Detroit Lions Weblog

Stanton Says He is Ready, Roy Williams Has a BIG MOUTH

Drew Stanton says that he could be ready to play against the Bears in two Sundays, if he is eventually called upon.  With all of the recent public, bubbling over of organizational tumult, it remains to be seen if Rod Marinelli is ready to put his fate into the inexperienced Stanton’s hands over veteran/loser Jon Kitna (Quitna? Pickna?)

That being said, and as much as I respect Kitna’s toughness, this change is going to come, and soon.  If the Lions think that Kitna deserves one more game at the helm, so be it.  Still there is no doubt, they will eventually give Stanton his chance to run the team.

Stanton has remained in town for extra work with quarterbacks coach Scot Loefler, while nearly everyone else on the roster retreated during the bye week.   This could be a good sign that Stanton is strongly committed to, and is being vetted for, assuming the reins in the very near future.

Ultimately, the Lions need to know, is Stanton a potential franchise QB, or not?

Roy Williams, as talented and productive as he is capable of being, has never been at a loss for ill-timed words.   He has become increasingly critical of Jim Colletto’s by-proxy-of-Rod Marinelli ineffective, conservative offensive scheme, which has so little margin for error.

In some ways, Williams is right for bellyaching.  The Lions defense is so bad that the only legitimate chance that they possess is to put up as many points as possible in any given game.  Grind-it-out games are just not in the cards, for the ‘08 Lions.

With that in mind, Williams, without fail, drops at least one, if not two, catchable passes each and every week. A case can be made that if Williams had only run the correct route, or made the correct read, against Atlanta early in the 2nd half, the Lions may have made a comeback and won that game.

That is what is stupefying about Williams saying “If I was coordinator, I’d be in four-wide (receiver sets).”  If Williams kept his damn mouth shut, remained in focus, and caught the ball, the Lions may not even be in the routine predicament of spotting their opponents 21 points, which essentially forces Colletto to try on his “Mouse” Davis costume as offensive coordinator, each and every week.

Williams obviously needs to be more accountable for his own failings.   That being said, the Lions probably plan on “franchising” him next season, in hopes of acquiring a high draft pick or players in return for his services.

If we think his public jawing is little annoying, and out of place now, what kind of hissyfit will he have when the Lions decide to “franchise” him, and take away his opportunity for an open market, big payday.

That’s why I believed that the Lions should have traded him entering this season’s draft.   Can the Lions afford to have their opponents to slow play them, receiving Williams for pennies on the dollar, because he decides to hold out over his “franchise” designation? Oh, the Lions…