Lions Future???
by LionBacker on Jan 25, 2010 1:21 AM EST
Email
PrintWhere are the Lions heading? As I look back on this past season the Lions were dismal, two victories over teams that at the time the Lions played them were considered by many as the worst team in the league, a third game that they lost is more disturbing, the loss to the Rams at home (the Rams only victory) rang load and clear on how bad the Lions are. As i watch the playoffs we are so far below these teams that it would take major upgrades in 12-15 postions to even think about being a first round out in the playoffs. Are defense gave up 60 more points than the next worst team and the offense cannot move the ball. Calvin Johnson will likely bolt as soon as his contract is up, and Matt Stafford is still a $70mil unknown. We have no running game, I agree with the draft philosphy to draft the best player because we need everything, but please lets build a defense, at least we might be in the game near the end.
The Lions are in a difficult position so devoid of talent that it would take 3 or 4 drafts where we out draft 20 teams to start making headway toward the playoffs, I see this as unlikely. Free agenct signings have pretty much been a bust in recent years. Don't mean to be all doom and gloom but it seems an impossible task. I like the coaching staff, their records show that they have all had success when they have had talent, but they all have failures when the talent was thin.
Side note, with the Saints victory today the Lions will be the only NFC team without a Superbowl appearance, and it is certainly not in the near future. Does anybody have any reason for hope for a long suffering Lions fan?
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.
43 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I agree and disagree...
You are right. The playoff teams are SCORES ahead of us. It’s like a different world watching these teams and watching the Lions.
However, I don’t agree with some of your assessment of the team. Stafford had proven he’s a learner…that he is a very tough individual. You can blame the offensive line for about half of the issues he had this season. The others were mostly because we were playing from behind half the time.
We do have a running game. It could be better, yes…but it’s a good foundation to build upon.
There is reason for hope because it’s the NFL and anything can happen. I think many people invest entirely too much emotion into it. Their time will come….and clearly it’s a work in progress.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and our foundation and structure was bunker-bombed by Millen. We’re building from the ground up.
GO LIONS! RESTORE THE ROAR!
Not saying Stafford is a bust, I like the kid, still not sure of his decision making or accuracy, and I know much of it could be attributed to the offensive line and trying to make plays because we are behind all the time, I hope he is legit. Not seeing the running game in the same light, Kevin Smith is a tough kid too, with a heart built for football just doesn’t seem be able to make people miss or break tackles.
I know we are building from the gorind up, but that means we have to out draft most of the other teams for at leastt 3 years in my opinion, and I just don’t see that happening.
Thanks for the positive outlook.
I am affraid Calvin will leave too
We should move him in the last year of his contract, ala R. Williams if we aren’t appearing to be much better by then.
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
-10000000000000000000000
Don’t Trade Calvin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Arrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (tears hair out)
What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.
not now dude..
when he is in his last year and going to leave anyway!
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Jan 25, 2010 9:24 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks for the uplifting nonsense.
Let’s see….
1. The Lions suck.
2. Staff is an unknown. An expensive one to boot. Do you pay his salary?
3. Calvin is leaving in two or three years.
4. Draft BPA as long as it is a defensive player. LOL
5. The Lions suck so bad we were never in games at the end.
6. A good defence will allow us to lose closer games.
7. Our coaches all suck.
8. Our management suck.
9. Things are getting worse.
You don’t sound like a knowledgeable Lions fan to me. You sound like a pissed off Vikings fan who just posted here to vent because of your own team’s failure.
Maybe if your guys would learn to hold onto the ball you might be in the Super Bowl.
NOTE: Us Lion’s fans would love to get that close to the Super Bowl. You should be happy with your season and not dump on other teams.
lol
Probably finished watching the NFC Championship, and felt a little emo
The beginning of the end of the misery
LOL
Reminds me of the Sears commercial they showed late in the game yesterday……
Sears guy (to Favre): I gotta go…….going to south Florida for the game. Maybe I’ll see you there…………………………….maybe I won’t.
Favre: What are you trying to say?
ROFLMAO!
What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.
Welcome to the POD..Mary Sunshine...
My family dog just died. Would you like to bring up some painful memories of that as well?
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
but please lets build a defense, at least we might be in the game near the end.
I think you need to go and research this statement. Off the top of my head, I can count 6 games that we were ‘in the game near the end’…. Pittsburgh, Arizona, GB, CHicago, St Louis, Seattle.
Are you sure we were really in those games at the end?
Or was it just we were lucky to be within less than double digit points?
Because the Lions weren’t in many games this year after the first quarter, despite close scores or even leads. Coming down to the wire doesn’t mean anything if you’re a lions fan. We’ve had a plethera of close games over the years, 99% of which went the way of the opponent.
So just because we were close in score doesn’t mean we were close in reality.
JF
by Lions Rant Artist on Jan 25, 2010 8:42 AM EST up reply actions
Yes
He is positive we were in those games at the end. When we are close in score, it does mean we are close in reality. BECAUSE THERE IS NO REALITY OTHER THAN THE REAL WORLD. Just because the vikings outperformed the saints does that mean that they are going to the superbowl, NO! Score is reality, and the reality is I would expect a newspaper writer to provide less subjective opinions.
