An open wound!!! of a lions fan
by msivits on Sep 20, 2009 5:58 PM EDT
98 comments
Let me start by saying I'm a die hard lions fan. And all losses affect us differently, well I hit rock bottom on this loss. I could deal with an 0-16 team but I expected a win today or something close. My thought right now is that Matthew Stafford is nowhere near ready to lead this team. He could not lead the offense, in fact they played better the less he threw the ball. My anger comes from the front he put on, let's be truthful he played so well in preseason. He moved the ball and showed poised I did not expect from a rookie. Well let's moved fowrward to the first two games...
- Stafford is not ready to lead this team. We have a choice, keep him in and except a possible 3 win season and that is being optimistic , or bring culpepper in. In two games this year Stafford not has shown the ability to run the offense, in fact he slows it down. My mind runs crazy thinking back when I was for keeping Orlovsky and Culpepper letting them beat it out... I had a liking to Orlovsky and did not want to lose him. But Stafford has shown no improvement in 2 games which drives me crazy thinking about the past... I did not expect Stafford to be a great QB, or a above average QB just an avearge QB he has shown none of the capabilities. Stafford is not a lost cause and could be a great QB but does anybody feel like me and think he's hurting being out on the field... Please don't bring up the cowboy's team of the 90's I know of them. But he missed passes that a monkey could of hit...
- I have not given up on Stafford but think he's better off on the bench for now. please don't bring up stats or players of the past. Some guys can play and some guys can't , Stafford can't right now. This game was winnable and Stafford laid a egg. Not all his fault, but as good as the defense played they deserved better then his performance. I'm more angered on me turning on back on not needing to draft a QB... I always stayed true saying you need to build on the lines and I turned my back on that. Well this game was perfect proof of that, a better O-line or D-line would of helped the QB. Having a rookie one made it worse, let's hope Stafford learns really fast, and see defenses better than he has... I repeat all losses affect people different and this one shook me to the core............
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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I'm so dumb I sitll think they could win the North!!!!!
Go lions and Go Tigers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is nothing we can do now man.....
We could both rant and rave all week long about how Culpepper should be the starter, and it would accomplish absolutely nothing. There are too many people here who are all about Matt Stafford, who will defend him no matter how bad he plays. They will cite the play of everyone else around him in an attempt to make it look better for him. Furthermore, the coaching staff has already made it’s decision. Unfortunately, we have to lay in that bed right next to them….even if it means watching the Lions get the number one pick for the second year in a row. No longer does it matter if Culpepper gives us a better chance to win now or not. No longer does it matter if his experience and ability better suits the team for this year. Schwartz and Co have made their choice, and that choice was the rookie.
Jim Schwartz will not back down from his decision. It is one of the best qualities he possesses. He will stand behind Stafford with resolve, and he will not waver. Hindsight may be biting him in the ass right now, just as it will bite us in the ass all year long. But unless Stafford gets injured, he will not get benched. Schwartz is more focused on the future of the team than he is about winning right now. I think the game plan today, and the conservative play calling, clearly showed that. We played the entire first half, and part of the 3rd quarter, like we had a 2 score lead. It was not until we were down by 2 scores that the coaches opened up the playbook a bit and took some shots down field. It seemed like the coaches were trying to preserve Stafford’s image by limiting his passing attempts while we attempted to win by ball control alone.
We did win the time of possession battle by 50 seconds…..however, the 2 INTs and the Smith fumble lost killed our hopes of winning the game. Would Daunte Culpepper have thrown the same interceptions? We will never know. Would we have won the game if Culpepper had been the QB? Again, we can not answer that question with any assurance since he did not play. We can speculate that Culpepper would have done a better job protecting the ball, and we can speculate that he would not have forced those passes that Stafford did, but we can not say for sure that he would have played mistake free football. I would like to believe that he would have done a better job, that he would not have thrown those INTs, and that we would have won the game if he had been leading us….everyone knows this has been my argument all along….and I still believe it, but I am not the coach, I am not the GM, I am not the owner. We are not the ones making these decisions. If we were, then obviously the rook would be sitting right now and Culpepper would be starting. Maybe we wouldn’t even have drafted a QB.
