Detroit Lions Weblog

The Ever Present Voice of Reason: Jason Hanson

In Sunday’s New York Daily News, Jason Hanson was quoted as saying this:

A lot of Lions fans are pretty jaded.  Until we hold up our end of the bargain, they are always kind of having their fingers crossed behind their back.  The proof is coming up in the second half of the season so everybody is waiting to see what we do.”

Wow, he said that before Sunday’s almost-but-not-quite there stab at respectability.   With consecutive losses, the Thanksgiving Game against the Packers will likely determine the course the rest of the season will take for the team.  The Lions are 2-18 during the Millen Era while playing the grueling 3 game sandwich that is jammed into the tight space of twelve days leading up to Thanksgiving.   It is not difficult to see the Lions finding their way to 2-19 in the upcoming 48 hours, either, I am sad to say.

The Lions had this game within reach, which exacerbates the frustration we feel about the probable continued demise of this season.   Nothing is more bitterly disappointing than watching a season that once appeared to be so promising slowly devolve into a more or less typical season for this franchise.

The Lions offense is reeling, Kevin Jones’ feet are sore, Calvin Johnson is still under-utilized, and Jon Kitna, as tough as he is, is still a very average NFL QB.  Tom “Killer” Kowalski recently made some interesting points about the flagging state of the Lions offense and the importance for Rod Marinelli to interject himself to help sort out the current situation on that side of the ball immediately.

He makes several strong points about the continually developing disintegration and dissension amongst the rank and file offensive personnel, with Martz being the primary recipient of derision due to his polarizing, unorthodox nature.

As a Lions fan, I still have my fingers crossed, but am afraid, like so many times before, that the Lions season is about slip out of control, much like the errant pass that Shaun McDonald allowed to be interecepted to end the Lions faint hopes on Sunday.

Week 11 Preview: Giants Vs. Lions

The last time the Lions started a season 6-2, they lost in a horribly dismal fashion out in Arizona, which subsequently sent their season’s unmet hopes and dreams crashing up against the shore.  

In a remarkably similar fashion, the Lions lost disappointingly last week in Arizona.   With fecundity springs hope, and the Lions hope that their fields of opportunity have not grown tallow after last week’s loss.   This weeks game, against the 6-3 New York Giants, will go a long ways towards indicating if they might find harvest time to be bountiful, or not.

The Giants aren’t without fault, but they do represent a very difficult matchup for the Lions.   Offensively, the “Troublesome Twosome” or “Maginot Line” (take your pick), featuring Jeff Backus (10 1/2 sacks allowed) and George Foster (9 3/4 sacks allowed and innumerable “F-Bomb”-inducing false start penalties), have their hands incredibly full against the best assemblage of pass rushers in recent NFL history.

In order to offset the Giants pass rush, the Lions are going to have utilize some draws and screens, Jon Kitna will need to deliver some slants and quick outs on target to his receivers, and the Lions will occasionally need to provide additional help on the edge with backs and tight ends providing additional protection to help stem the Giants feral edge-rushing onslaught.

If the Lions are able to establish a minute semblance of a ground game, with Kevin Jones and T.J. Duckett, they will prevent the Giants from completely pinning their ears back and coming full force after Kitna.  It remains to be seen, if the Lions can run effectively enough to force teams from out of dropping 7-8 players into coverage, with their safeties deep, and relying solely upon their defensive line to force Kitna, and the Lions offense, out of their comfort zone.

The Lions have not been very successful when their offense has become one dimensional.   If the Giants can force the Lions into abandoning the run completely, the Lions will certainly suffer their first home loss of the season.

Defensively, the Lions front four will have to provide the similar type of play that they given the team in their victories.   In particular, Shaun Rogers needs to devastate the middle of the Giants offense to force huge Giants RB Brandon Jacobs to the perimeter, where the Lions LB’s and DB’s can gang tackle him.

The Lions will need to pressure Eli “The Lesser” Manning, so that he is unable to get comfortable in the pocket and pick apart the Lions zone coverage by delivering passes to Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress.   The Lions secondary can’t allow Burress to get behind their safeties, and their playmaking, opportunism will need to re-emerge.

