Stafford Out Against Baltimore; Culpepper to Start; Williams Fails Physical

by Sean Yuille on Dec 9, 2009 4:38 PM EST in Detroit Lions News Comment 24 comments

Although Jim Schwartz initially planned on keeping things tight-lipped to prevent Baltimore from gaining more knowledge than they needed, he decided today to go ahead and announce that Matthew Stafford is out this week. Daunte Culpepper will be the starting quarterback, and I sort of think the reason Schwartz decided to announce a decision now is to prevent another miscommunication from happening like on Thanksgiving. Culpepper thought he was going to start, as did basically everybody, but Stafford ended up playing instead.

"I think the potential benefits of announcing it outweigh the benefits of holding on to it," Schwartz said, adding that he didn't want the media scrutiny to be a distraction throughout the week, especially with the decision already made.

Schwartz also said that Stafford's injury hasn't gotten any worse and that they have simply decided to shut him down for a week to let his shoulder heal.

It also came out today that Maurice Williams, the offensive lineman the Lions claimed on Monday, failed his physical and will not be joining the team. Instead the Lions signed offensive lineman Corey Hilliard, who was on the Browns' practice squad.

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Good!

Good for Stafford
Good for Culpepper
Good for Schwartz
Good for The Lions

I hope Jim doesn’t play Matthew again until he is 100%….We have seen enough to know that he is the answer for Detroit….no reason to trott him back out there…

http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/

by CapitolLions on Dec 9, 2009 5:17 PM EST reply actions

Should Be Stanton Starting.....

….we have nothign to gain by playing a guy who has 4 games left in his Detroit career,…….Plus Cpep just got done throwing a hissy fit on thankgsgiving.

by BennieBladesFan on Dec 9, 2009 8:48 PM EST up reply actions

Good Point..

Although I thought Culpepper voicing his disappointment on Thanksgiving was rather justified, and I can’t blame him for wanting to advertise his services to other teams, you do raise a valid point.
Although I appreciate him for what he is, Culpepper will almost certainly be gone after this year. With yet another lost season winding down, I guess I’d also rather see them concentrate on the question marks (like Stanton) when the opportunity presents itself.

Then again, it’s entirely possible that the staff already knows what they think about him and his future with the team.

by abnerman on Dec 11, 2009 9:20 AM EST up reply actions

Disappointing....

I am not happy that Williams did not pass his physical. Now we let Salaam go and signed a Cleveland practice squad player to replace him? Salaam had to be better than this new guy.

by KDawg on Dec 9, 2009 5:23 PM EST reply actions

+1

GO LIONS! RESTORE THE ROAR!

by Twon82 on Dec 9, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

Very disappointing

Had high hopes he would help at the guard position

by Lead Hunter on Dec 9, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions

Salaam better than this guy?

What about Lyndon Murtha? If we were even thinking about kicking Salaam out, why not have done it earlier and kept Murtha?

by ATL Lion on Dec 9, 2009 5:50 PM EST up reply actions

Absolutely.....

That is what I was screaming when they let Murtha go.

by KDawg on Dec 9, 2009 9:31 PM EST up reply actions

So, if I understand the coaching staff

[guy who can’t pass a physical] > Salaam > Murtha

by n4ry4 on Dec 10, 2009 1:40 PM EST up reply actions

That's how it looks

But I definitely would disagree with that assessment,

by KDawg on Dec 10, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with the decision...

…I think it is the most rational thing to do.

Can we catch a break with these signings? Jack Williams….Maurice Williams….do these guys just not want to play for us or what?

GO LIONS! RESTORE THE ROAR!

by Twon82 on Dec 9, 2009 5:24 PM EST reply actions

I am sick of everyone named Williams.....lol

by KDawg on Dec 9, 2009 5:31 PM EST up reply actions

Oh Yeah

I forgot about that ONE play Jack Willams had for us.

by lionsfan64 on Dec 10, 2009 11:30 AM EST up reply actions

Corey Hilliard

By: Robert Davis – Football’s Future ( THANK-YOU ! )

Oklahoma State – 6’6" – 300 # – 2007

Hilliard earned a starting job for the Cowboys during his freshman year and has remained in the lineup since. He has spent a lot of time at both left and right tackle during his career. As a junior last year, he earned All Big 12 2nd Team honors.

Hilliard is a quality all around lineman prospect. He shows good mobility in pass protection, but also creates room as a run blocker. He sets up quickly and has the feet to mirror a defenders moves. In run blocking he gets good initial pop on his blocks, and battles to finish the play and keep his man out of the action. Playing both right and left tackle gives him the versatility that teams crave.

While he is solid all around, he does not dominate in any one area. He is a solid pass blocker, but lacks the standout athleticism to truly project to the left side, and lacks the power at the point of attack to drive players off the ball.

Hilliard is a solid right tackle prospect. He doesn’t jump out at you with any standout physical tools but he gets the job done on a consistent basis. His all around skills fit better on the right side, because he may not have ideal athleticism to play on the left side, but his experience could allow him to play there when needed.

5 games over two years with Indianapolis. Also, with Cleveland as noted. Might fit some where, over time…

by Keevatron on Dec 9, 2009 7:56 PM EST reply actions

I suppose it's for the best

I’m not exactly looking forward to watching Culpepper but I do hope he plays well. I wanna see CJ top a 1000 again this year.

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind.

by Hyperion Ecta on Dec 9, 2009 8:21 PM EST reply actions

Is this Culpepper’s last year in the league?

by Grahamophone on Dec 9, 2009 10:35 PM EST reply actions

Maybe....

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind.

by Hyperion Ecta on Dec 10, 2009 7:41 PM EST up reply actions

I have respect for Stafford.

But, with Culpepper in, its gona be a totally different ballgame.

Rome wasn't built in a day.

by panther no panth on Dec 9, 2009 11:12 PM EST reply actions

Yup

A losing one.

by giggy09 on Dec 10, 2009 9:55 AM EST up reply actions

Since when

is losing a totally different ballgame?

by abnerman on Dec 11, 2009 9:26 AM EST up reply actions

lol....I thought it and you said it :o)

by KDawg on Dec 11, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

Bummer

on Williams… I wonder where he failed on the phyiscal….. with all that experience (starts) i’m surprised.. it must have been huge… I was looking so forward for him becoming a Lion!… then we picked up a guy from Cleveland … oh well

GO LIONS in 2010! the transformation starts now.. they have much to do.

by DINORDO on Dec 9, 2009 11:32 PM EST reply actions

Cul-salt.

Is it just me,or does Chubby Checkdown have zero downfield vision these days.Before we signed him,I wrote him off as a guy who lucked out with a good receiving corp in Minne-ha-ha in his prime,and I’m not convinced he wasn’t just that from what I’ve seen this year with us.

by SilverRush77 on Dec 10, 2009 3:01 AM EST reply actions