Detroit Lions Weblog

Hey George Foster, It’s on TWO!!!

Before I commence casting aspersions on the performance of the Lions on Sunday and the subsequent customary handwringing, I have to say this:  Has there ever been a bigger waste of football flesh than Lions OT George Foster? (Or Aaron Gibson, Stockar McDougle, Brendan Stai, Rich DeMulling, ad infinitum….)

Speaking of Foster, after each passing week, the pre-season trade of Dre Bly to the Broncos for Tatum Bell and George Foster trade reeks just a little bit more.   I don’t believe that Bly would have made a major difference to the Lions this season, but I do believe that the Lions may have been better served by acquiring draft picks or other players, instead of the two stiffs that they eventually received for Bly.

In regards to the 6-3 Lions, their backs are as up-against-the-wall as they can possibly be given their current record.   In the next 11 days, they will face two major challenges in games against two playoff contenders in Green Bay and the New York Giants.

Which brings us back to why winning Sunday’s in Arizona would have been so beneficial.   It is bad enough that they lost, but it is worse knowing that when times are tough, as they will likely be in upcoming games, the Lions who commit too many turnovers, feature a one-dimensional, punchless offense, and can’t make the big stops on defense find a way to suddenly re-emerge.

Where exactly is the potent Lions offense hiding these days, anyways?   Mike Martz is supposed to be a playcalling genius, but where has his playcalling been in difficult games like Sunday’s?  During that first drive of the 2nd half, down by 10 points, wasn’t it a little premature to completely abandon the run?  

The Lions, as exciting as they have been, don’t have the margin for error that the better teams in the league enjoy.   The Lions can’t turnover the ball, they need to have a balanced offensive attack, and their defense needs to pressure opposing QB’s.  Subtract these three things and suddenly the Lions appear very average (to less than average).

If Calvin Pace, Darnell Dockett, and Karlos Dansby can completely decimate the Lions offense, what will the likes of Osi Umenyiora, Matthias Kiwanuka, Aaron Kampman and A.J. Hawk do to them?

In regards to Calvin Johnson, I love his talent but as much as I hate to admit it, the Lions would have been better served drafting Adrian Peterson or more importantly, Joe Thomas.  Subtract Foster, add Thomas and move Backus to guard or right tackle, the Lions certainly would consist of a much different quality of offense.    Do you think it’s a mistake that the once mediocre Derek Anderson looks like an All-Pro now?

The Lions have to find ways to utilize the differential abilities of Johnson, especially if they are going to remain legitimate playoff contenders.

At any rate, in spite of the Ford Field advantage, the Lions could easily be 6-4 and on the outside looking in for the ‘07 playoffs, which makes Sunday’s loss such a shame.