You want a Lions Rant “Artist” you got one.
ALLOW ME TO DECREE THE FOLLOWING:
I am tired of people claiming that when we were in games it was due to the ineptitude of our opponents, not the passion and hard play of our defense.
- (sub-clause) if the Lions, our favorite team (allegedly for some) are down only one score, we are still in the game. Last time I checked against the browns we had less than two minutes left, more than eighty yards to go, and a Quarterback with a shoulder hanging off of his torso, were we still in the game? RHETORICAL QUESTION
Unsubstantiated personal opinions from an alleged news journalists really “grinds my gears”.
Were the Jets the best team in the AFC playoffs? No. The best team in the AFC east? according to offensive numbers, No. Did they make it to the AFC Championship? Yes.
I doubt you played football, but if you did maybe you forgot, no matter how tough and challenging the game, no matter how many converted first downs, yards, red-zone trips, if you can stay in the game, you have a shot. PERIOD.
by IAmGross on Jan 25, 2010 10:24 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Good reply IAG.
Apparently for more than a few fans STYLE POINTS COUNT.
I made a recent comment on another site about the 2001 Super Bowl champs New England. During the regular season they were outgained passing and running, both their defence and offence were rated around 20th in yardage, had a game manager QB [Brady Year One], but did two things very well; scored points [sixth] and stopped other teams from scoring [sixth]. That is a great accomplishment.
Were they lucky? Maybe. But I prefer to give them credit for winning despite their weaknesses.
by NorthLeft12 on Jan 25, 2010 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
+1000
The Bringers of Hope: Stafford - Delmas - C. Johnson - Pettigrew - Levy - Hill - Schwartz
Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind.
by Hyperion Ecta on Jan 25, 2010 5:50 PM EST up reply actions
This is the NFL.
It takes a couple good drafts and a couple of breaks and teams can be right in the thick of things. Atlanta and Miami did it two years ago.
We all remember 1992.....
…..One game away from the super bowl….That was so close but we got blown out at washington 42-10 in the nfl championship game…..We are for sure a few seasons away from the playoffs…..with good drafts and development maybe 2 years…..I believe in the staff and mayhew……this team is going in the right direction….Go Lions.
by BennieBladesFan on Jan 25, 2010 9:57 AM EST reply actions
Thoughts...
This season, there were several games we could have won or did win.
Wk 3 Det 19 – Skins 14 = Win
Wk 5 Det 20 – Steelers 28 = Loss
Wk 8 Det 10 – Rams 17 = Loss
Wk 9 Det 20 – Seahawks 32 = Loss
Wk 11 Det 38 – Cleveland 37 = Win
Wk 13 Det 13 – Bengals 23 = Loss
Wk 15 Det 24 – Cardinals 31 = Loss
Wk 17 Det 23 – Bears 37 = Loss
All of these games could have been won if A, our team was fully healthy, and B we had a bit of luck. I think Week 15 and 17 would be wins had Stafford started those games. Mind you the bears finale game wasn’t a close final score, but that game wasn’t actually a blowout. Had Stafford been healthy I think we would have won that game.
But, rather than hammer all of the bad points of the season and say we need D, D, D in the draft (as the OP did), let’s look at this in a different light. With any 1 of 10 or 12 improvements we can make in this draft, we could have won 8 games this year.
A better running back who breaks a few extra runs and gets those critical 1st downs and takes a little extra pressure off CJ, we could win those games.
A better LG to help make holes for K Smooth or Mo to run through to get that 1st or to offer a little better protection for Staff, we win those games.
If Pettigrew doesn’t get hurt and offers up a little better blocking for K Smooth or gets an extra 40 or 50 yards a game for the offense, we win.
All of those improvements could have won those games for us and don’t even begin to delve into the defensive side of things. The truth is, in football, a few game changing players can make a world of difference. We would not have won a SINGLE GAME this year without Stafford and I believe that 100%. Next year, with a few key additions like a LG, or a healthy breakout RB, or Pettigrew being back (I think this is more important than we think), Stafford being healthy and more experienced, and a better secondary, we could go 8-8.
All of that being said, our pass D DOES suck horribly. Whether we fix that by improving our secondary or by getting a pass rush DE, or by getting a DT than can just push the pocket on top of the QB, I don’t care. Any which way you look at it, we WILL get better.
Mayhew and the Office had a great draft this year. Delmas, Staff, Grew, Levy, and SLH all ended up STARTERS. If we even get 2 or 3 starters out of this years draft, it could easily make the difference in 2 wins or 8.
Sorry for the long post, the OP just warrants it.
Calvin Johnson
He signed a 6 year contract, he’s half way through that contract so it gives us 3 years to try to show him we will be a winning team. 2nd we can franchise him for up to 2 years so he’s going now where in the near or long term future.
exactly
As stafford improves so will calvin. Alot can happen in 3 years. If it looks like he will leave we will likely pull a roy williams and trade him mid-season. I am not worried about calvin right now If we can pull out atleast and 90’s style winning season things will definatly change.
