Lions Pre-Season Game Will Highlight Organizational Strengths/Weaknesses
August 6, 2008 on 6:04 pm | In Uncategorized |The Lions will face the world champion New York Giants tomorrow evening, in what will be each teams first exhibition game of the 2008 season. The Lions starters will be in the game for about 10 snaps on each side of the ball, which is a relatively brief appearance.
Even with all of the absent injured players accounted for and the brevity of the starter’s appearance in the game, this game will be our first tangible sign of whether the draft picks and all of the off-season free acquisitions, er–I mean ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers, can contribute to a higher quality of play for the Lions than the inauspicious downhill slope that ground the ‘07 season to a discouraging halt.
Some things to keep an eye out for:
1) Have the Lions found a remotely supplementary pass rush to DeWayne White among players like Cliff Avril, Ikaika “Hawaii 2.0″ Alama-Francis, and Jared DeVries?
2) Has a simpler offense, with more “bread-n-butter” plays aided the weak Lions offensive line enough to show that they have potentially gelled into a cohesive, nominally acceptable unit? Can they limit costly errors (George Foster?)
3) The running backs need to establish a pecking order, which ideally, shows signs of an emerging Kevin Smith along with credible role-playing by players like Tatum Bell, Aveion Cason, and Artose Pinner which will lead to a spirited battle for carries/roster spots.
4) The Lions back-up QB competition. We have heard A LOT about how the Lions would hold an open competition for playing time and that Jon Kitna was no shoo-in as a starter. Are there signs that Dan Orlovsky or Drew Stanton could respond if their number is called. Should Byron Leftwich and Daunte Culppepper wait anxiously next to their phones?
5) The Lions rookies. Matt Millen has an incredible knack of having his draft picks spontaneously combust. The Lions need for Gosder Cherilus, Jordan Dizon, Kevin Smith and company to provide some indication that this organization has chosen a sounder, more dependable direction with it’s personnel evaluation.
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First of all, just because the Giants won the Superbowl, they are not “world champions.” We do not know if there is a team from Europe, Asia, or Africa which could not defeat the Giants. This “Ameri-centric” view of the world only shows why other nations despise us. If they turned their attention to “American Football” instead of “World Football,” they would almost certainly defeat the lazy Americans at this game. No just kidding. They can all [censored] themselves.
Now, to the business at hand. Ten minutes to football. I am about to change my position regarding the Lions and go back to my old optimistic self and predict a Lions Superbowl appearance. No just kidding. I think I will stick with my earlier prediction, but I so hope I am This is going to be a tough season. I will still cheer for the Honolulu Blue, but I am not expecting anything. Maybe the improved secondary will make a difference, but I can’t see it as sufficient to turn losses into wins.
Things I see which need to happen:
1. The Lions need to find a pass rush.
2. Kitna needs to . . . think? Nah, bring in some Spartan Power. It can’t get any worse.
3. The O-Line needs to . . . at least remember their count. First things first.
4. They need to avoid being so damn fancy about everything. Play freaking football.
5. Kevin Smith needs to live up to his own hype. Even if he is decent–I’ll be thrilled.
Go Rod, I wish you the best!
Comment by Angry Lions Fan f/k/a Hondo — August 7, 2008 #