Detroit Lions Weblog

Wide Receiver Carousel Comes Full Circle, Weak 11 Preview:The Brady Quinn Bowl?

I chuckled heartily when I heard that the Lions have re-signed veteran WR Corey Bradford, a player who they had released after the third game this season, to fill the role of their third receiver.   I hope that Bradford enjoyed his 7-week hiatus.  The re-signing of Bradford continues to highlight the complete and utter uselessness that last year’s first round draft pick,Mike Williams, has to this organization. Bradford, who had been paid a million dollars per catch upon his release, will not receive any additional payment from the Lions this season. It remains to be seen if Bradford can contribute, but I’d expect that the Lions will attempt to stretch the field vertically with him and also hope that with his size he can provide a difficult matchup in the slot.

Entering this Sunday’s game in Arizona, this may be one of the bleaker times in the history of this franchise.   They have struggled to win games on the road in recent seasons and have been unable string together consecutive victories for 39 games and counting. During Matt Millen’s 23-66 tenure, there have many low points, but last week’s home loss to San Francisco highlighted two things: 1)This franchise is severely lacking in the type of personnel that is needed to win in the NFL 2) The maturity, focus, and character of the players on the current roster is not to the point where they can afford to rest upon their laurels, even briefly. It is clear that no matter how much Rod Marinelli has preached establishing a base level of consistency, the current personnel has a very long road ahead before they can become winners.

 With that in mind, the Lions face two winnable games upon the horizon that don’t come without there respective challenges.   Sunday’s game in Arizona will likely be a shoot-out.   I expect a game similar to the one in which Marty Mornihnweg was head coach in 2001.  Both Charlie Batch and Jake Plummer threw for nearly 400 yards.   The Lions, who were decimated with injuries at the receiver position, utilized young QB Mike McMahon at wideout.   Coming full-circle, the Lions have been allowing veteran backup QB Josh McCown to run some pass routes recently.

It is imperative that the Lions limit their turnovers offensively.   In a Martz-designed, high-risk offense, there are going to be a lot of turnovers committed.  However, the Lions can ill-afford to turn the ball over at their current rate.   The Cardinals have a porous defense that can be exploited by Jon Kitna.   The Cards will have a tough time limiting all of the receiving options that Kitna has at his disposal.  Still, if the Lions cough the ball up frequently, the Cards will take advantage. 

Defensively, the Lions need to pressure young QB Matt Leinart and force him into making costly turnovers.  They have struggled throughout the season to apply pressure to opposing QB’s.  The Lions have not faced a receiving corps with the depth of the Cardinals trio of Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and Bryant Johnson.  The Lions will have to rely heavily upon their nickel defensive backs to perform well.   With the recent success of the Jets and Niners, the Cards will also try to take advantage of the Lions depleted defensive front with RB Edgerrin James, as they attempt to establish a successful ground game.

Last week was the end of any optimism that I had reserved for the 2006 Lions.  At this point, any win will be a pleasant surprise.   I fully expect them to lose Sunday and follow that up with an embarassing home loss to the Joey Harrington-lead Dolphins on national television.   In fact, the Harrington loss may be the ultimate low point necessary to exorcise the Bobby Layne curse that has damned this organization since Layne’s trade in 1958.  There is no conceivable way this organization could go any lower than a loss to Harrington.

Cards 37 Lions 31