Half a glass of Kool-Aid
by Mushy on Nov 9, 2009 10:20 AM EST
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So we're halfway through the season and rather than scattering thoughts across several different posts I'm just curious to get everyone's opinion at this point. In an utterly cliche way of asking: Is your glass of Kool Aid half full, or is it half empty?
Now we could all break down how individual players, or specific units, are doing at this point, but I'm mostly interested in the team as a whole.
For myself, the teams record is about where I expected it to be. I actually had them with one more win at this point in the season, but 1-7 and 2-6 are not exactly separated by the Grand Canyon. So why is it that I feel so dissapointed? Maybe it's because the progress seems so slow, if not invisible at times. Maybe it's because they've actually lost a couple of heartbreakers. Maybe it's because they can play the defending World Champions about as tough as anyone has this season, then play against one of the worst teams in the league with an effort that more closely resembled a pre-season game. Maybe it's the injuries, maybe it's the play calling, maybe it's the culmination of a decade of losing and my patience wearing thinner and thinner.
Whatever the case for me, I can honestly say that my glass was only half full to begin with. These last couple of weeks not only spilled out most of the Kool Aid that was left, but I'm checking the cupboard and finding that I'm running out of sugar. So those are just my thoughts, just my opinion, just the way I feel about this team at this point. I can accept and respect the fact that some will disagree, and others have a different perspective. So where do you stand now POD?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride of Detroit or its writers. FanPosts are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable fans.
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DUDE?
Seriously… what color koolaid are you drinking?
I am stoked. Stafford is making plays… GOOD AND BAD. Where as all our QB’s of the past did just enough to keep their jobs.
I am stoked. The Lion’s D put them in a winning position and are starting to be consistant…. even with all the turnovers.
Where the Lions can improve is in the running game and Special teams. Either the coaching or the players need a major upgrade.
We have a Rookie QB…. one who is not afraid to throw the ball and is not afraid to make mistakes. Just think of all the film he’s gonna be watching this week… he gets to sit their and watch himself stare down the receivers. Linehan should be pleased… you can’t teach someone who doesn’t make mistakes.
I could go on and on… but right now, I’m thinking RB is a major need in the offseason as 24k seems like a 3rd down back.
Technically, it's a fine line
If the benchmark standard of desired performance is defined simply as mistake-free performance, that leaves a wide range of possible performances beyond the mistake-free threshold. There is a huge difference between a marginal mistake-free performance and a fantastically productive mistake-free performance. Greatness (and great performance), is not necessarily the mere absence of mistakes. So for optimal performance, yes, you need to teach them.
What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.
Why?
If I want a QB to throw a curl route 15 yards down field unless the WR is not open, then I expect a ball to be thrown 15 yards down field to a WR unless the receiver is covered.
If I expect a progression, then I want the QB to throw a RB or TE or whoever is next in the expect list.
Now if you are telling me that if Staff throws a bullet pass to a RB 5 feet away from him and that is not a mistake, at least from a technical standpoint, I would disagree.
It is a mistake to not consider the position of the RB relative to the throw. If that is the only way to get the ball to the RB, then it may be best to throw in the vicinity of the RB, where no one can catch the ball.
It may go in the stat books as an incomplete, but it is not a mistake.
If said QB passes up a wide open Calvin Johnson 50 yards downfield, and throws that 15 yard curl route to another receiver instead...........
That’s technically not a mistake, but it’s not optimal performance.
I’m looking to set the standard as optimal performance, not marginally acceptable performance. In the long run I won’t settle for marginally acceptable, technically mistake-free performance. Play to win; don’t play merely not to lose. Don’t play scared. Don’t settle for good enough. Don’t settle for average. Set the bar higher than that. Set the bar higher than it’s been. Fifty years of Lions history should have taught you that.
What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.
Which is why
I have found Staff’s performance to date unacceptable. Usually, I catch flack for this.
Right now, I would settle for a “techinically mistake-free” performance.
But I disagree with your analysis, as clearly the correct outcome was to go to the first option.
The first option being the 15-yard curl route?
My point being “If I want a QB to throw a curl route 15 yards down field”,
and Calvin (as a 2nd or later option in the progression) comes wide open 50 yards downfield, the first option (15-yard curl route) is suboptimal, and therefore not the correct outcome.
What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.
No, you never defined a mistake that way
So throwing to your expected receiver is now a mistake? Be consistent.
What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.
You just contradicted yourself
If Calvin comes wide open as a 2nd option, I would throw to him, but it contradicts what you said earlier.
If I want a QB to throw a curl route 15 yards down field unless the WR is not open, then I expect a ball to be thrown 15 yards down field to a WR unless the receiver is covered.
What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.
And the contradiction is
where? In the back tracker who goes around in circles and threatens others with violence?
My exact words were.....
sarcasm, and they were a parody of how I see YOU!
I am here to stay because I can hide behind my computer screen where nobody can break my nose or jaw and force me to leave.
I never said I am going to do this or that to you personally. I never made a threat toward you or anyone else, directly or indirectly. I don’t make threats, I take action. Once again, oh master word twister, you try to use something that I said to make me look bad. Too bad I can call you out on anything you say and prove you to be as stupid as you are.
This is a perfect example of your M.O. in action. You can’t admit you are wrong, so instead you try to take the focus off of your mistake and put it on someone else…..backtracking and talking in circles.
