Who Powered Through: Jahvid Best Practices For Lions

by Sean Yuille on Nov 24, 2010 10:29 AM EST in Who Powered Through

Despite having turf toe injuries on both feet, Lions running back Jahvid Best was at practice on Tuesday, indicating that he will play on Thanksgiving against the Patriots. Best's problem with turf toes has hampered him throughout the season, especially this past Sunday against Dallas. Because the injuries limited him so much, the thinking was that he may just sit the Patriots game out to heal, but that doesn't appear to be the case considering he participated in Tuesday's practice.

Cliff Avril and Isaiah Ekejiuba also practiced on Tuesday. The two had been out recently, but it looks like they will play against New England. According to Tom Kowalski, it also appears that Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams will play against the Patriots despite not practicing on Tuesday. It would be great if they all were able to go, because the Lions will need to be close to full strength health-wise to have a shot at winning.

Tony Scheffler and Jason Hanson did not practice on Tuesday and are currently doubtful for Thursday's game.

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Jahvid Best!!!!!!!

I knew it, this kid is something else! Most backs go on IR with turf toe, but not Jahvid, he just keeps on plugging and giving it all he’s got, I love this guy. Now the Pats have to devise a plan to consider him, what an unselfish athlete, gotta love this kid.

I don’t care about his stats, he just impresses me more and more as he’s playing through his injuries. He is the only player that I know of that is playing through turf toe.

He has the heart of a Lion! What a great pick he was. I can’t wait to see him healthy.

by Cursed on Nov 24, 2010 10:40 AM EST reply actions

Sadly, you are going to have to wait until next year to see him healthy

Turf toe does not heal without rest. I have seen many a RB suffer this injury (seems more prevalent in the last few years) and their effectiveness is always limited. The more they push it the worse it gets.

I love the kids heart but I was really hoping we would let him rest and heal up for a couple few games.

Bye Bye Schwartz. Sooner or later, you are gone. Preferably sooner.

by joshsun on Nov 24, 2010 11:38 AM EST up reply actions

Ever think he's hurting the team by playing?

He may be a trooper, but the kid is struggling mightily, where another back would have a tad more success.

by delusional on Nov 24, 2010 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

agreed ....rest the kid so this is not a future issue and Play MO MO he was running well in the last game..... and why the F do we run Jahvid behind Dom ... we know Dom couldnt make a pin hole.

by perfectlions on Nov 24, 2010 12:57 PM EST up reply actions

He's helping

The team by making the offense gameplan against him. Did you ever think the other backs are doing well because the opponents aren’t as well prepared against them?

The sword has two edges.

CLF was right. Stanton should be starting, and Hill can’t do anything until he’s behind in the fourth quarter.

by Mavyrk on Nov 24, 2010 1:14 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, that's it.

by delusional on Nov 24, 2010 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

umm

not wanting to put too fine a point on it, if they read and believe the injury reports and actually bother to watch the film from say the minny game, compared to the last two weeks, he’s not going to be much of factor in their game planning. I mean how dangerous is a back with two bad feet? I love the kid, I just hate watching him hobble around out there waiting for some backer or safety to plant him on ir for a whole year.

by YpsilantiJeff on Nov 24, 2010 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

Based on how well he's performed in space.

It would be a mistake on the part of an opposing team just to assume that they’ll never get him in space.

Bill Belicheck isn’t the kind of coach who says, “yeah, they have this guy, but he’s kind of hurt so I know you guys have it handled.”

CLF was right. Stanton should be starting, and Hill can’t do anything until he’s behind in the fourth quarter.

by Mavyrk on Nov 24, 2010 2:15 PM EST up reply actions

I think

the Bill is going to more concerned about getting his corner help over the top with CJ and managing the seam against Grew and that nasty little pick n roll we get going with Nate, than that release to the flat with a back with two bad feet. Again no knock on Jahvid but right now he’s just not scary.

by YpsilantiJeff on Nov 24, 2010 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

Bill

Is going to be covering as much as he can in the short time he has, and Jahvid will be a concern. Focusing on Jahvid means there’s less time for something else. If that something else is gameplanning against MoMo as well, then Jahvid is doing his job regardless of stats.

CLF was right. Stanton should be starting, and Hill can’t do anything until he’s behind in the fourth quarter.

by Mavyrk on Nov 24, 2010 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

ok

Im convinced. Im not sure what I was thinking. The Bill should by all means spend as much time as we can get him to game planning against our backs. :) (wiggles fingers at screen, forget Calvin, Bill…forget Calvin)

by YpsilantiJeff on Nov 24, 2010 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

You might as well just agree the first time.

I’m sure Bill is just shitting all over himself worried how is he ever going to stop that potent rushing attack.
Best is a nonfactor with the toe injury.

by delusional on Nov 24, 2010 10:13 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I repeat.

It would be a mistake of catastrophic levels to completely sell out on the pass, and Bill has not shown himself to be that kind of coach.

CLF was right. Stanton should be starting, and Hill can’t do anything until he’s behind in the fourth quarter.

by Mavyrk on Nov 24, 2010 10:27 PM EST up reply actions

"Based on how he is performing in space"

Is not a threat. Keith Brooking ran him down in the Dallas game, that is just sad. Even in space, an old slow line backer can cover him and limit him to 1-2 yard gains all day long, that is a win for the opposition. No he is not helping the team one bit by playing hurt.