All in all, the new front office has shown that they are willing to bring in new players and try new things. They have done a pretty decent job. It is my opinion that we are improved on defense (The Saints torched Philly too) and special teams. I agree that we need a better offensive line, even though I felt that they played well enough for us to win today. I also agree that we need a few more pieces on defense, even though Manuel played very well today and our corners did not get beat for a big play. Foote played awesome, but I am afraid that Ernie Sims is all done here (unless his play improves significantly in a short period of time). Julian Peterson stepped up his game a bit today, but he has not been spectacular either. I do not like the fact that we potentially need a LT, at least one guard (probably 2), possibly 2-3 linebackers (Dizon did not get it done when he was in there, as usual, and who knows if Foote and Peterson will hang around, let alone speak of the lackluster play of Sims), 2 DTs (Grady was ok, but he will not last and Hill was terrible), 2 CBs (Buchanon and Henry are short term fixes), and a safety (Manuel was good today, but he is not a long term fix either…..and Delmas looked overwhelmed again). There is no way that we will be contending next year, needing that much. Does having the “franchise” QB right now even matter? That is a question that will forever be mired in opinion.
Let me say this…..I agree with you that Matt Stafford is not ready to lead this team. Everyone knows that I felt this way before the season started. However, I am behind the kid for the simple fact that he is our guy. The coaches said “make it so” and so it was. I also agree that we may be putting a better product on the field if we went ahead and benched the rookie in favor of Culpepper. Yet, I know that this will not happen. This loss also grabs me in a very unfavorable way…..just like the loss last week did. I feel that we had a chance to win both games, and I feel that the rookie was one of the biggest reasons we did not win. However, for some reason I still harbor the hope that he will come back next week as a new and improved QB. Do I think it would really hurt his development if the coaches decided to see what Culpepper can do? No I do not. How many rookies in the history of the game played every single game as the starter in their rookie season? Very few. My opinion is that it might motivate the kid to make better decisions if he knew that his role as the starter was dependent on his performance on the field. If it were up to me, Culpepper would start from here on out….until he proved to be ineffective. If that happened, then I would let Stafford try again. We aren’t going anywhere fast, so what do we have to lose?
I must also say
I do not mean to call for the rookies head…..I said I would not do that, and I want it to be clear that I am not meaning to do that. I simply meant to post my opinions. The decision is not up to me, and I will stand behind Stafford as long as he is the starter in Detroit. I will also stand behind whatever choice the coaches make. By saying that I would start Culpepper from here on out, I simply mean that if it were my choice that is how it would be. That should not come as a surprise to anyone who has been reading here since the draft.
KDawg...
I still don’t know how you can say you are behind Stafford and still say he’s not ready to lead. That makes no sense to me. Either you ARE behind him… or you’re not.
+1
That and you’re posts are so long, I don’t even take the time to read them even though they might be the best thing since slice bread.
(think about what I just said)
That's all well and good CLF....
Especially considering that my long winded post was intended for msivits.
Mutually exclusive
1. You either believe he is ready or not.
2. You are either behind him or not.
This leaves 4 possible combinations. KDawg’s, yours and two others which include the possibility that there exist people that are not behind Stafford.
Thank you Jim
I can believe he is not ready and still be behind him, which is my current stance. Some people just don’t get it.
Ummm... okay guys.
Fiddle with semantics all you want, but if you outright question the guy like KDawg did above, then turn around and say you are behind him… doesn’t make sense to me. Or at the least, gives the impression that it’s nothing more than a backhanded following.
“Hey dude, I’m here for ya… it’s just that if I was running things, I’d yank ya in a heartbeat… good luck!”
Does no good whatsoever to keep grumbling about what could have been with Culpepper.
I'm not going to try...
…to speak for KDawg, but my stance is this:
1) Stafford wasn’t/isn’t ready for this league. It wouldn’t have mattered who started at QB during the Saints game, the Saints are too much offense for the Lions and the defense played even worse than they should have.
2) Culpepper probably (not certainly, not definitely) would have given them a better chance to win the game against Minnesota. Especially with the way the defense stepped up, that game may have been won by simply taking care of the football and controlling the clock.
3) Stafford is the starting quarterback for the Detroit Lions. There is NO turning back, and these mistakes and missed opportunities we will have to live with as a fanbase. Hopefully, these will all go towards his eventual maturation into a franchise quarterback, but fans have three choices now:
- Watch these games with tempered enthusiasm. Lessor expectations will lower dissapointment.
- Watch these games with high expectations and get increasingly frustrated while the losses pile up.