Respectfully
Like I said in the post, I’m glad to get responses whether or not they contradict my thoughts at this point. Regarding:
“I am stoked. Stafford is making plays… GOOD AND BAD. Where as all our QB’s of the past did just enough to keep their jobs.”
I guess it’s the BAD that keeps me from getting too stoked. Some of the BAD has been pretty BAD. It is fair, however, to say that some of the GOOD has actually been better than what I thought it would be, so I can appreciate and even understand the enthusiasm.
The special teams has been abysmal, but I think this has more to do with personell than it does coaching. I’m not defending Stan Kwan anymore, it’s just too dificult at this point, but when you think about it the Lions have a lot of “special teams talent” on their starting offense and defense, it stands to reason that they have a lot of “practice squad talent” on special teams.
The run game is shocking, frankly. I was hoping they would be much better than this by now. I regretfully agree that Kevin Smith is probably more suited to being a 3rd down back. The offensive line is not helping this situation though. Very little push, and way too often are they letting blitzes through untouched. It’s hard to run the ball when the defender has their hands around you about the same time you have your hands around the ball.
The defense was probably good enough to get a win yesterday, and if the turnovers didn’t constantly put them back on the field they may have actually proven that. They did, however, have their shar of mistakes in that game. Several mis-tackles and virtually no pressure on Hasselback. All in all, the defense is still amongst the worst in the league in just about every category…they need help.
That statement works in Staffs case.
For the rest of the team, adding more talent will help as well as time and practice to get everyone on the same page. Seems like one game the DBs give up big plays but the LBs play well. Or Staff puts the ball where it needs to be but the WRs can’t catch.
Staff needs to learn from his mistakes, but we still need to add more talent to the O-line, D-line, and secondary to get a big boost in improvement.
As for the special teams, Kwan needs to go. Simple as that.
Kwan
Like I said, I’m not going to defend Kwan because there’s virtually nothing that can be said in his defense. My point was that they could have the world’s best special teams coach (whoever that may be), and they may still be aweful. Special Teams is lacking, other than the legendary Zack Follet.
Special Teams is one of the hardest things to coach..
Since a guy who excells on special teams always gets pulled off of ST to be a starter or at least to avoid injury…I would never want to be a ST Coach
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
That's my point.
If you have Josh Cribbs you look like a genius…if you get Aveon Cason you look like a bum.
Even worse...
On coverage….Once follett is a starter on D…no more special teams for him…So unless you get a couple of thos Steve Tasker-love ST-not good enough to play anywhere else-scrappy-love of the game-guys…its a revoloving door and an after thought to Offense and Defense
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
LOL
Dudes are cracking me up today!! Steve-tasker-love-ST…………….was hilarious!!
I spray paint my dog Honolulu Blue and Silver
Pic - me and the great Herman Moore
Capitol
Grew up in Upstate NY in the 1990s – Tasker was a GOD in that area. I loved him despite me hating the Bills. We need to have someone like him.
Remember he had that huge helmet after a concussion. He looked like Kazoo from the Flintstones!!! Too funny
I spray paint my dog Honolulu Blue and Silver
Pic - me and the great Herman Moore
Actually
I think that may have been Don Beebe but you get the drift
I spray paint my dog Honolulu Blue and Silver
Pic - me and the great Herman Moore
He wore that after falling on his head in the Super Bowl I think.....
After getting drilled and upended…..
+1
Great call Drew………..you’re right!!! LOL
I spray paint my dog Honolulu Blue and Silver
Pic - me and the great Herman Moore
What's Marky Mark up to...?
Maybe he can bring the whole funky bunch, and completely revamp Special Teams?
I voted with the majority
I thought we would have been a little further on down the road. I can tell you that I am pleased with the playcalling overall this year. Linehan and Gunny are far superior than Barry and Coletto (what a joke that was last year).
If only we had talent……………………….humph!!!
I spray paint my dog Honolulu Blue and Silver
Pic - me and the great Herman Moore
I'm sanguine
I’m encouraged by the progress, they’re further along then I thought they would be.
Lots of drafted rookies ahead of schedule and contributing. Lots of free agents and veterans disappointing. Next year we get to replace some of those players with more drafted rookies. Guess who we’ll replace? Hint: not this year’s drafted rookies.
We need more talent. We’re accumulating more talent. the next truckload is due in next April. Quit looking out the window…..it’s not here yet.
I’m sanguine. Patience.
What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.
Excellent
I’m glad to hear from someone else that feels that way. So far it looks like there are almost as many people who think they are exactly where they expected them to be, or actually a little bit better so far. Considering how much enthusiasm was floating around post draft, pre-pre-season…I would say that I’m a little suprised. Still, there is a lot of football left to be played.
Mushy
You bring up a good point. If you ran this post prior to week 1 I’m quite sure the results would be vastly different. I think we were optimistic going into week 1 and few of us wanted to talk “reality” but thats to be expected for any fan prior to opening week
I spray paint my dog Honolulu Blue and Silver
Pic - me and the great Herman Moore
About were I thought
In the first 4 weeks, I would’ve said better than expected, since we were competitive in every game. The last 4 have been a bit more disappointing, so, about what I expected.
In saying that though, I predicted 5-11. I don’t think that will happen. Our back half of the schedule is harder than it appeared at the beginning of the season. I thikn 3-13 seems more likely, if we are lucky.
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind.
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