The proverbial “12th Man”, the rabid horde of Ford Field Lions fans, is an intangible to the game’s outcome.   As cliche as it is, this likely constitutes the biggest game ever played in Ford Field (by the Lions at least) and the Lions fans should provide a fearful, stultifying Silverdome-like atmosphere to assist the Lions, given that the team holds up its end of the bargain.  

If the Lions rush for greater than 75 yards, keep Kitna’s sacks under 5, and generate two or more turnovers:  Lions 31 Giants 24

If the Lions rush for less than 75 yards, Kitna is planted in the Field Turf, and a litany of fumbles, penalties, and missed opportunities dog them all day:  Giants 31 Lions 14

DE White Likely Out Sunday, TE Owens Signed, Kevin Jones

The Lions are not likely to have the services of DE DeWayne White this Sunday.   He has a tricep injury and may be ultimately be lost for the season, a huge blow.   In his place, Kalimba “The Injured Ghost” Edwards, Jared DeVries, and Corey Smith are going to have to amp up their production significantly.

The Lions signed blocking TE John Owens recently and returned young TE Rudy Sylvan to their practice squad.  Owens will likely be utilized to assist George Foster (of the famed Lions “Maginot Line”) in pass blocking against Michael Strahan and company this Sunday.  Owens, who was originally drafted by the Lions during Millen’s first draft, will also help in short yardage and goal line situations.

Kevin Jones is not likely to be in full capacity in either of the next two games.   The Lions will likely have to activate Tatum Bell and make Jones inactive for one of the two games.   T.J. Duckett and Aveion Cason will each have to assume a heavier workload, too.  

A pair of “hosses” like Duckett and the Giants Brandon Jacobs would be interesting to watch.   Hopefully, Duckett seizes the opportunity and can help the Lions maintain a more balanced offense.

Sunday is Joe Thomas Day at Ford Field

Back in April, a sage football observer (”Hondo” Lehman, no relation to Teddy) and myself were standing upon the pristine Field Turf at Ford Field, anxiously anticipating who the Lions were about to select with the 2nd overall pick in the ‘07 draft.

Hondo, a smash mouth football purist, was very disconsolate about the possibility that the Lions were about to pass on selecting a valuable, franchise left offensive tackle in Joe Thomas, one of the more difficult to fill positions in all of football. I tried to assuage his discomfort by suggesting that the Lions had just drafted a player in Calvin Johnson, who would likely appear in multiple Pro Bowls, and potentially could become a Hall of Fame-caliber player.

I’m not going to be too quick to rush to judgment here, however, Sunday’s game against the Giants will likely provide the first tangible proof of whether the Lions may have made a serious mistake (or not) by selecting Johnson over Thomas.

The Lions bookend, turnstile tackles, Jeff Backus and George Foster (AKA “The Troublesome Twosome”), are facing their biggest challenge of the season against the Giants incessant barrage of stellar edge rushers: Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, and Matthias Kiwanuka.

I have christened Sunday’s game Joe Thomas Day because I am going to repeat Kitna’s thoughts, at least once he regains consciousness, every time he gets sacked on Sunday, “Ugh…Grrmph…Should’ve drafted Joe Thomas.” In fact, every sack will be called a “Joe Thomas” and whenever George Foster commits a false start, I will say “Holy Joe Thomas”.

At any rate, as much as I jest, Calvin Johnson can really assert his worth as playmaker against a weak Giants secondary on Sunday. The Giants defense is exploitable, given the possibility that Kitna isn’t laying prone upon that very same Ford Field turf as the prescient “Hondo” Lehman stood upon eight short months ago pondering the Lions personnel decision.

(BTW–I hear Vegas is creating an over/under prop bet for Sunday’s game: Giants Sacks+Foster False Starts+Kitna Using Profanity(not the Lord’s name in vain, though)=12, whaddya think?)

Desperately Seeking Calvin

The Lions offense has been persona non grata during recent games.   Jon Kitna has managed their games more effectively and reduced his turnovers, until Sunday at least.   The Lions boasted a balanced attack recently, again until Sunday. 