- Stop watching all together. It’s going to be a while before this team is a contender, I’m sure the Lions will be happy to have you back when they are.
I think option one is the clear cut best option for me
Good points Mushy. I agree with you. From here on out, I will simply expect them to lose every game and I will be happily elated if they do win one.
While I'm sure this is sarcastic...
…I promise you that Monday’s are a lot easier to swallow without the lump in your throat from another Lions loss.
Now if that's not a Lions fan...
…I don’t know what is?!
Is it possible to be sad and hilarious at the same time?
Well sorrrrry Mr Righteous.....
It may not do you any good, but it sure makes me feel better. So it is doing me some good to question the rookie and the decision to start him. I’ll make it real easy for you Drew. I am NOT John Stafford’s bitch. I am not his wife. I am not even his girlfriend. I do NOT have to suck his dic* or even like the MFer. That DOES NOT mean that I am not supporting him as a member of OUR team. You think we should all just concede to the fact that he is the starter, without question and without emotion? I want to see this team WIN NOW! I don’t give a flying fuc* if Drew Stanton is the QB or if it is Brooks Bollinger. I would be even more pissed if that were the case, but I would CHEER for them too! I DO cheer for Stafford! I give credit where credit is DUE!
On the same token, I am not responsible for taking care of ANY man’s needs but my own, including Daunte Culpepper. I have an opinion, and I have a right to speak it. Am I a “backhanded follower” of John Stafford? YES! YES I AM!! I completely disagree with him being named the Lion’s starting QB. I hate the fact so much that I want to PUKE on his shoes! Does that mean that I will not root for him to do well? No. I am a LION’s FAN!! Not a Stafford fan! I will support the decision of the coaching staff to start the rookie, but I DO NOT have to like it! I am supporting him as the starting QB because he plays for MY favorite TEAM! Does it mean that I am not behind Stafford because I think Culpepper is the better man for the job? Absolutely not. So, you can twist and turn it any way YOU want to, but I know how I feel and what MY convictions are. You can question my opinions and convictions all you want to as well, but it won’t change a damn thing.
I thought you and I had already come to this conclusion, and I actually thought we were becoming friends. Any friend that I know would not insult me by trying to continuously thrust their personal views on me. They would respect my opinions, take them at face value, and harbor their own opinions. You choose to support Stafford 100%. I respect that, and I am not trying to sway your opinion to the contrary. I am not arguing with anyone. I am stating my opinions. You can put whatever inflection, tone, or otherwise on my words that you choose. Just know that I will not stop questioning the decision or the player until he proves that his ascension was warranted, which he has not done at all. Maybe I am way off base here, and I would like to think that I am over reacting a bit….but if we ARE friends, you will back off and let me think, say, and feel however I damn well please. I hope that you had a great time at the game yesterday, and that your son’s first football game experience was the best ever.
Sorry.....
My anger stems not entirely from the game and the lack of a win, or even the fact that Stafford is the starter or that anyone dislikes my stance (there are other obvious mitigating circumstances that I shared with all of you). I apologize for coming across so rudely….please understand that I am having a very difficult time controlling my anger right now. In time, it will subside (I hope). I do not mean to attack anyone. Please accept my apology and try to understand.
Don't apologise KD
Everyone is a little angry or disappointed, which is expected, we lost. I just can’t wait for that first victory, things will be so much cheerier around here.
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
by Hyperion Ecta on Sep 21, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions
KDawg you hit my feelings which I talked about
very soon players will start to leave… Sims, Johnson, what keeps them here, nothing. By the time we get rolling players we drafted will start to jump ship, thats why we have to improve quickly, putting Safford in won’t make that happen any time soon. My worst fear is the second we improve our players will leave for greener fields.. Very few times in life I admint complete loss in bad decions…. You were right, we should of stayed with Culpepper and I’lll fight that comment on monday when the Warlord Stafford backers reads this. Untill then, I’ll rest untill the fight begins….. I can’t take another 0-16 season………
i wanted c-pep
to start the season. But Stafford has 2 major problems. Accuracy, and reading NFL defenses. Accuracy is helped by practice, but reading defenses is improved by playing. So far, he has improved from game 1 to game 2. I’d compare this years Lions team to last years Michigan team. New coaches, new players, new schemes. Give Schwartz and Mayhew another year, and we will see a huge difference in the win column. But for now, we have to watch Stafford develop, and the new players get used to one another.
