Won't bury the Lions

by doctorjcmu on Nov 3, 2009 11:22 AM EST Comment 15 comments

I'm not going to kill the Lions for the loss against the Rams because without Calvin Johnson that offense is terrible. Imagine taking away Steven Jackson or DWade in basketball, those teams would struggle. Calvin is by FAR the #1 option of the team. He is the first read in probably 90% of the pass plays. I look at the game against Washington and the 1st three quarters of the Chicago game as the barometer of the Lions. They moved the ball offensively and struggled defensively. That is what this team is. We would have beat St. Louis and could have beaten Pittsburgh with a healthy Stafford AND Calvin. Those two are the most important players on the team and I am not going to put much into a loss against any team where those two didn't play.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride of Detroit's main writer, Sean, or the site in general. FanPosts are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable fans.

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Scary...

…but valid. I guess I was hoping that this team was not so terrible that Calvin Johnson makes the difference between a win or a loss against a team as bad as the Rams. Maybe it’s true though…the Lions without Calvin Johnson are the worst team in the league.

by Mushy on Nov 3, 2009 12:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm burying them for not being competitive...

…For the whole game. We fell asleep on the fake FG, and in the 4th qtr. we laid down for SJax. Terrible…
I have no expectations for wins for this team this year, but I really expected to see some competitive stretches of football like we did against Pburgh…
The last two games seem like we’ve regressed.
Maybe we can turn around the rest of the season?! GO LIONS!

Just livin' the dream...

by Brefstink on Nov 3, 2009 12:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

Its like they underestimated the Rams, or have just given up on the year already. I hope that is not the case on either account. Just because C.J. is out of the lineup does not give the excuse the Lions can not be competative. These guys are pros and should be competative against a team like the Rams. I hope they step back and realize they can be competative, we have seen it in previous games. no reason they can’t be again in the real near future.

by Lead Hunter on Nov 3, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

After what

Matt Millen did with this team it will take 3 years of drafting as well as we did this year to make this team compettetive. Here is to hoping we get more players on round 2 and 3 like Dehlmas who can help this team turn around.

by Waitingfortheroar on Nov 3, 2009 12:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

1/2 way agree with you

I know CJ wan’t there but the rest of the wr really let the team down. If we need the entire team to be healthy to stay competitve then we really have regressed. But I’ll be watching the game on Sunday like always, screaming at the T.V. like Schwartz or the refs can hear me… : )

by msivits on Nov 3, 2009 2:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

We need our best players healthy.

Look at the Green Bay game, without CJ and Staff this team is terrible. Like WFTR said Millen created a team that is so fragile that any injury to a significant player and we will fall apart because there is no depth to speak of.

by doctorjcmu on Nov 3, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

On the postive note

I"m moving to Grand Rapids over the weekend and should be close enough to go to a few games. I think they might have some seats open… LOL…

by msivits on Nov 3, 2009 2:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Welcome to GR

It’s a nice medium-sized city. Green, pleasant, uncrowded, close to the beaches of Lake Michigan and the woods up north……good quality of life, ……if you’re not unemployed (a growing problem in the whole state these days).

The best part for Lions fans is Grand Rapids is close enough to drive to a game, yet far enough to be beyond the blackout area for home games on TV. Best of both worlds.

What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.

by GRLion on Nov 5, 2009 12:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How can you say

Taking away a star basketball player is the same as taking away a star football player? It is in no way the same.

by ImPuLsE on Nov 3, 2009 2:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1 TAKING 1 FORM 5 IS NOT THE SAME AS 1 FORM 11

Kevin Smith let em kno, Ernie Sims Break em, Calvin Johnson you already Kno
2009 Detroit Lions 6-10 to 8-8

by DetroitLions 4 life on Nov 3, 2009 4:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think with this team it is.

With Calvin playing Rams have only 7 in the box, maybe Kevin Smith runs for 150 yards. They wouldn’t be able to blitz at all because no one wants to single cover CJ. Without CJ, Bryant Johnson is now covered by the #1 corner, Dennis Northcutt is covered by the #2. Pettigrew would have had and easier time running down the middle with CJ pulling the safety to the sideline.

So that makes every other skill postition better along with the offensive line. With both times being void of overall talent taking away CJ is comparable to Wade when considering our chances to win.

by doctorjcmu on Nov 3, 2009 5:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I see the analogy

But it’s not truly the same……Wade is the heart and soul of the Heat, their leader and director……their general. Without the general, an army has no direction….no order. CJ is like a high ranking officer, and while he is an integral part of the offense his absence should not stop the rest of the troops from carrying out their duties. On a football team, the QB is the field general…..he is the guy who leads the team and directs them. The failure of our players to carry out their duties was the failure of the entire until as a whole…..however it was not for lack of leadership or direction, as would be the case with the loss of a basketball player like D Wade.

by KDawg on Nov 3, 2009 5:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I never was talking about leadership.

The offense is nothing without CJ. End of discussion, the D held the Rams to 17 points. The O couldn’t score because Calvin wasn’t there so the only other playmaker was Kevin Smith.

by doctorjcmu on Nov 3, 2009 5:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You're right about the offense being nothing...

without Calvin. But all that really says is what horrible talent and depth we have. One player, aside from a Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Adrian Peterson should not revert an NFL squad to less than inept. This is just not a good football team at all right now.

by DrewsLions on Nov 4, 2009 12:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It'e definitely a contributing factor to our poor play

Without CJ on offence, we become hugely mediocre. He affects nearly all aspects of the offence, apart from the blocking. When he comes back, I think you’ll see a smoother, more potent Offence take the field (or, at least I hope).

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).

by Hyperion Ecta on Nov 3, 2009 6:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs