Detroit Lions Weblog

2009 Mid-Season Grades; Or Losing the Battle In an Attempt to Win the War

ones Like ThisThe 2009 Lions have struggled their way to a 1-7 start, nine weeks into their season, after finishing 0-16 in 2008, amid an incredibly awful 2-30 run in their last 32 games. I think most prognosticators likely had them predicted to be 2-6 at this point, and even the most optimistic likely believed that the Lions would have three wins at best, by this point. Therefore, a 1-7 start is not too far short of expectations. That being said, things appear to steadily regressing in Allen Park, as the Lions emabark upon another prolonged stretch of unmatched ineptitude.

The Lions know a thing or two about Pyrrhic victories, and this season is no different. In this particular case, I believe the Lions are approaching the point where they might make a similar pronouncement as Pyrrhus did in battling Rome:

The armies separated; and, it is said, Pyrrhus replied to one that gave him joy of his victory that one more such victory would utterly undo him. For he had lost a great part of the forces he brought with him, and almost all his particular friends and principal commanders; there were no others there to make recruits, and he found the confederates in Italy backward.

In the Lions case, much to Lions fans collective chagrin, the team will implore fans to be patient in their support as the team continues to struggle towards NFL respectability. At this point, the Lions season is officially over, they will continue to play out the string, but the team needs to start looking towards the future. The continued acquisition of players like DL Turk McBride and CB Jack Williams, and any others who might possibly emerge, would be wise. In particular, the Lions defense is a very long way from being dependable and competitive.

The Lions need to begin their extensive personnel analysis and draft preparation. They need to think about phasing out players who are unlikely to return next season and integrating those who shape their future plans. If that means less playing time for DT Grady Jackson and G Jon Jansen, as well as WR Dennis Northcutt, DB’s Anthony Henry, and Philip Buchanon, etc, that’s fine. It is time for the Lions to continue to address the development of DT Sammie Lee Hill, see what they have in disappointing WR Derrick Williams, and viewing the expansion of DeAndre Levy’s unexpected-but-hard-earned playing time.

In regards to the franchise’s lightning rod, first overall draft pick, and hoped-for-savior, Matthew Stafford, the Lions need to start to think about finding the right balance between development, health, and success. After last week’s five interception game, I believe that Stafford belongs on a shorter, but more protective, leash. The Lions can ill-afford for his confidence to become shaken. He seems unflappable on the surface, but the body language of both Stafford and his teammates after/during Sunday’s ugly loss indicates a different story. The situation is percolating to a boil and the Lions coaching staff needs to deftly manage the situation, according to how things play out moving forward.

If Stafford flourishes, the Lions are in the enviable position of being only concerned about his health. If Stafford continues to struggle, the situation becomes a lot more complicated. Lions fans will smell blood in the water if Stafford struggles. Stafford will be an all-too-convenient organizational chum for the sharks-cum-fans to sink their collective teeth into. In other words, incidents like the one with Dom Raiola and a group of angry, catcalling fans (or ones like this ) will only be exacerbated by more poor showings from Stafford. The Lions need to avoid exposing Stafford to that festering environment, in my opinion.

Ford Field, for the most part, is a fetid, empty mausoleum of broken dreams this season for reasons pertaining to situations both on and off the field. Nothing, I mean literally, absosmurfly, nothing will awaken the charred remains of a once hale and proud Lions fan base than Stafford, the “70 Million Dollar Man”, stinking the joint up Harrington-style, as the Lions season continues to conflagrate into ineptitude, writ large.

So really, nothing has changed. Even healthy denial doesn’t permit me to say blindly that the situation has improved or changed measureably under Jim Schwartz this season. There are some bright spots (Louis Delmas, Brandon Pettigrew, and DeAndre Levy) but players like Ernie Sims, Cliff Avril, Calvin Johnson and Gosder Cherilus, who are supposed to be franchise cornerstones of sorts, have all to a man underperformed. They haven’t even shown signs of significant growth as players, so Schwartz has a lot of hard work ahead of him to avoid becoming just another in a long line of embattled, failed Lions coaches.

Lions Offense: C-

QB’s:C-
The Lions have needed to be able to depend on both backups, Drew Stanton and Daunte Culpepper, after Matthew Stafford sustained an injury against Chicago. Neither did much with their opportunity, except prove to the Lions that they have literally cast their entire lot in Stafford alone, and that they will be in the market for a quality veteran backup for Stafford in a few short months. Stafford has had moments of exhilarating brilliance, but for the most part, has been meeting all of the negative expectations that comprised his collegiate career: inaccuracy, inconsistency, and the inability to lead a team as the game winds to a close. This is cold, hard evaluation of Stafford. He has not exhibited measureable improvement over what made him so frustrating in his three seasons in Athens, Georgia.

