Sorry for the late posting. It has been a hard week and since I don't make any money writing, working on getting a new career has to come first. In this economy, I am sure many Detroit Lions fans can understand this.
On their way to a 35 - 27 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, the Lions gave the fans some mixed feelings. I will try to touch on them and give my unprofessional opinions.
The Browns offense came out with quick passes, leaving the Lions new Defensive line useless. The Browns continuously moved the ball and gained 26 first downs, most of which were against the starters. Many fans are very concerned about the Lions defensive backs as they could not seem to cover at all. Though there is reason to be concerned, I would not be overly worried yet. I definitely would not panic yet. Though it can be hard to do, it is important to remember that this was indeed just a preseason game. For one, if this was a real game, and the Lions defensive line could not put pressure on the opposing quarterback, I am sure they would have run more stunts or blitzed more. However, the Lions did neither very much at all. The defensive line ran a straight up, beat your man, type of scheme all night. Secondly, the whole defensive back unit was not as bad as it might seem. Particularly, it was one player who was horrible. Eric King.
For two weeks in a row, opposing QBs have picked on King and I am expecting them to do so in the 4th game as well. If there is one thing everyone can agree on about King, it is that he can run with the receivers. He does not get beat very often. His problem is that he just cannot seem to figure out how to play the ball as well. Every time his receiver catches a pass, King is right there, but he is always turned away from the ball. He never knows the ball is coming until its too late. I think Schwartz sees this and is giving him every opportunity to get things figured out. You can teach a player to play the ball and adjust to the ball. You cannot teach him the speed and quickness it takes to stick to a receivers hip. IF King can figure out how to play the ball, he can be a very good cornerback. If he cannot, Schwartz will cut him. But until he has no other choice, Schwartz will give King every chance to figure it out. If King cannot figure things out in the next game, I would expect him to be cut and Dre Bly to be the starter.
Jahvid Best only played a few downs before he left with tightness. Don't worry! In the short time he played, he caught a pass and ran a hand off for 51 yards. If he really did feel some tightness, it was minor and knowing he is a star in the making, Schwartz was not going to take ANY chance it could get worse if he continued. There is even a chance that Schwartz decided he showed enough and made up the tightness excuse to remove him from the game. In the preseason, nobody ever knows.
Everyone seems to be talking about Suh's aggressiveness. After breaking through the line and pressuring Delhomme, Suh grabbed him from around the head, wrapped his arms around his mid section and lifted him up before whipping him to the ground. After Delhomme already threw the ball. Some say he should be fined. Some people say he should be suspended. Still others say he should have gotten the penalty he got and nothing more. The fact is, whether we like the rules protecting the quarterbacks or not, they are still there and enforced. For that reason, I would say Suh rightfully has a fine coming to him. As for a suspension, since Delhomme was not injured, or even shaken up, and it is a first time offense, I would not expect anything more than the fine.
I have heard some people say that Suh is dirty for that. The guy is not considered a dirty player. He is a rookie and got frustrated when he finally got his hands on the QB and failed to get a sack. he will likely be fined, and he is intelligent enough to learn from that. If he continues to do these things, then you might have a reason to think him a dirty player. For now it was one play he got carried away on.
8/22/10
Lions Preseason Week-2 in 2010
The Detroit Lions beat the Denver Broncos 25 - 20 in their second preseason game of the 2010 season. The win came from an unexpected source. With 3:19 left to play, Drew Stanton ran a quarterback draw and took the ball 25 yards for a touchdown.
This was the game I was looking to for the first real test for the new defensive line and they did not disappoint. With the Lions up, 3-0, Denver drove down to the Lions 26 yard line before Dre Bly intercepted a pass and returned it to the Denver 27 yard line. Though the Broncos were driving down the field, they should have gone three and out to start the drive. On 3rd and 6 at their own 24 yard line, Orton completed a pass for no gain and what should have been a punt coming up turned into another 3rd down try because of a Denver illegal formation penalty. Again, Orton's pass only made it to their 24 yard line again, but this time Vanden Bosch hit a pile too late and got a personal foul and gave the Broncos a 1st down. Then on another 3rd down attempt, an incomplete pass turned into a 1st down on a pass interference call on Chris Houston.
The Lions starting defense blanked the Broncos starting offense out until the 2nd quarter when they gave up a touchdown, making the score 13 - 7 and cutting the Lions lead to 6 points.
Ndamukong Suh looked good once again though his stats don't show it. Again, he was double teamed constantly and still managed to force the running back to change course and knocked down one pass. Kyle Orton was feeling pressure during much of his time on the field.
Stafford once again looked good, but still shows some lack of accuracy at times. There were passes that receivers had to reach behind them to haul in as well as his misses. But in the end, he still completed 13 of 18 attempts and had a touchdown with no interceptions.
All in all, the Lions are looking impressive in the preseason. They are giving fans a lot to get excited about. I want to warn you to back off of that excitement a little. Don't let yourself get too caught up in a team that is looking good in the preseason. After all, it is just that. Meaningless preseason games where teams are not game planning to beat an opponent but to test players in situations. .... But the fact is, how can I tell you not to get excited when I am getting excited myself?
I still am only calling 6 wins at this time, but the more I watch Stafford control the offense, Best turn on speed and change directions and the D-line attack the quarterback, the more I am starting to believe they can do better.
This was the game I was looking to for the first real test for the new defensive line and they did not disappoint. With the Lions up, 3-0, Denver drove down to the Lions 26 yard line before Dre Bly intercepted a pass and returned it to the Denver 27 yard line. Though the Broncos were driving down the field, they should have gone three and out to start the drive. On 3rd and 6 at their own 24 yard line, Orton completed a pass for no gain and what should have been a punt coming up turned into another 3rd down try because of a Denver illegal formation penalty. Again, Orton's pass only made it to their 24 yard line again, but this time Vanden Bosch hit a pile too late and got a personal foul and gave the Broncos a 1st down. Then on another 3rd down attempt, an incomplete pass turned into a 1st down on a pass interference call on Chris Houston.
The Lions starting defense blanked the Broncos starting offense out until the 2nd quarter when they gave up a touchdown, making the score 13 - 7 and cutting the Lions lead to 6 points.
Ndamukong Suh looked good once again though his stats don't show it. Again, he was double teamed constantly and still managed to force the running back to change course and knocked down one pass. Kyle Orton was feeling pressure during much of his time on the field.
Stafford once again looked good, but still shows some lack of accuracy at times. There were passes that receivers had to reach behind them to haul in as well as his misses. But in the end, he still completed 13 of 18 attempts and had a touchdown with no interceptions.
All in all, the Lions are looking impressive in the preseason. They are giving fans a lot to get excited about. I want to warn you to back off of that excitement a little. Don't let yourself get too caught up in a team that is looking good in the preseason. After all, it is just that. Meaningless preseason games where teams are not game planning to beat an opponent but to test players in situations. .... But the fact is, how can I tell you not to get excited when I am getting excited myself?
I still am only calling 6 wins at this time, but the more I watch Stafford control the offense, Best turn on speed and change directions and the D-line attack the quarterback, the more I am starting to believe they can do better.
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