During that time, they have been noticeably lacking in explosiveness and execution of big plays.  It is an ever growing mystery that an offense, which appears so daunting at times, has sputtered at critical times throughout the season.

Calvin Johnson is the missing factor in these games in my opinion.   At one point, 16 of his 18 touches were for first downs.   Johnson also was an effective red zone scoring option earlier in the season, an opportunity which seemingly has managed to dry up in recent weeks.

The Lions have got to find a way to harness Johnson’s talents and get him up to speed within this offense.   As effective as Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey can be, Johnson is the only player who provides the threat necessary to keep teams from rolling coverage towards Roy Williams to limit his effectiveness.

The offensive line can also help the situation, as has been long lamented, by protecting Kitna better.  That being said, the Lions have not been effective in going vertical with their offense, most teams are just dropping their safeties deep and keeping the Lions receivers in front of them.  

The Lions need to recapture that threat, or their offense will more closely resemble the West Coast offense, as opposed to the dynamic offense that Martz purportedly has designed.  Obviously, a solid running game forces those safeties forward, and opens play action deep balls.

There still has to be more available to the Lions.   In upcoming games, they may find themselves unable to run with the ball and need to find ways to maximize their opportunities.  

Exhibit A:The Giants.   In spite of the Giants pass rush, the Lions are going to have to scorch them with a few deep balls, if they are going to stand a chance.  Calvin Johnson needs to exhibit why he is the match-up nightmare that he is, and why he was selected so highly in April.  This game, if you saw any of the highlights of Terrell Owens against the Giants secondary on Sunday, is the one that Johnson needs to break out in.

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.

The Growing Cult of Rod

Yahoo Sport’s Dan Wetzel, has written easily one of the most intriguing articles yet about Lions Head Coach Rod Marinelli .   Amazingly enough, I have no trouble imagining Marinelli hopping into a cage to go toe-to-toe with a bear. 

As the season progresses, if it continues upon it’s current course, Marinelli will likely assume a Ditka-like, “Da Bears”-styled admiration from Lions fans.  Obviously, when you consider that the team’s winningest coach is Wayne Fontes, it doesn’t take much to assume a legendary status in Detroit.

That being said, Marinelli has done such an incredible job by staying completely focused upon coaching the team.  He seems to have a genuine love and respect for the game of football that would be difficult not to admire, both within and outside the organization.

OT Jonathan Scott Has an Injured Thumb, Shaun Rogers in for “BIG BABY”-sized Pay Day?

Second year Lions OT Jonathan Scott broke his thumb on Sunday and has had a minor operation on it.   He will miss several games, which thrusts George Foster back into the starting role and limits the depth of the Lions O-Line, who had previously enjoyed a defensive line-styled rotation amongst Foster, Scott, Stephen Peterman, and Damien Woody.  Foster, who has played better of late, will have to rise to the occasion against the Cards and Giants, both of whom provide serious challenges on the edge.

Shaun Rogers is due a big bump in pay next season due to a backloaded contract.    To make Rogers’ contract more cap friendly, the Lions are likely to restructure his deal providing Rogers with a huge signing bonus (show me the money…) up front and a reduction of his pay in the unguaranteed portion of his contract.  As the Lions season progresses, it will be interesting to see if anyone else has their deals restructured to free up even more available space for the Lions to utilize during the off-season.

If Rogers continues to play well, keeping him happy will be a huge organizational priority.   It will also set an organizational precedent for rewarding players who perform well.  

Week 10: Lions Vs. Cards

The Lions are facing quite a difficult challenge this week.   In spite of the recent performances of the reeling Cards, the Lions are 2-2 on the road this year and the Cards feature one of the ten best defenses in the NFL.  A big win in Phoenix, while continuing to build upon their growing momentum, would really be making a huge statement for this surprising Lions team.

Offensively, the Lions are going to have to be able to utilze their passing attack much better than they have in recent weeks.  The Cardinals have big, athletic, bookend DT’s in Darnell Dockett and Gabe Watson, who will make inside running difficult for Kevin Jones by keeping their linebackers unblocked and occupying the area between the hashes. The Lions should not have to completely abandon the run, but they will not find their ground game as easy to establish as it has been in recent weeks.

