Detroit Lions Weblog

Training Camp, Michael Vick

As the start of Lions training camp approaches, amidst Team President Matt Millen’s 24-72 6-year tenure, I can’t help but reflect upon the fact that this season marks the fifty year anniversary of when this perennially poor franchise last won a championship of any kind. 

With that in mind, along with the recent statements from both WR Mike Furrey and QB Jon Kitna that they believed that this year’s team could win 10 games, I can’t help but feel a sense of ominous portent about the beginning of this season’s training camp.  

The Lions schedule will be far from a cakewalk, even if they play in one of the weaker divisions in all of football, along with being proud members of the decidedly much weaker NFC. 

Here are my Primary Concerns entering the season:

1) Lack of a consistent pass rush,( No Kalimba Edwards doesn’t comprise a consistent pass rush)

2) Which will expose their lack of depth and experience in both their secondary and linebacker units.

3) A patchwork and ineffective offensive line,

4)Which will expose QB Jon Kitna to far too much pressure, exacerbate his turnover issues, and likely lead to an injury and…

5) Expose their complete lack of depth at the Quarterback position.

Optimist’s will state that a given team’s defensive performance often gains in quality by leaps and bounds within the Cover-2 zone defensive scheme during the second season of its implementation.  The Lions may be able to feel a little emboldened by the prospects of their defensive front four after the recent re-signing of DT Cory Redding, along with the off-season additions of DE’s DeWayne White and Ikaika Alama-Francis.

I, for one, will not hedge my bets that this team will feature a significantly better pass rush than the ‘06 version, at least at this early juncture.  My low expectations for the Lions pass rush, makes me wonder exactly who will replace departed CB Dre Bly, admittedly a player who was not a natural fit in the Cover-2 scheme, amongst players like Fernando Bryant, Travis Fisher, Stanley Wilson, Jr., and Keith Smith. Will any of them be effective?

I am much less concerned about the offense.   However, if the offensive line doesn’t improve significantly with the additions of the likes of G Edwin Mulitalo and T George Foster, the team’s offense will sputter.  

The lack of proven QB depth will also likely hamper the team, despite the incredible toughness and durability exhibited by QB Jon Kitna last season.   Should Kitna be injured, which is highly likely in the modern day NFL, especially considering the Lion’s porous offensive line, it is difficult to imagine that anyone among QB’s Dan Orlovsky, Drew Stanton and journeymen J.T. O’Sullivan would be able to take the reins with much success.

I am also very concerned about the possibility that WR Calvin Johnson will be held out of camp, a crucial period of time in his seminal development.   The fact that very few of the higher draft picks have been signed at this time, leads me to expect an extended hold out from Johnson and his agent. 

Johnson features the rare combination of superb athletic gifts and a solid head upon his shoulders.   Tom Lewand should present Johnson’s agent with a blank check immediately.   The Lions can ill-afford to piss away any of his developmental time within the complex Mike Martz offense with any sort of prolonged contract negotiation.    The Lions need a near immediate return from this draft pick, and will likely have one, if Johnson is fully prepared entering the season.

In regards to the ongoing controversy surrounding the indicment of QB Michael Vick, I can’t help but be disappointed by all of the parties involved in the situation, not just Vick. 

Vick has been a very limited player, with questionable character for the entire duration of his career.  Yet the NFL, the Falcons, and various endorsers like Nike, etc. have all prematurely foisted the “Michael Vick Experience” upon the expectant masses, hedging that he would eventually emerge as one of the marquee players in the league due to his supernaturally sublime athletic gifts. 

In the meantime, Vick has repeatedly been a obstinant coach-killer, leaving a string of coordinators, position coaches, and head coaches in his wake.   He has “flipped” off the fans at his home stadium after a game.  He has admitted to not giving his full effort during the final game of the ‘05 season.   He has knowingly given a woman herpes and utilized a contrived nom de plume (Ron Mexico) in efforts to conceal his medical treatment for the aforementioned S.T.D.. 

Now Vick, regardless of the level of his involvement, has been indicted by a federal jury.   In what promises to be a ceaseless media circus, Vick may eventually take a leave of absence to confront his legal issues.   Throughout all of this, I have heard many observers attack Vick, and I have also heard many apologists indicate that Vick (aka “Ookie”) and his “Bad Newz(sic) Kennels” are a misunderstood element of the male, southern, African-American subculture.  Bar the door Annie, here come the opportunistic crusaders like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to carve out their stake in Vick’s defense.

Not once have I heard anyone question the complex of agents, coaches, corporations, and league officials that have built up the unruly monster that is the “Vick Experience”.   I don’t want to take away any of the personal accountability that Vick possesses in this situation, yet, I feel quite strongly that all parties involved need to take a hard look at the situation with the clearest of intent. 

Vick’s past behavior, along with the complicity of his various supporters, indicated that if Vick was given enough rope he would eventually find the means to hang himself.   The league and it’s co-conspirants, long drunken by the abundant and perceived-to-be endless Vick money train, are now attempting to completely disassociate themselves from the wretched stain of the beleaguered Vick.  Much like a parasite, they have extracted all of the remaining value that they can from Vick and will leave him a mere shadow of his former self.

American’s love redemption stories, and Vick will likely return to a phoenix-like prominence (ala Josh Hamilton, Kobe Bryant) at some point, if he is not jailed for too extended a period of time.   That being said, he has clearly destroyed the wonderful opportunity he has been presented with, regardless of any possible return to glory, and shows little sign of having the necessary reflective capacity to be able to see what kind of commitment it will take to turn his life around. 

The bigger question stands to be, in my eyes, will the NFL, and et al, find the means necessary to avoid the animation of another “Vick Experience” before it’s due time.  Will they have the ability to assume any responsibility in the future for the insemination of any of the future Adam “Pacman” Jones’, Michael Vick’s, and Chris Henry’s who eventually will emerge due to legal trouble.

In what has to be becoming an increasingly more ironic situation for all Lions observers, Joey Harrington’s incredible capacity to always land on his feet defies odds.   He has previously emerged as a heir apparent to Daunte Culpepper in Miami and will likely start in Atlanta after the near certain exodus of Vick.   Harrrington’s career has assumed an entirely different trajectory from what any of us would have expected several years ago, that’s for sure.