie with the Chicago Bears via a very shaky offense and are in the midst of a brewing QB controversy between Joey Harrington and the partially-healed Jeff Garcia.

I hate to over-magnify the importance of this game, but the Lions absolutely need this win. The course of the next three or four years of this franchise may be pre-determined by Sunday’s result. Joey Harrington, who must feel like he is looking down the barrel of a loaded gun, just needs to play respectably. I believe that the Lion’s front office no longer has any lofty expectations for Harrington as a QB. Harrington is in the unenviable position of being the organizational scapegoat for the offense’s poor performance and also is struggling to preserve any shred of a career he may have remaining in the NFL. That being said, the whole offense has been pitiful in it’s execution and the milquetoast “scheme” that the team appears to be “utilizing” has Moochian fingerprints all over it. I really think that the time is now for Mariucci to be held accountable for this horrific offensive output.

The Lions offense should have another excellent opportunity to beat a team through the air this week. If the Lions can finally establish a passing attack, it will loosen up the congestion near the line of scrimmage that has kept Kevin Jones from even approaching his expected production (2.7 yds/carry, long gain of 14 yards). In order for Harrington to perform better in the passing game, the offensive line must provide ample protection for the skittish Harrington. Cleveland’s D-Line is not providing much of a pass rush, but without Jeff Backus the Romeo Crennel lead defense may choose to give the Lions a flurry of blitzes to continually disrupt Harrington with. With the return of Corey Schlesinger, the Lions hope that some wider running lanes will be available to Kevin Jones, although, the offensive line is even more important in the ground game. Traditionally, teams can run well against a 3-4 defense. 3-4 defenses count on their quick, athletic linebackers to go sideline to sideline making plays. Usually, you can be succesful running straight at a 3-4 defense’s smaller linebackers. In this case, the Browns will load up around the line of scrimmage and dare Harrington (or Garcia) to exploit their secondary. It is still very unclear which receivers the Lions will have at their disposal to play Sunday, In particular, the Lions could use production from Mike Williams and Kevin Johnson if Roy Williams is unable to play. Hopefully, “Big” Mike Williams can get his schedule down so that he might appear on time for the game. Maybe the Lions bus driver should check ahead about the expected Sunday traffic flows (In case you haven’t heard, BMW is rumored to have been late to several practices or meetings).

On Defense, the Lions need to continue to generate turnovers and remain tough against the run. The Browns have been completely unable to establish the run thus far, and Trent Dilfer has tried to compensate for their lack of running attack by doing a pretty good job throwing the ball. Dre Bly will matchup against Antonio Bryant, so I expect the Browns will throw to Dennis Northcutt and Frisman Jackson against Andre Goodman and Keith Smith, especially if the Lions have FS Terrence Holt cheat towards Bly to assist in covering Bryant over the top. The Browns have also has some success throwing to their Tight Ends, so the LB’s and Safeties will have to be counted upon to not give up big plays to Steve Heiden and Billy Miller. The Browns have done a pretty good job protecting Dilfer, with James Hall and Kalimba Edwards both hobbled and questionable, you have to wonder where the Lions will get a pass rush from. One thing to be certain of, the Browns receivers and backs will all be weary of the potential hits they will receive after viewing game film of the smashing blows delivered by Earl Holmes and Kenoy Kennedy.

I have very bad feelings about this game. I am hoping for the best, but the tide seems to be going in the wrong direction for the Lions. I guess I expect 2 Harrington interceptions, which lead to his dismissal.
Jeff Garcia, will lead the Lions to a meager victory as long as the Lions secondary yields no big plays to WR’s Bryant or Northcutt.

LIONS 17 Browns 13