I disagree
I see no improvement from game one to game two…..the only difference was he threw the ball a lot less against Minnesota. The coaches were overly conservative with him for 2 and a half quarters, trying to keep his image intact. Once they were down by two scores, they had no choice but to let him throw. As soon as that happened…..BAM, INT.
Ok, at the risk of misunderstanding you...
…are you really suggesting that the Lions didn’t take shots downfield simply to avoid making Matt look bad/worse? I saw the conservative offense as a sign that they were trying to control the clock and keep AP/Favre and Co. off the field as much as possible. Wasn’t that exactly what you wanted, ball control offense?
The INT, in my opinion, had nothing to do with the team “allowing” him to throw downfield, it was simply a terrible throw on a bad read. I’ll hear the argument that Stafford did not show signs of improvement (I’ll probably agree to disagree, but I’ll hear you out), but I’m not buying in to the coaches being too conservative.
The plan was working, the Lions had controlled the ball, the clock, and the game and the defense had stepped up. It was poor execution of the plan that led to a defeat.
No
I am suggesting that they did not pass more in the first half because:
1) They were doing well in the running game and controlling the clock, and
2) They knew that if they passes too much, the kid would turn the ball over
They were definitely being over conservative in their play calling in the first half. There is no way to argue it. Stafford had 8 pass attempts at the half, and he ended the game with 30 attempts.
But they were winning?
It was working. What’s the old saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t give it to Millen” errr….“don’t fix it”.
I thought the game plan was fine, and the run game was eventually going to open up the play action…they didn’t execute when they needed to.
I kept saying.....
They need to pass more…..they were pretty much one dimensional in the first half. Surprisingly, it was one dimensional rushing and not passing. They were winning, and I was very happy with the first half yesterday. However, the lack of passing allowed Minnesota to key on the run and thus shut us down with ease at the start of the second half. When the score became 10-10 in the 3rd quarter, we still continued to run too much. That is when I think they really needed to start taking some shots over the middle. Instead they just kept running and getting shut down. Why else did we allow 2 unanswered points in the 2nd half? We did not start passing more until the score was already 20-10….and then we turned the ball over when it counted the most. The Vikings capitalized and made it a 3 score game in the 4th quarter. By then it was too late…..
What game were you watching KDAWG?
K. Smith’s fumble KILLED the Lions, not stafford’s interception. That fumble gave the Vikings the lead.
Not to mention that 50yd pass to CJ that got called back for an illegal block that TOTALLY wiped out any chances of a comeback.
You say you saw “NO IMPROVEMENT FROM GAME ONE TO TWO”?
PFFFFFFFFT….
and you let people call you the rev?
what a joke.
Stafford's INTERCEPTIONS
Jackass. Yeah, the one in he first half was not significant. Yes, the fumble by Smith set up the 27 yard TD by Peterson on the next play, giving Minnesota a point lead. That did not lose us the game. We had plenty of time to come back and win. Down by 10 with 9:36 left in the game, Stafford was picked off again and it was returned to the 16 yard line. The Vikings scored shortly thereafter, sealing the deal. Go back to the live game thread and see where it was that everyone thought we were done…..right after that pick. It wasn’t one fumble or one INT that lost us the game. It was the timing of the last turnover, bad play calling previously, and bad pass defense that lost us the game. Just shut up while you’re ahead. You are wasting my air.
msivits... you need a valium, dude!
Look, I feel your pain… I really do. But you’ve got to have a little patience. If this was that game that broke you… you have really misplaced your expectations.
The Lions as a whole were much better than they were in week one… that’s progress. The running game was light years better… that’s progress. The run defense and even the pass rush was light years better than last week… that’s progress. Stafford to Johnson for a TD… that’s progress. Stafford threw 2 picks instead of 3… don’t laugh… I’m dead serious… that’s progress.
If you think Stafford is going to come out and light it up with this offense, you’re in for some frustration. If you think Culpepper would come in and light it up… you’re dreaming. Just have some patience and watch for the progression of this team over the course of the year. Don’t watch for a night and day difference in one week… it ain’t happening. They WILL win a couple of games this year. They WILL progress. Stafford WILL get better. This type of losing is a natural process that really, really bad teams have to go through when they rebuild… and we WERE a really, really bad team. Now… we are just bad. By the end of the season, I pray for average. Again… that’s progress.