The best there is, The best there was, and the best there ever will be - Bret the Hitman hart
by The Profiler on Jan 25, 2010 1:32 PM EST up reply actions
Does anybody have any reason for hope for a long suffering Lions fan?
Yep, the Saints are my hope. They were the laughing stock on the NFL for how long? If they can turn it around, I have confidence the Lions can and will someday. Hopefully in the near future.
true
tag the bags off your heads and fill them with pop corn who day’s.
The best there is, The best there was, and the best there ever will be - Bret the Hitman hart
by The Profiler on Jan 25, 2010 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
basially every team in the NFL
we’re going through a rough stretch. We are still have the 7th most wins in NFL history, so we have had some great teams in the past
The beginning of the end of the misery
dominant
in the 50s not bad in the 60 ford buys the team……….barry sanders……2000
The best there is, The best there was, and the best there ever will be - Bret the Hitman hart
by The Profiler on Jan 25, 2010 10:31 PM EST up reply actions
i know....i know
but really, (unless you believe in curses) you cant say b/c someone bought a team is the reason that it has sucked for the last decade or so. We have had winners under Ford’s ownership btw
The beginning of the end of the misery
by Latif Masud on Jan 26, 2010 12:08 AM EST up reply actions
I know
We were pretty good in the early 90’s. Barry was most of it though if he had players other than moore and spielman around we could have done very well.
The best there is, The best there was, and the best there ever will be - Bret the Hitman hart
by The Profiler on Jan 26, 2010 2:23 PM EST up reply actions
I have thought about how bad the Saints were as reason for hope, doesn’t really reflect on the Lions for now, but it is something.
Prediction for 2030 Superbowl teams; Detroit Lions vs Toronto Maple Leafs **After the 2022 NFL/NHL Merger. Heh Heh.
Draft
Yes we have little talent. how do we overcome that, by trading down to acquire more draft picks and getting the BPA. we need more bodies. i would trade 2nd pick for the 10th and a 3rd or 4th rounder. thats what New England did for years.
A reason for hope
I know this may not really be relevant since they are different sports but I think this may help.
The only other team I care for just as much as the Lions is my Rugby League team, the Wests Tigers. For many years, I followed their initial incarnation, the Western Suburbs Magpies. They were very similar to the Lions. A brief period of dominance during the 40’s before a slow decling from championship team, to competitive team, to bottom feeder. They were terrible, just awful. I followed as a kid because I lived in the area and I could go see the games. Obviously, over time I developed a connection to them. As a kid I didn’t really feel the losses as bad as I do know. It was just a bit of fun back then.
As I got older, I got disenchanted with the losses. So much so that I picked a second team that I followed in secret. This second team won the title in the first year I decided to follow them. But I realised something during that time. had something like 3 wins during that season. I enjoyed those 3 wins MUCH more than I did the 20+ wins I got from the second team. That epiphany helped me ditch that second team and focus back on Wests.
A year later, my Wests had to merge with another team, the Balmain Tigers. I was distraught. I felt like I had my heart ripped away. However, I decided to follow this merged team anyway, begrungingly at first. The first few years were about normal for me. Mostly losses, a few wins. Then all of a sudden, in 2005, things clicked, and I mean clicked. We had a huge 8 win streak which took us to our first playoffs in decades. We then went through the playoffs, defeating every team along the way despite my feelings that the fairytale would end eventually.
Then the Grand Final came (Superbowl equivalent). I was a wreck. I couldn’t eat, drink, I sat outside for the whole day thinking about everything that could go wrong in the game. Then, the amazing happened. We won the title. It was amazing and something I want to feel as a Lions fan. I don’t care how long it takes. I just want to feel that again, not only for my beloved Tigers, but for my Lions. That’s why there is hope. Because anything can happen in sport, where the seemingly impossible becomes possible.
I know they are different sports and I don’t know if this story was at all illuminating but that’s why I have hope.
The Bringers of Hope: Stafford - Delmas - C. Johnson - Pettigrew - Levy - Hill - Schwartz
Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind.
by Hyperion Ecta on Jan 25, 2010 6:12 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
Great Comment!
That’s the kind of fan we want to be!
What? He can’t block a dead gopher? Humph, details.
Yup
Know what you mean. Detroiters don’t have to look too far for our fairytail story (try next door…Tigers). Call me crazy, but I think one solid offseason is good enough to make the Lions a contender. Look at this year’s Jets or last year’s Cardinals…only 9 wins, yet they made it very deep into the playoffs. I know we only had 2 wins this year, but if things start to click (espcially in the offensive side), then I don’t think 9 wins is a far fetched.
The beginning of the end of the misery
Deadwings anybody
Now we have so many cups I lost count. hahahaha
The best there is, The best there was, and the best there ever will be - Bret the Hitman hart
by The Profiler on Jan 25, 2010 10:32 PM EST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Pride Of Detroit
Related FanShots on Pride Of Detroit
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
