Lions Storm Back From 17-point Deficit, Bench Culpepper, Still Lose
December 21, 2009 on 11:43 am | In Uncategorized |The Lions played an awful, mistake-filled, uninspired first half Sunday in their loss to the Cardinals. Drawing Jim Schwartz’s ire, he benched offensive linemen Manny Ramirez and Gosder Cherilus and said:
“If we had more offensive linemen active, we may have benched more. My patience was worn out with false starts and things like that — missed assignments. Did it make a difference? I don’t know.”
Schwartz also got fed up with the sputtering Lions offense, benching Daunte Culpepper, inserting Lions fans favorite, Drew Stanton, into the lineup for a hoped for spark. The sparks were somewhat unremarkable, but explosion plays by Stanton’s teammates, Louis Delmas and Maurice Morris, in Kevin Smith’s place, made the game much more interesting than it seemingly should have been.
Louis Delmas Provides Hope for a Different Future for the Lions Defense
Delmas has been an absolute revelation. The Lions have not had a ballhawking, playmaker on defense for many years now, and as if Delmas’ play wasn’t enough, he had a post-game outburst of anger and vitriol that I believe is his own symbolic drawing of the proverbial, line in the sand, demarcating the “new” Lions from the “old” Lions:
Delmas to his teammates, which side are on you on?
“We lost!” Delmas yelled at reporters. “What you want? What you got to ask me?”
Delmas stared at reporters defiantly.
“That’s what I thought,” he said. and later…”I don’t really pay attention to the record, because if I did, I’d probably kill myself,” he said. “I just pay attention to the game. But obviously once you’re losing, you’re not going to see no smile on this face or nothing.”
Delmas has had a remarkable season, especially as member of this awful Lions defense. He has now returned both a fumble and an interception for TD’s this season, recorded a safety (he is the first rookie to intercept a pass, return a fumble for a touchdown, and record a safety in NFL history), and is second on the team in both tackles and passes defended.
In regards to Stanton, he deserves every chance to start each of the Lions remaining games, if Matthew Stafford is unavailable to play. Stanton’s stats were less than stellar, but he did seem more emotionally engaged than Culpepper and the few fans who cared enough to attend Sunday’s game were decidedly in Stanton’s favor, upon his entry to the game.
In Keeping With the Holidays, Stanton
Exclaims “It’s a Wonderful Life!”
The Lions still have significant issues of concern to ponder. The complete uselessness of both Dennis Northcutt and Bryant Johnson stupefies me. In particular, after muffing a punt, Northcutt should be served his walking papers, post haste.
Calvin Johnson was essentially unproductive, again, even if the Cardinals shaped their entire defensive scheme around preventing him from devastating them. That being said, as each week passes, Johnson’s frustration level must be growing exponentially.
Jason Douglas Hanson, as trustworthy and dependable as an evergreen, is mired in the worst extended stretch of poor kicking that he has experienced during his entire career.
Hanson Is in Disbelief Over His New Found Mortality
Hanson is 16 for 23 this season kicking field goals, with a long of 50 yards. Even a kicker of Hanson’s sterling organizational reputation and stature, may be dancing dangerously near the edge of the Lions personnel precipice, now that he is struggling.
If there is any consolation to Sunday’s loss, the Lions are now going to be drafting second in April (They are a longshot to be drafting first overall), as long as they don’t screw up and break their 19-game road losing streak or find a way to defeat the hapless, “Cutler Interception Machine”-helmed Bears, at home. I have faith that they are well on their way to another 2-14 season.
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I was glued to the radio for this one. I almost went down there. If they would have won, it would have been the most spectacular building block of all. Louis Delmas is now my all-time favorite Lion not named Spielman, Baker, or Sanders. Imagine if he had some help back there . . . I wonder if we would have pulled it off if Stafford were in there? It did leave me some hope.
Comment by Yukondan — December 21, 2009 #
There might be hope, but the Lions need: a LG, maybe help at right tackle now that Gosder Cherilus is in Schwartz’s doghouse, they need two backup QB’s, two WR’s, another running back, two defensive ends, a defensive tackle, and at least two corners. Oh, and they might need a new kicker, too. (at least 50% personnel turnover this off-season is a conservative estimate)
That being said, the Lions are edging closer to drafting Ndamukong Suh, if the Rams don’t take him. Although, the Lions might not be able to let WR Dez Bryant or RB CJ Spiller get past them at pick #2…
Comment by Steve — December 21, 2009 #
I dont the Lions pass on Suh if he is available. No need for two high priced WRs unless he is absolutely the best player hands down(a la CJ). They will take Suh or Berry. I think McCoy is a possibility as well. I can see him and Hill eating up space becoming the Detroit version of the Williams Wall.
Comment by Chris S. — December 21, 2009 #
“”Although, the Lions might not be able to let WR Dez Bryant or RB CJ Spiller get past them at pick #2…”"
I’m pretty sure this was the hard earned sarcasm of a long term Lion Fan who has suffered not only all the losses but also the mind bending stupid draft decisions that have been made over the years.
Comment by mike — December 23, 2009 #
Chris–
I hope that you are correct. A front-line DT would go along ways towards protecting the deficiencies in the Lions secondary. A Suh, McCoy, or the highest rated defensive end should make an immediate difference, with apologies to Grady “Buffet Buster” Jackson.
Mike, forgive my snarkiness in regards to the draft. Here’s the thing, Ford Field is lucky if 30,000 people attend. The Lions are giving away tickets to former season ticket holders who have decided to no longer subscribe.
How desperate are they to put asses in the seats? The team could be motivated to make a recognizable, “big splash” draft selection in hopes of bolstering their attendance.
The thing is, they have so many personnel needs, they could go in a lot of different directions and fill a need.
Comment by Steve — December 23, 2009 #
I certainly hope this is not the case. Mr. Ford has never seemed to me a “cheap” owner, just an unknowledgable one. I think if he can make a splash in Free agency, he will if Mayhew tells him its a good idea. Hopefully the process of drafting that they took on last year will continue somewhat. I think they are more in line with taking the best available rather than need filling. I think last year they should have taken one of the LT’s instead of Stafford. Maybe they will prove me wrong, I think the Jury is still out on Stafford and will continue to be untill he gets some time behind a real OL. Early indications are that it won’t make sense to draft a LT at #2 (if we remain there)because of the way the draft boards are beginning to take shape and its my opinion that Mel Kiper and Todd McSHay do the drafting for the vast majority of NFL teams (Pittsburgh and New England being two exceptions anyway). All that said, I think Lions fans know enough about football to know that drafting a running back will not slave the base issue and therefore will not bring the majority of the fan base back to Ford field (Let’s hope so anyway)
Comment by mike — December 23, 2009 #
I think and hope that you are right, Mike. Still, you can see the very real possibility of them being compelled to make imprudent decisions as they struggle to fill Ford Field and are likely bleeding from every pore as an organization.
I can live with the Stafford pick, especially if they honestly address their issues on the offensive line, giving Stafford a better opportunity.
They also desperately need to provide help for Calvin Johnson, so that he might meet his incredible potential as a playmaker. It will be an interesting draft come April, that’s for sure.
Comment by Steve — December 23, 2009 #