I've got to agree here.
It’s okay to have high expectations, but you really have to remind yourself that dissapointment will likely be the end result. I was hoping somebody would point that Stafford threw two interceptions instead of three…and yes…that was an improvement. Not a huge one from a statistical standpoint, but he looks as if he finally got it through his head that his arm is no longer good enough to simply out throw opposing defenses at this level. He has a great arm, and it will hopefully win some games over a long career, but he’s never faced anything like these NFL defenses before. It is going to take time for him to develop.
msivits…you can voice your dissapointment all you want, but my suggestion to you would be to pull back your expectations instead. I wouldn’t fault you for doing it either way, but the bottom line is Stafford is the quarterback for the Detroit Lions and he will remain there unless he gets hurt or actually gets considerably worse (like Ty Detmer worse).
WRONG!!
Sorry, but as I said before…..LESS ATTEMPTS = LESS CHANCES FOR FAILURE. Stafford did not throw the ball 37 times in the Vikings game like he did against the Saints. He had 30 attempts against Minnesota. He was something like 6 of 8 in the first half! Do you guys mean to contend that he COULD NOT have thrown another INT with 7 more pass attempts? Improvement? He did improve on his completion percentage (18 of 30 = 60%) but other than that he made no significant improvement (less yards, less attempts, same amount of TDs (I count the TD to CJ against the Saints) and still two horrible INTs). You guys can blindly support the rook all you want, but at least admit when he sucks. I am behind him because I am a true blue Lions fan and I want him to succeed. However, that does not mean that I have to sit here and be happy that he keeps forcing passes and making mistakes. NOT making mistakes would be improvement. I am not saying that Culpepper would have done better, beyond a reasonable doubt, but I am saying that Stafford sucked this week and last.
KDawg man...
your negativity is just a real downer sometimes. Did I not say in many of my posts from both this week and last that Stafford played poorly? I don’t let him off the hook completely… but it’s his second game for crying out loud. He’s 21 and learning HOW to be an NFL quarterback. I can’t believe it is so incredibly hard for fans like you to give the kid a little breathing room and try to find some of the positive things this team did yesterday.
Rarely do you speak positively. It’s always about how you would have done this and that differently and how now that the Lions didn’t do it your way, everything sucks and you’re gonna bitch until they do it your way. Way to suck the everliving positivity out of every Lions game.
LOL!!
You are just as negative toward my way of thinking as I am toward yours! My opinion is a downer for you? Well touche Drew! Just as you do not like my opinion on the Stafford situation, I do not like your opinion on it! It depresses me just as much that someone who is obviously so intelligent, as you are, can sit here and continuously make excuses for the rookie’s lackluster performances. You can’t believe that it is so hard for me to give the kid some breathing room and try to find the positives? I can’t believe that you can watch him and then keep thinking that the positives are outweighing the negatives!! I am a realist. I tell it the way it is. I see negative more than positive and I speak negative more than positive. I see positive more than negative and I speak positive more than negative. I am optimistic when it is warranted (as I was before the loss to the Saints, and again before the loss to the Vikings).
You say I rarely speak positively, yet you bash the shit of everything I say (negatively). Yes, I have a strong opinion on how I think things should be. I have that right! I bitch that it is not how I think it should be, and YOU bitch that I have an opinion that is not yours! Way to suck the “everliving” freedom out of the FIRST AMENDMENT!
Alright... alright... ease up a little.
Yes, we have come to find some common ground on this site and I do consider you as much as a friend as “online” folks can be. That said… just read back your own comments. Every game, it’s gloom and doom… very little positivity.
I just figured after the months and months of talking about how bad the Lions would be… we would have accepted it by now and be looking for progress instead of dwelling on the losses that we KNEW were coming. We all were talking about how now that Stafford was chosen, we’d all have patience and let the kid take his lumps and make his mistakes, but that hasn’t happened. Instead, you go on massive tirades that always manage to sneak Culpepper in them… essentially digging at Stafford… with whom you seem to have no patience for.
Maybe he’s not ready, I don’t know. But what I do know is that I, as a fan… an obviously very self-righteous one at that… will give Stafford more than two games to find his way in this league. I probably do stick up for him too much, but I critique him honestly as well. What I feel I have is context, though. How is he doing given the situation he is in and how is he progressing from one game to the next.
