Monday Notes: Training Camp Countdown Nearing Single Digits

by Sean Yuille on Jul 20, 2009 1:20 PM EDT in Notes Comment 16 comments

Training camp is less than two weeks away. Part of me is a little sad about that fact since summer is going by so quickly and my time of relaxing is coming to a close, but another part of me is pumped that football is almost here and there will actually be stuff to write about every single day.
Jon Jansen, who is quite knowledgeable about the business side of the NFL, doesn't think there will be a strike in 2011. His reasoning for that belief is that when it comes down to it, both players and owners enjoy making money too much to let a strike happen. If there was a work stoppage, nobody would make money, and in the end no one wants it to come to that.
Despite being a raw player that needs time to develop, Tom Kowalski thinks that a lack of depth could force Sammie Hill into substantial playing time early in the season.
Darnell Bing is finally feeling comfortable at linebacker. Bing was a safety at USC but moved to linebacker with the Raiders. Early in his career with the Raiders he suffered a neck injury that proved to be a big obstacle. Since then, he has moved around to a few different teams, with the Lions being his latest one. Only now is he fully adjusted to being a linebacker, which gives him hope that he can make the team this coming season.
The FanHouse's Chris Burke wrote an excellent article about why comparing Matthew Stafford to former Georgia quarterback David Greene as a way of warning what Stafford's career could be like should things go wrong (as the AJC's Jeff Schultz did) is just ridiculous.
Barry Sanders Jr. isn't necessarily a fan of the Lions (he likes the Redskins), but he supports them.

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Comments

Talking about stating the obvious....

Far be it from me to say something negative about a fellow Pole, but this has been coming since the draft. It was clinched when Thornton passed on becoming a Lion.
There are a number of other teams in need of a half decent DT, getting one, one that can contribute positively I mean, at the end of training camp will be a challenge.

by NorthLeft12 on Jul 20, 2009 1:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, but we drafted so well..........

Sammie Lee Hill from Stillman solves all ills right?

Thank you.

by TCLion on Jul 21, 2009 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you on this TCL

We needed to place a higher priority on DT. I like what the Colts did, drafting two DTs [Moala and Taylor] for hopefully one starter and for depth. I would have liked to see the Lions use the #33 or one of the third round picks for a DT too. Although looking at who was available then it might have been a bit of a stretch.
I think NFL teams are starting to realize how difficult it is to find a good DT.

by NorthLeft12 on Jul 21, 2009 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Him and I both wanted Taylor

by KDawg on Jul 21, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No kidding.

I hope you’re not being sarcastic, I mean you did see him jump on that box right. Last I checked, that was the only skill a DT needs to possess. Having gotten most of my football knowledge from playing Madden over the years, I’m pretty sure that’s the 2nd most important characteristic of any player…right after long snapping ability!
On a serious note, at this point we have to cross our collective fingers that his admittedly freakish athletic ability, size and strength goes hand in hand with his intellegence (If Stillman is good enough for the Huxtables…). Maybe, just maybe the Lions will finally get one of those players ESPN likes to talk about ad nauseam before the draft (i.e. Tom Brady was taken in the seventh round, Terrell Davis was picked in the sixth round, Samie Lee Hill was passed on until the fourth round, etc.).

by Mushy on Jul 22, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately Mushy.....

TC’s comment was dripping with sarcasm…..he did not like the Sammie Lee Hill pick….or any other pick the Lions made outside of the LT from Nebraska.

by KDawg on Jul 22, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well thank goodness...

…for that seventh round or we wouldn’t have drafted a single good player this year! Just kidding though. I would love to say this “wasn’t my favorite draft” but frankly all of the truly aweful drafts the Lions have had over the last decade or five has really hindered my ability to recognize a good draft from a bad one.

by Mushy on Jul 22, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am hoping that they prove me wrong

But I was not overly impressed with the draft either……

by KDawg on Jul 22, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Avril

Liking this:

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcnorth

by giggy09 on Jul 20, 2009 2:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you Sean

too bad the summer is almost over. But I’ve been waiting for football to start back up again since the pro bowl. The draft only did so much for me. I can’t wait to see what happens in this season. Training camp should give you plenty to write about and I can’t wait to hear about how the team is progressing once the pads are on.

Bodyguard of the Official Matty I Fan Club.

by dolphinsinbuffalo on Jul 20, 2009 3:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You missed the most pressing issue, Sean...

does ANYBODY have a working link to that Erin Andrews video?
I also like the fact Sammy will be put into games, let the kid learn on the job

by JazzyBBP on Jul 20, 2009 5:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Haha

You’re a few days late for that.

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Jul 20, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DOH!

I just found out about it today! Dammit! Is it any good?

by JazzyBBP on Jul 20, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I heard it’s being furiously pulled off the internet, so in other words, I’m still looking…

by BIGWalt2990 on Jul 20, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rumor is the vids are littered with viruses...

…the video that plays in my head evertime she’s on TV, however, contains no viruses and never puts me in the doghouse with the old lady.

by Mushy on Jul 22, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm just glad...

…to have a Tiger’s team that can bridge the gap between the Redwings and Pistons season coming to an end and the NFL season starting up. Summer lost its luster for me shortly after 8th grade when it turned into summer jobs, and the even more dreaded career following college. At this point I’ve been jonesing for Madden 10 to come out just so I can’t get a more regular football fix in, the offseason lasts too long!!!

PS I just finished a season of NCAA 09 using Georgia as my dynasty team. Matt Stafford has gone up a peg in my book!!!

PSS Thanks for the Samie Lee Hill update. I can’t wait for pre-season just to get a chance to see this kid do something other than jump on boxes from a seated position.

by Mushy on Jul 22, 2009 9:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs