Lions Paying Price For Continued Poor Decision-Making Practices
November 25, 2008 on 2:59 pm | In Uncategorized |The Lions entered the season with a serviceable, admittedly an erratic and disgruntled one, veteran QB in Jon Kitna. Shortly after the season began, the Lions decided to shelve him, likely just as much due to his rising discontent with the organization as it was to the severity of his back injury.
Fast forward, the Lions now find themselves in the unenviable position of having to trot out a rusty, barely competent QB in Daunte Culpepper, having two young QB’s who are suffering from injury in Dan Orlovsky and Drew Stanton, and are likely going to have turn to backup Drew Henson in their upcoming Thanksgiving Day game, given that Culpepper has only completed one of his three starts.
I don’t think Culpepper has been awful, but I wonder if this nightmare scenario could have been avoided, had they settled their dispute with Kitna by benching him, rather than excommunicating him.
The Lions also have compounded several other problems this season. The Lions have traded Roy Williams, Shaun Rogers, and Dre Bly, all moves which I have openly supported, but have failed to glean full value (at least with Bly and Rogers) in return for those players.
In particular, the Rogers and Bly trades have been disastrous. Leigh Bodden, likely will be retained, much like mediocre players like Jeff Backus and Cory Redding, because the team can ill-afford to open up any more gaping roster holes.
Bodden, who has been awful, seems uncomfortable with the zone defense and the Lions will likely retain him, and his large bonus, since they have so few options upon their current roster.
We don’t even need to elaborate about the Lions receiving George Foster and Tatum Bell for Bly.
What I find most disconcerting is, that from a coaching standpoint, the Lions were unable to gain productive seasons from Kalimba Edwards and Damien Woody, two players who have been much better upon leaving the franchise.
Ultimately, when the Lions are down 31-7 in 3rd quarter to the Titans, and a green, yet rusty Drew Henson removes the clipboard from his clutches and takes off the headset, and commences to commit abominations all over the Ford Field turf, remember the Lions had Jon Kitna at their disposal, but they chose to chop off their nose to spite their face.
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I know it won’t happen, but wouldn’t be hilarious if Drew Henson turned out to be a decent QB after all he has been through?
Drew STanton? Is it time to cut him loose yet? He is like Teddy Lehman, made of china since being signed to the Lions!
I Bet we draft another QB in April with one of our ones…
Comment by Mike — November 25, 2008 #
Wow–the good ol’ days of John Kitna. It really doesn’t matter who goes out there to loft the ball or get sacked–it’s a disgraceful mess–actually a worse one than I could have imagined.
You are correct–the Lions have been getting the butt end of each and every move or pick that they have made. Just think–in another two years we’ll be talking about how the three picks (including the first rounder) we got in the Williams trade were either out of football or should be.
It certainily looks like we’ll be taking the next Joey Harrington in the upcoming draft. Damn.
Comment by Yukon Dan — November 26, 2008 #
Hey, in regards to Henson, the Lions have to get lucky sometime and there is no doubt that Henson has the necessary physical tools.
Stanton has a long history of nagging injuries, dating back to his time at MSU. Concussions are a common injury, obviously, but it is uncanny how Stanton’s development has been severely hindered by injury.
The QB situation is contingent upon who declares for the ‘09 draft. Their are no senior QB’s who are ranked in the top 50, at least currently. Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, and Matthew Stafford are all names who have been mentioned as potential high draft picks, if they decide to come out.
That being said, as we know so well, selecting a QB is a tricky business and after Sunday’s litany of mistakes by offensive linemen, that cost the Lions dearly, I have got to believe that the Lions will be looking at adding another Offensive Tackle, even if it’s not viewed as a position that is bereft of talent on their current roster.
It is my belief, that after the impact of players like D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Joe Thomas, Jake Long, et al all for rebuilding teams, the Lions have to see that would be their most prudent first step towards rebuilding.
Comment by Steve — November 26, 2008 #