I know things are tough for you, so I’ll ease up a little. I just thought if you were being aggressive with your posts, I could aggressively retort. Sorry, didn’t mean to cause any additional stress.
I should not expect anything less.....
Sorry man. I do not see my opinion as all gloom and doom. I see them as honest.
Both you and Drew have such an amazing ability to clash
Every time I read each of your comments directed at each other, I’ll notice a couple of things that’ll just make me think “That’s gonna piss off KDawg” or “That’s gonna annoy Drew”. Still, they’re always very insightful to read.
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
by Hyperion Ecta on Sep 21, 2009 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Heel KDawg!
Hey I’ve openly stated that his performance was worthy of the suckiest suck trophy. To say he didn’t do any better, however, I think would be a mistake. What stood out to me more than anything during the Saints game is that he is so confident in himself that the play is never dead (in his mind). My point was that he managed to accept defeat on a couple of plays this week (even though the two interceptions were still evidence that he hasn’t accepted it completely). To say Stafford didn’t show signs of improvement, however, is a mistake. There are different levels of suck and this one was less sucky than the first.
Don’t make the mistake of interpretting what was written as blind support…at least in my case it is not. A lot of the reasons I wanted Culpepper to start the season are coming to reality at this point. The problem is that the Lions chose Stafford, and they are not going to look back now. You may not have to sit there and be happy that he keeps making mistakes, but happy or not, you do have to accept it.
I agree
I do accept the fact that Stafford was chosen as the starter……but as you said, accepting it and liking it are two different things.
Nobody wants to see what you looked like as an ugly baby....
Tell your Mom to quit sending you these video clips in your e-mail.
Here's the deal.
One aspect of the offense improved. The running game. Other than that there was no change from last week. 13 points scored by the offense, 3 turnovers. One aspect of the defense improved. They made plays behind the line of scrimmage. They still need high school tackling drills and the secondary is still really weak. Minnesota scored 17 of their 27 points off of turnovers. It’s not hard to figure out that we more than likely would have won with nothing more complicated than protecting the football. Does this mean that Culpeezy wouldn’t have turned it over? No. He doesn’t have a stellar history of ball protection either. All it means is that Stafford has to get it into his head that throwing the ball away is a better idea than forcing it. He actually showed signs of getting that in the 4th quarter. We have alot of holes to fill on this team. As it stands now we’re looking at 2 or 3 wins. If Matty can take better care of the ball we might get that up to 5 or 6. If Culpeezy was the starter that win total doesn’t change. We need improvements in the trenches and the secondary. Only then can we truly contend.
I'm gonna agree with part's of everyone's posts
I’m fully behind Stafford and think he is slowly getting better as an NFL QB. I’m also happy that there is improvement is some areas. What I’m unhappy about is some of the playcalling and the inconsistency. Our Special Teams was a big letdown and the way we came out in that 2nd half was very disappointing. We seemed flat. The penalties were also very annoying, with a couple of big, crucial offensive plays getting called back.
In the end though, this is a long season and we are 2 games in. These first couple are tough and I think we have done decently. Well, it could be a lot worse is what I’m saying. And I’ll tell ya right now, I’m looking forward to next week against the Redskins, because I think we can win.
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
A Vikes fan prospective
As a Vikes fan, your team always concerns me. I have lived the same type of thing in Minnesota following my team for 40 years. Detroit has always been a dangerous team to the Vikings. Obviously your team has things to fix. So does mine. The Lions played tough today. I had to go to work and the Vikes were losing and all I could think was “Here come the Lions”. Your team will win . They looked good for a half. You still have to play a whole game. Your team will get there. The Lions shut AD down this game for the most part. Pretty good defense there. Just hang in there, easier said than done I know. The Lions are going to get some wins this year. I saw some highlights after work, and your team just needs to play an entire game. The first half , keep that up for the second half and than you get some confidence building. I can see it. So can a lot of other people. God Bless.
by woggerone@yahoo.com on Sep 21, 2009 4:28 AM EDT reply actions
Thanks
Congratulations on your victory.
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
by Hyperion Ecta on Sep 21, 2009 4:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Culpepper vs. Stafford
This debate, while I know it won’t, really should come to an end. The decision was made to go with Stafford and regardless of how anyone feels about that decision, it is a done deal. Stafford will not be replaced by Culpepper unless there is an injury or Stafford literally starts ripping off 6 interceptions a game for the next four games. It’s over and the sooner everyone comes to grips with that I think we will all be a little better off.
