Wednesday Notes: No Shortage of Kool-Aid for Lions Fans
by Sean Yuille on Aug 20, 2008 1:02 AM EDT
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- The Lions returned to practice on Tuesday in pads on the outdoor field. This week's practice routine is similar to one the Lions will follow during the regular season.
- According to Rod Marinelli, wide receiver Devale Ellis will miss "one to two practices" due to a hamstring injury. Ellis is now on the bubble when it comes to making the team after at one time seeming like a lock to not be cut. Brandon Middleton is challenging him for the 5th spot at wide receiver, and there's a good chance the Lions may only take 4 receivers anyways, meaning Ellis could be gone by the end of the month.
- Even though he was removed from the PUP list over a week ago, tight end Dan Campbell still has not practiced.
- Drew Stanton has gotten much better since training camp opened. He is improving his passing abilities and is learning to use his running abilities only when necessary.
- The Browns are limping into this Saturday's preseason game at Ford Field. Derek Anderson suffered a mild concussion on Monday against the Giants, Josh Cribbs has a high ankle sprain, Braylon Edwards will be out as he is still not healthy enough to play after being cleated by a teammate during practice, and former Lion Shaun Rogers missed Monday's game due to soreness in various places.
- Every year this is usually the time when the Kool-Aid is flowing in Lions country. There is always a great amount of optimism during the summer as all Lions fans are hopeful that this will finally be the year where things are turned around. Sadly, that year hasn't come yet, but many believe 2008 will bring the Lions a turnaround that at least gets them a record of 8-8.
Message boards and even this site are filled with optimism from some, but I don't think anyone is as drunk on Kool-Aid as Mike O'Hara. He not only believes the Lions will win 9 games, but he also thinks they could win more.
When the 2008 schedule was released, I wrote the Lions could win nine games. It wasn't a prediction, just a somewhat humorous way of showing how a 9-7 season was possible.
After a couple preseason games I can say that the team looks like they're improving, but a preseason game can only tell me so much. Hell, a regular season game can only tell me so much. Remember, after 8 games last year the Lions were 6-2 and nearly every single Lions fan was drinking the Kool-Aid. I am included in that category as even I began uttering the "p" word (playoffs).
From what I've seen so far, I was wrong. The Lions will win nine games, maybe more. They're super fast on defense, they will build a running game, protect the quarterback and have talent at wide receiver. I say 9-7 is the standard. Whether that earns a playoff spot remains to be seen, but this team will not fall apart, unless shredded by injuries.
We all bought into the Lions and in the end were only setting ourselves up for disappointment. This year if they start 6-2 again, I will wait until the end of the season to pick up the glass of Honolulu Blue-flavored Kool-Aid. And at the very least, if they win 9 games, I'll be too shocked to be able to drink anything anyways.
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They're due! Marinelli is diong a good job at building a TEAM.
If they play hard nosed football and can minimize stupid errors (and the injury bug) they should win 9. Their schedule isn’t all that intimidating. There are a couple tough ones in there but I can see them taking the division. The Bears and Packers shouldn’t provide that much of a threat this year. Minnesota, IMO, is the only other team in the division that has a chance at winning the north. Go Lions!
When I began playing the game, baseball was about as gentlemanly as a kick in the crotch.
~Ty Cobb
by Jettero2112 on Aug 20, 2008 7:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
9 games...yeah....
seriously….
kitna, the int. king…can not make a play when money players need to….
no running game…
oline is mediocre to horrible….backus sucks as an LT.
paris hilton is weak….
start all the rookies…if we aren’t 4-4 at the midway point, start stanton…give us a season to start wondering who we can draft and how high (that is my super bowl as a lions fan)….
by royisnomoore on Aug 20, 2008 10:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
9 games worth of penalties...
don’t forget our propensity to shoot ourselves in the foot and groin…i.e. george foster…mr. i can’t remember the snap count….or leg whip raiola.
by royisnomoore on Aug 20, 2008 11:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
position drought
when have we ever had a pro bowl caliber…
qb?
ot?
olinemen at all?
d end?
linebacker (i know chris spielman)..don’t even say ernie sims…no one respects a 5’9"`linebacker who makes no plays on the ball (forced fumbles, recoveries, sacks, int’s)…he makes a thousand tackles because he is on the field all game long.
corner? dre bly my a**
until they draft better….no 9 wins…..if any of these recent guys (marinelli guys…sims, stanton, dizon, cherilus, alexander, felton, avril, fluellen, smith, etc….)turn out, maybe in 2 or 3 years…..
by royisnomoore on Aug 20, 2008 11:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow, starting the season quite down on the team already....
…I say they’ve improved in the time Marinelli has been here. The main problem, as I see it, is Millen is still in charge. otherwise they are starting to move forward. the NFC North is a very weak division and is wide open. The Lions schedule this year is not all that tough. Kitna is not the long term answer but he is a decent QB. Stanton will eventually start but hasn’t had enough time to be able to do so effectively. With Williams, Johnson and (hopefully) Smith at RB, they’ll score some points. They just need to play solid D and keep their opponents from doing the same. 9-7 is definitely a possibility. Not such a big step up from last year. Just give them a chance.
After I hit a home run I had a habit of running the bases with my head down. I figured the pitcher already felt bad enough without me showing him up rounding the bases. ~Mickey Mantle
by Jettero2112 on Aug 21, 2008 8:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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