I think he stays dressed for now because the Lions do not have any better options, even if another guy was dressed he would not see any playing time on the field.

Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!

by Evilsmurf on Nov 24, 2010 11:44 PM EST up reply actions

You can argue this until you're blue in the face.

But trying to say an opposing team isn’t gameplanning against Jahvid Best is obviously, infallibly incorrect on every level.

“Oh, Jahvid’s in. Sell out on the pass.” is probably the worst thing an 8-2 team could do, teams don’t get 8-2 by being boneheaded. They gameplan against their opponents, and Jahvid is an opponent. Not to mention he got some rest last game, and has rested all week, no one knows if his turf toe isn’t feeling at least somewhat better. You can’t make the assumption that Jahvid is a non-factor. If anyone can… well, I guess that’s a good reason why we’re fans and not coaches.

CLF was right. Stanton should be starting, and Hill can’t do anything until he’s behind in the fourth quarter.

by Mavyrk on Nov 24, 2010 11:49 PM EST up reply actions

Teams have been selling out on the pass all year

Best has not faced an 8 man front consistently in any game we have played, and he has still failed to be a “threat”. He has not scored a touchdown in a very long time, and while I know he has the ability the injuries just make him another Aaron Brown, probably less effective than Aaron actually.

Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!

by Evilsmurf on Nov 24, 2010 11:57 PM EST up reply actions

That's fine and dandy.

But the contention that Bill Belicheck of all people isn’t having his defense look at some tape is bonkers. Absolutely bonkers. It’s the f-king Patriots.

CLF was right. Stanton should be starting, and Hill can’t do anything until he’s behind in the fourth quarter.

by Mavyrk on Nov 25, 2010 12:07 AM EST up reply actions

Best injured is nothing more then a below average back.

Their probably hoping he plays.

To think their going to adjust their defense away from CJ because of Best is ridicilous.

by delusional on Nov 25, 2010 12:13 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Love your team Mav....

But be realistic when you do so.

by delusional on Nov 25, 2010 12:14 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

No.

But they’re going to add gameplanning vs. Best to an overall gameplanning strategy that is shortened by a short week.

That inevitably means you have less time to prepare for everything.

If you have 100 minutes to prepare, and 5 things to prepare for, you get 20 minutes a piece. If you add the sixth thing (Best!), you only get 16 minutes and 37 seconds. It’s simple math, it’s very logical, and it’s incredibly “realistic”. But thank you.

CLF was right. Stanton should be starting, and Hill can’t do anything until he’s behind in the fourth quarter.

by Mavyrk on Nov 25, 2010 12:19 AM EST up reply actions

If both teams were evenly matched I could agree.

But when you unrealistically placing a 2 and 8 team that is going to toy with us to just keep the game from becoming a blowout, it doesn’t matter if they only have 10 minutes to scheme against us.

Your placing the Lions on some even plain with the Pats. We don’t play the same game.

by delusional on Nov 25, 2010 12:28 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

No.

I’m not placing the Lions on the same plain. Belicheck places them on the same plain. It doesn’t matter if it’s week 17 versus a winless opponent, or the super bowl, Belicheck takes the game too seriously to think he can’t lose any given sunday.

CLF was right. Stanton should be starting, and Hill can’t do anything until he’s behind in the fourth quarter.

by Mavyrk on Nov 25, 2010 12:39 AM EST up reply actions

Have you by any chance drank any coolaid at a recent Lion's game?

I love the enthusiasm, but wow…JB has been pretty terrible for the majority of the season. I am hoping like everyone else that this is related to his injuries, but I have no desire to see him run into a brick wall every week for 2 ypc. I would rather seem Schwartz sit the kid down and see what he can do on two healthy feet in the last couple of weeks rather than shatter his confidence by allowing him to play terribly

by Suhper Megatron on Nov 24, 2010 12:39 PM EST up reply actions

Warriors just keep on going...

We all accept that guys play through injuries and Best is giving it his all. It’s a tremendous boost for team spirit even if the numbers he puts up don’t shine.

This is what a leader is, that kid is special. Sure I’d love to see him rest but for a rookie, he is teaching a heck of a lesson to the team. He has no QUIT in him. He must have a high pain threshold!

by Cursed on Nov 24, 2010 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

Holy man crush

by CR on Nov 24, 2010 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

I love the fact that when he’s playing with turf toe he is so ineffective.

"The Lions to me is like being a father of a son who is always locked up. You love him to death because he's your son but he has always been a disappointment." - Yours truly.

by DBB Diablo on Nov 24, 2010 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

Glad to hear Ekejiuba is back

Big leader on special teams

"Winning is not everything. It is the only thing."

by Lionsfan8 on Nov 24, 2010 10:55 AM EST reply actions

+1

I loved IE on special teams. Jahvid is a tough buy – but so is Stafford. Tough and being able to play though are 2 different things. Can’t blame them for their toughness unfortunately they’re too hurt to be effective.

WILL PLAY DEFENSE FOR FOOD

by NYCLionsfan on Nov 24, 2010 11:22 AM EST up reply actions