Was Stafford a major contributor to the loss on Sunday, yes. Was he the sole reason they lost the game, probably not. Unlike the Saints game, this game not only could have been won, but it probably should have. The Lions weren’t just in it using ball control offense, but they were winning the game. Unfortunately, we’ll never know if Stafford had made better throws and better decisions maybe they walk away with their first victory in…how long has it been now? So believe me, I understand the frustration…and it’s plenty acceptable…in my opinion…to be so frustrated at this point. However, I feel it necessary to point out that there is almost certainly more of this to come, and this is part of what you get when you’re building a franchise and starting a rookie quarterback in doing so. So while I too am extremely frustrated with the end result of Sunday’s game, I’m pleading with all of POD Nation to put the Culpepper thing to bed…it’s simply not going to happen.
The key thing is
if the Lions have to call a game to “protect” Stafford, he’s not ready to start.
It’s that simple.
I agree
But it does not matter…..obviously we are not playing to win, but rather to “develop” a rookie QB.
I agree with you...
But I’m so confused now. Don’t we pay these guys to win? Maybe we should petition the league to not keep score for the rest of the season so that we don’t hurt anyone’s feelings. I mean essentially what everyone is arguing for is for these games to be treated as practices. We need to mark improvement week to week by arguing over whether Staff’s INTs are because he misread, overthrew or if someone else is to blame.
That being the case, I think it’s awesome that we can fill a stadium for what are essentially scrimmages so that our potential future QB can learn how to play.
Again, I agree
These guys are paid to win…..the problem is that we can’t find a good balance between conservative play calling and properly grooming our rookie QB. I don’t think we can count on any more sellouts this year in Detroit. Unfortunately, the only alternative is not even a point of consideration, barring injury. Every single INT I have seen Stafford throw so far have been all his fault. Each time he was picked off, he tried to use his arm to force a pass where it did not belong. This is the pros kid….not the SEC.
I agree with that...
…although on a couple he may have simply not seen the defender. I’m not sure which one is scarier?
As the Kool Aid is replaced by Orange Drink
The Lions big pre-season hoopla is fading and people are going to start the second guessing and checking the bandwagon for the nearest exit.
Since the day before the draft when the franchise was bent over by an agent and a 22 y.o. kid I never wanted my thoughts on Shiny to be right. It’s too early to say I am to be sure. But don’t kid yourself that throwing picks is a learning experience. Or that failing to move the offense is a growin pain. That’s who our QB is. Working on his game is up to him, throwing to theguys in the wrong color won’t help anything.
2 #1 picks in a row should completely demolish our salary cap manipulations. So there’s another 5 years of fielding 1/2 a real squad.
Here’s a story….I work as a bartender p/t and work with 3 of the hottest girls I’m almost too old to flirt with. One of them was out at some classy bar, and who does she meet but Shiny Himself. She’s not a sports fan and she got into his shit for the money he’s making this year while the rest of the state is broke.
Matt tells her, I’ve earned that money.
If he’d said I WILL earn that money…well that woulda been kinda cool.
Sad
He “earned” that money…..yeah right. He earned bragging rights, and that is all he earned. He hasn’t “earned” a GD dime of that money.
And this is CLF as a toddler.....
Your Mom should really stop cock blocking you like this, it isn’t healthy.
Easy folks!
Hey, I thought the Lions should’ve waited after the bye week to start him, but they didn’t and I’m fine with that decision. It’s going to take about 1/2 a season for the game to slow down for Stafford, it’s just gonna take time. When that light bulb does click on for him, we’re in for some fun football! Until then, lets just hope for one fucking win
It sorta sounds like a classless move by her
It’s ok to boo someone at the game, but to hassle them in their personal life away from the field, that’s not cool.
What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.
Why did anyone give us a real chance in this game?
Many people called into the radio saying that they thought that Lions would win or gave them a great chance??!!
I think all of you who thought that the Lions could win this (realistically) are nuts. Site the following Vikings reasons:
1. Big mauling o-line (with Hutchinson!!)
2. #1 Rush defense
3. Good pass rush
4. Adrian Peterson (should be #1 reason)
5. Brett Favre
I mean seriously. If you look on paper, we lose every battle head to head except at WR. As a total package, their WRs might even be better. Heck, their backup RB might be better than any of ours.