This will also be a challenging game for the Lions offensive line.  The Cardinals DE Bert Berry is an excellent pass rusher and the Cards also feature athletic LB Karlos Dansby and S Adrian Wilson in their blitz packages who can completely disrupt an offense.  If their is a game that will ever serve as a barometer of the performance of the Lions offensive line, and their blitz pick-up blocking packages, this will be the one.

I do believe that the Lions can weaken the Cardinals advantage in these areas by running more of a quicker-paced offense that features multiple receivers.   Nothing wears down a pair of behemoth DT’s like a fast-paced aerial attack that doesn’t allow them to get much of a breather.    The Lions may also find some desirable man-to-man coverage matchups if the Cards choose to blitz. 

The Cards will also have to use a lot of nickel and dime coverage packages, which will limit the effectiveness of their linebackers, since they won’t be on the field. I think that the Lions believe that the advantage will stack up in favor of Calvin Johnson, Mike Furrey or Shaun McDonald against any of the nickel and dime packages that they face from here on out.  In fact, the effectiveness of McDonald and Furrey, along with their excellent route-running, makes the Lions offense truly scary, if it is clicking on all cylinders.

Defensively, the Lions need to continue to be stout against the run.   Edgerrin James has been effective at times, but if the Lions can stifle James they can place their focus upon pressuring the Cards immobile, injured QB Kurt Warner.

Warner, has also been effective at times, but has struggled since injury his non-throwing arm.   If the Lions can pressure the lead-footed Warner, the Cards WR’s Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and Bryant Johnson will not be able to pick apart the Lions zones. During crucial times, the Lions may have to resort to man coverage and bring some blitzes so Warner is pressured into checking down rather than finding the dangerous duo of Boldin and Fitzgerald.

On paper, the Lions should win this game.  During seasons past, games that the Lion should win were the ones they most frequently lost.  In this case, it will not be easy but the Lions improbable run will continue.   Lions 24 Cards 16

Manafacturing a Winning Team Psyche

During the 4th quarter of Sunday’s game, the Lions Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry was coaching up a storm while pacing the sidelines.   As the Broncos marched down the field, Barry was fuming.   He was trying to rally his troops, so that they would not bend, and allow Denver to gain a cheap, late score.   During that drive, CB LaMarcus Hicks, who rarely, if ever will see any playing time, committed a costly pass interference penalty.   Smoke poured from out of Barry’s ears.  The Lions even had the audacity to throw out a challenge flag during that drive.

What was with all of this ado?   The Lions had a comfortable, insurmountable lead.   Shouldn’t they have begun their sideline celebration prematurely in spite of what was happening on the field?   Did the Lions want to embarass Denver?   No, Barry, in lock step with Rod Marinelli, is actually building a foundation and attempting to transform a team’s psyche.

The Lions coaching staff couldn’t very well expect their charges to play “one snap a time” or “keep pounding” the proverbial “rock” if they themselves didn’t display the same type of discipline and focus, regardless of the game’s score.

This was no dog and pony exercise in putting on airs, either.   I do believe, that Marinelli, and his coaching staff, have the passion, laser-like focus, and unshakeable commitment necessary to change the course of the Lions franchise.

Not only in good times, either.  What is most remarkable, in an already surprising season, is that when the Lions have failed(and failed mightily I might add) this season the coaches have been unwavering and have pressed the team forward, in spite of all of the attendant baggage that comes with being members of an organization that has failed often during it’s recent history.

The Lions will face many difficulties ahead.   Week-to-week life in the NFL is arduous, and that is why the Lions coaches stress the importance of facing the task at hand, and only that.    In their eyes, if the team’s focus shifts, even a little, the results could be disastrous.  

As the season progresses, and the Lions enjoy some success, the expectations will only grow and the challenges will increase.  For the first time in a long while, I am beginning to believe that the Lions are equipped with the leadership and character to pull them through.