RB’s: B-
Kevin Smith has struggled but he has also exhibited a similar fortitude to another former underappreciated Lion, James Stewart, who also had to fight for every inch that he ever gained while in Honolulu Blue. Stewart, like Smith, was a consummate professional and was completely bland, and bereft of the kind of big play flash that is desired at the RB position. Maurice Morris and Aaron Brown have each been valuable in limited roles. Morris has provided a nice change of pace to Smith recently. Brown has the kind of flash and big play excitement that the Lions desire, but he has really struggled in the more formal aspects of playing the game. The Lions FB’s, Terrelle Smith and Jerome Felton, have each done their jobs as blockers. Felton has exhibited some signs of being a player who could eventually play a larger role, but the Lions would like more consistency from him.

TE’s: C
Brandon Pettigrew, a 1st round pick, has had an up-and-down rookie season, but is becoming one of the few organizational bright spots, even if the continued failing of Gosder Cherilus signals that the Lions made a huge mistake missing out on selecting a capable RT in Michael Oher, by drafting Pettigrew instead. Casey FitzSimmons is a valuable vet and special teams contributor. Will Heller has had a fair season, but does’t appear to be the devastating blocker that the Lions hoped for.

Lions OL: C-
The Lions offensive line has been better than I expected, but not better enough for me not to wish that the Lions had at least once in the last 7-8 years made selecting an offensive linemen not named Gosder a much larger organizational priority than they unfortunately have. The Lions have allowed 26 sacks and are pace for another season of allowing over 50 sacks. The revolving door at LG doesn’t speak well for the Lions off-season, and it is growing increasingly clear, while their current line continues to struggle, that the situation could ACTUALLY GET MUCH WORSE! The fact is, two 10-year vets are providing the backbone of their offensive line, and they will not be able to play as well as they are, despite anyone’s opinion of the performances of either Jeff Backus or Dom Raiola, currently for much longer. Excuse me while I go look at my “touched up” photos of Ryan Clady, Michael Oher and Joe Thomas doffing Honolulu Blue and Silver Uniforms in disgust.

WR: D-
The Lions best player, Calvin Johnson, unfortunately was recently injured and missed a game. That being said, the Lions have not done enough to display that they acknowledge that the more often Johnson actually touches the ball, while teams do everything in their power to prevent it, the better their chances will be for finding success. The Lions counterparts for Johnson, Bryant Johnson, Dennis Northcutt, and Derrick Williams have all taken their turns exhibiting awfulness, with a few, brief glimpses of positivity, which is even more damning when you consider all of the attention that the Lions opponents have devoted to limiting Calvin Johnson. Remember the ugliness I unloaded upon your blackened souls when I mentioned that the Lions offensive line could get worse in the very near future. Well, yeah, take a load of this, aghast in utter, macabre horror. The Lions may actually be able to justify selecting another wide receiver in the early rounds of next year’s draft. Let the hue and cry begin!

Defense: D
DL: D+
The Lions defensive line has performed well at times, but are still too short on talent to be viable for the entire duration of any particular game. The Lions defensive line has suffered from an inordinate number of injuries week-to-week, but still, players like DeWayne White and Cliff Avril have not met expectations. Sammie Lee Hill, and to a lesser degree, Turk McBride and Jason Hunter, both cast-offs who have found a temporary home in Detroit, have been bright spots. As the Lions inch towards a top five draft pick, I can easily see a defensive linemen being their next young addition in the upcoming draft.

LB: C
The Lions linebackers have been their best personnel group, even if injuries and poor play have slowed Ernie Sims. The team’s biggest and brightest surprise, DeAndre Levy, has really met the challenge. If you see one football hit the entire season, honestly, if you like the devastating, unmitigated, breathtaking violence of football, then you must see this hit by Lions rookie Zach Follett:

Zach Follett, special teams cyclotron?

Veterans Julian Peterson and Larry Foote have provided the Lions with significant upgrades over recent seasons, but still the Lions front seven must continue to improve, if they will ever be able to protect their incredibly weak secondary.

Secondary: D-
If not for the presence of Louis Delmas, this rating would have been F-. The Lions again possess a bevy of failed veterans whom the team hoped might provide a patchwork, band-aid over a gaping, hemhorragic organizational wound. Other than that, not much else can be said. The Lions will start next season a little better off for the presence of Delmas, but essentially, square one here we come. There will be at least a 60% turnover in personnel at a position which has been reconditioned so many times by this organization that it is reasonably fair to wonder if any Lions executive will ever return the unit to league average. 263.1 yards passing per game for Lions opponents indicates that the aforementioned glorious day is a long ways off.

Lions Special Teams: F
The mere fact that any layman recognizes Stan Kwan, Lions special teams coach, by both face and name, indicates that Kwan had better have his bags packed, his C.V. dusted off, and that the Lions will be attempting to convince an angry fan base that the new Lions special teams coordinator has fixed all of the awful, unacceptable problems that have proved fatal for the team this season.