Detroit Lions Weblog

Third Pre-Season Game Will Provide of Barometer for Upcoming Lions Season

As everyone hard-core football fan knows, the third pre-season game serves as a “dry run” for the season and a barometric check upon where the team currently resides developmentally, at that point.

Given the fact that the Lions are coming off of an 0-16 season, amidst an improbably infamous 1-22 run, any signs of progress will likely be warmly-received amongst Lions fans, considering the low expectations that are currently held for the team. At this point, many fans initial instinct is to expect a systematic dismantling of the Lions defense at the hands of Colts QB Peyton Manning, and just enough maddeningly embarrassing mistakes to be able to angrily mutter “Same Ol’ Lions” as they dejectedly walk out of Ford Field and cast their lot in the “Greektown” casinos, before journeying to their suburban homes.

If this in fact how things eventually play out Saturday, there is no shame in that, the Lions will remain a work in progress for both the immediate and the foreseeable future. The Lions need to acquit themselves, step by feeble step, despite the likely onslaught of empty Ford Field seats, barrage of media coverage and bevy of loser jokes that await them with each successive loss until they finally win a game during the ‘09 season.

The Lions do have a few things in their favor. With both the incredibly low expectations and assuredly empty stadium to play in front of, any of the ugliness that they experience will likely occur outside of the watchful gaze of a television audience, since most of their games will likely be “blacked out”, too. As long as the Lions front office stays the course, and the team’s coaching staff maintains a semblance of continuity and philosophical agreement, the wins should eventually come.

I am excited by the prospect of an energized, swaggering Lions team who is not likely to take their shortcomings and embarrassments while lying down. The stupid pre-game scuffle between soon-to-be free agent TE Carson Butler and DE DeWayne White, along with the two reported training camp/practice melees, each engineered by rookie S Louis Delmas that have occurred are palpable signs that the team is not willing to remain a submissively convenient NFL doormat anymore.

I really like that Delmas is causing a ripple in the placid Lions training camp. I don’t really want him to unnecessarily cause an injury to a member of the team, but the team, and fans have needed the presence of a player like Delmas for several seasons now. I think that the insanely-intense Lions defensive coordinator, Gunther Cunningham would tend to agree:

There have been more scuffles in this camp than in previous years. Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham loves it, though he doesn’t want anyone to get hurt.

Cunningham is trying to give the Lions an attitude adjustment, and he said he sent a message loud and clear after Saturday’s 27-10 exhibition loss at Cleveland: If you can’t tackle, you won’t play for the Lions.

Even as Cunningham spoke to reporters today, he seemed to get upset about it. He said turning down tackles will not be tolerated. He said four players turned down tackles — not just missed them — on the 81-yard run by the Browns’ James Davis.

The Lions have “turned down” tackles for years and if a pissed off, bitter, German powder keg of a coach can single-handedly change that mere fact, Cunningham will become a sainted figure among the Lions fan base. Hopefully, the Lions defense gets to the point where their aggression is eventually placed upon their opponents and not just against each other in the comfortable confines of the Allen Park training facility.

With the release of former Lions RB T.J. Duckett, the Grand Rapids Press’ Brian Van Ochten believes that the Lions should approach Duckett to help them with an organizational deficiency:

The transaction provides the Lions with a fantastic chance to plug a glaring hole on their roster.

The need for a short-yardage back such as Duckett was all too obvious while watching the Lions suffer a 27-10 lackluster loss to the Cleveland Browns on Saturday night in preseason action. Aveion Cason, called upon to gain 1 yard on fourth down, went backward.

It’s a role that Cason is ill-suited to fill.

Duckett, 28, once a prep star at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, is just the man to reclaim that job for the Lions….In his lone season in Detroit in 2007, the 6-foot, 254-pound Duckett ran 65 times for 335 yards (5.2 per rush) with three touchdowns in a reserve role. He caught four passes for 54 yards and fumbled just once. He also was a breath of fresh air in the locker room.

He has averaged 3.9 yards per carry and scored 44 touchdowns throughout his seven-year NFL career.

Let’s hope Lions general manager Martin Mayhew picks up the phone.

I like T.J. Duckett, his last second touchdown catch against the Michigan Wolverines a few years ago, remains among the most joyous sports moments I have personally experienced in my life. He has been a capable NFL back. I would actually prefer him over Aveion Cason, especially with the hoped for continued development of rookie RB Aaron Brown as a third down, change-of-pace back.

That being said, the Lions are likely to believe that they have the personnel on hand to perform Duckett’s responsibilities, after reading this Detroit Free Press article.

Terrelle Smith opened some holes for Jerome Felton, and fullback tandem opened some eyes when the Lions showed off their power-run package Saturday against Cleveland.

The Lions took advantage of the 3-4 defensive scheme, which creates more holes at the line because of the defense’s use of only three linemen. With Smith leading the way, Felton carried seven times for 34 yards. That included a gain of 14 yards and a string of three consecutive runs that the Browns were helpless to stop late the second quarter.

It was a good sign for the Lions, especially because they will play seven games this season against teams with a 3-4 defense.

“I think it’s going to be productive package for us,” coach Jim Schwartz said Tuesday.

Schwartz explained that the gaps in a 3-4 defense push defenders to the side, forcing them to tackle at an angle.

“And when guys are making side tackles, you need north-south running backs that can run through arm tackles, real strong guys like that,” he said. “And I think that package fits us real well in that circumstance.

“We really haven’t broken it out in any short-yardage situations, but it’s available to use there. We could use it in a lot of different plays: goal-line, short-yardage and also some attitude-type plays.”

Last Saturday was not the only time that the Lions will face a 3-4 defense and Felton’s utility was one of the boasting points made upon his selection last season. Felton is kind of a younger version of Duckett, except trading Duckett’s rushing ability for Felton’s blocking ability while backing up veteran Terrelle Smith makes a lot of sense for the Lions offense down the road. I would not be disappointed by an eventual signing of Duckett either, but clearly, and likely infinitely more so after this upcoming Saturday’s pre-season game, the Lions have much higher priorities for an upgrade than exchanging T.J. Duckett for Aveion Cason.