It is not fun being 0-19, but when you start from scratch, you start from scratch. We will be lucky to get 1-2 good games out of Staff (2+ tds and no picks). This is going to be a long season. Our team is not good enough to overcome mediorce QB play, either.
It’s fun to debate, but all the mental over acheivers could do themselves a favor and get out of denial.
Exactly
1) The “big mauling o-line” obviously weren’t that good since we held AP to under 100 yards rushing
2) The “#1 rush defense” got tagged by Smith for 83 yards, and if you add CJ and Mo Morris’s totals, we had 114 yards rushing against them (not to mention the running game was our best asset in the game)
3) The Viking’s pass rush obviously wasn’t that great either, considering Stafford was only sacked twice
4) Adrian Peterson was held under 100 yards rushing, and would not have scored if not for a poor pursuit angle by Manuel
5) Brett Favre didn’t have to, and more importantly didn’t, do anything. He did have a great completion percentage (23 of 27 = 85%) and he did throw 2 TD passes, but he only threw for 155 yards…..the Vikings running game and field position put him in position to do those things.
I wouldn’t even go so far as to say that the Vikings pass defense won the game for them. Chad Greenway? When is the last time that guy even had one INT let alone 2? We beat ourselves. Poor play calling when we had the lead, coupled with bad decisions by our rookie QB is what beat us. People need to stop saying that every other team is so much better than ours. They are not. We are just as good as any other team out there, and if our offensive coordinator and rookie QB would perform pluckmeouttamies on each other (in other words yank each others heads out of their asses) we would win.
Dude....
You are the 3rd biggest doucebag on this entire site…..so go punch yourself in the face and do everyone a favor and smash your Mac.
LMAO...
You’re a dork… plain and simple.
They lost, get over it.
Stafford is starting, Get over it.
K. Smith Fumble was the turn for the worst, Stafford’s pick just finished the deal… GET OVER IT.
It’s time to lighten up, Francis, and look to the next game.
GEESH!
I'd love to see the DB list you refer to...
… and curious to know if I’m on it…. hopefully, I’m not!
Agreed...
And honestly there should only be a list of one, that being CLF.
Waaaaaahhhh…. you disagree with me so I’m gonna call you names and put really big pictures up and try to offend you. Real fucking mature, assbag.
CLF you’re a little bitch. STFU.
Am I a Douchebag? Now I am worried. How will I know for sure?
Is there a test you can take? Seriously though. I just HATE Mondays after the Lions lose. It is really hard to put on that happy " I am a Lions fan" face. We need a win. Something to give the fans some hope.
No Bishop
I like you…..even though we have had differences. You do not attack me on a personal level.
I know just messin with you alittle.
We’re cool. You have your opinions. And I can respect that. I know we dont agree on the current Lions QB situation. But, you do have a valid point. And I feel my stance is valid as well. But, ultimately we want the same thing in the end. A Lions team the we can be proud of. But man. The Minnesota game was a tough one for me. I am just trying to look at the good things in that game. I hope the Washington game so our way. My sanity might depend on it.
3rd?
I’m trying to think of the others. Ralphie? He’s gone though. It’s probably best that I don’t know.
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
by Hyperion Ecta on Sep 21, 2009 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't realistically think they would...
…but I think anyone who doesn’t think they could or even should have won yesterday is mistaken. To counter each of your points:
1) That line gave up three sacks and two tackles for loss.
2) The Lions ran for more yards than the Vikings.
3) Stafford was sacked twice…and one of them was apparently a freebie on Jeff Backus.
4) Peterson was held under 100yds on the ground.
5) Brett Favre only threw for 155yds.
I agree, that pre-game those are all reasons the Lions should have lost this game handily, but considering the way the game actually went, the Lions absolutely could have won that game.
Stafford's development?
I agree, give him a rest. He’s only going to get more gun shy or hurt. It’s a long season and he can come back in the second half when he doesn’t have to face every fired up team in the league. He clearly is not ready. I also agree with some of your observations’1) Sims hurts more lions than he does the other team2 Manual is one tough cookie 3) How many bonehead plays does a lineman get before he’s replaced? and 4) How long before they decide they need a running back instead of a dancer?
Here's the transcript from Schwartz's postgame presser
Good stuff, lots of detail in his answers. Good comments on this issue and lots more. Schwartz just seems like a smart guy who has a good perspective on things.
What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.
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