Boom and Bust: Lions
by Jaime S on Jul 26, 2010 4:49 PM EDT
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It's once again that time of the year again. The players are out there running endless plays, the coaches are readying their plays for the players, and the fans are taking out and throwing away these. Yes, the Lions are looking for their first non-losing season since 2000; and right now, that looks like a legitimate possibility. After having a top two pick in two years in a row of having top two picks in the draft, the Lions have rebuilt pretty well. This season could be a breakout year for a couple of young players, but unfortunately I'll only be mentioning one of them this year. The Lions and their devoted fans can be excited for this season as a possible turning point in their franchise (hopefully as excited as reading the rest of this post). Here our this year's boom and bust for the Detroit Lions:
BOOM! - WR Calvin Johnson
Calvin Johnson is coming off of his second best season of his, albeit, young three-year career. Matthew Stafford is coming off of his rookie season, and boy did he look like a rookie at times, and played most of the year (10 games). After some NFL experience, Stafford should have a significantly better TD-INT ratio than last season where he threw 13 Tds and 20 INTs. Stafford also now has more options to throw to with the addition of WR Nate Burleson and RB Jahvid Best plus a healthy Brandon Pettigrew will help Stafford as well as spread out the defense to open up holes and single-coverage for Calvin Johnson. This all bodes well for him and I fully expect to see the Johnson of 2008-2009 with numbers around 65 catches, 1200 yards, and at least 7 TDs. Johnson is the ultimate deep threat in the NFL with his size, speed, and athleticism. This will be the year of Megatron (cue evil laugh).
Bust... - RB Kevin Smith
This really pains me to say this because I am a big Kevin Smith fan and thought he'd be perfect for the Lions while they rebuild, but his numbers really dropped off from his rookie season. Maybe this is because defenses figured him out or schemed differently or maybe he was just having a down year. However, once he tore he ACL in Week 14, none of that matters because it was such a significant injury. It's hard for anyone to come back from an injury like that, especially since his job is run... The outlook for him this season is even more bleak because the Lions traded up in the late 1st Round of the past draft to select RB Jahvid Best, who will be competing for the starting job; even if Jahvid doesn't best Smith (Get it? It's funny because his last name is Best and... Nevermind...), he'll split carries with him, taking away yards as well as scores and catches. The selection of Best, at the very least, means the Lions are already ready to move on from Smith.
Basically, Megatron is going to reign over the entire NFC North and I think he can easily be a Pro Bowler this year. There is also a very good chance for Stafford, Pettigrew, Best, and Amari Spievey to have big years as well. Well that's my take on the Lions' upcoming season, now you can go ahead and tell me who I missed. I am doing this for all 32 teams in this order by the way, and next up is the Buccaneers. And yes, that includes the Packers, Bears, and Vikings.
*A "bust" doesn't mean the player's entire career is over, but is projected to have a bad/disappointing year from previous ones.
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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Can a player even be a bust coming off a torn ACL?
I’m pretty sure expectations for K Smith are basically zero at this point, especially not that we drafted Best. Most people would probably be happy if he could even get 10 carries a game at this point.
by WestsideLionsFan on Jul 26, 2010 4:56 PM EDT reply actions
Usually this is my requisite 'defend Kevin Smith' comment
But I’m done with it. It was bad enough before we drafted Best, now everyone thinks the guy is scrap.
Say what you want, but sooner than later K-Smooth is gonna be taking those carries back from Best.
Personally, I think after healing, Smith will be great. It’s just that I don’t think the Lions see it that way and he’s going to lose carries because of it.
Could be great but...........
Does he have the mental fortitude, let alone the physical tools, to be what everyone thought
he would be? It’s a big if, and it will be very interesting to see how it plays out.
Expectations don't produce!
Have you ever seen any of Smith's interviews?
That guy is a warrior – He’s fought extremely hard just to do what he does in Detroit, and he’s proud of it. Kevin Smith is a Lion, through and through.
????
no one should question Smith’s toughness or dedication or “mental fortitude.”
if anything, i would question the way he was used/abused by our offense. for example, last year, how many times did we run on 1st down into a wall of defense? it was futile. remember Culpepper out there? no threat downfield, the D closed in on us like dogs. even Barry would have been corralled.
K Smoove will remain a key component of this offense.
I still think he can be a good all around RB and a good to great short yardage back..
I don’t think his short yardage carry problems were truly his own….
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Jul 26, 2010 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions
yes.
K Smith has a remarkable ability to know his position with respect to the sticks. i’ve seen him lunge so many times to just barely get there. like a six sense. this is absolutely essential in short yardage—to be able to sense and then take what you can get. he also pass blocks and has good hands—thus excellent in 3rd down situations. man, if Grew can run block like I know he can, we should be pretty tricky to defend on 3rd and short.
this was actually a slight problem with Barry where he’d gamble for a big gain and risk no getting it done. fun to watch though. But, oh man, Kevin Jones used to just plow into the backs of his linemen or try a random spin move. He did not have it.
by x$pcents IV on Jul 27, 2010 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions
yes
WTF is this guy talking about “bust?”
the reason K Smoove’s “really dropped off from his rookie season” is because our offense absolutely sucked ass. no downfield threats, nothing stretching the defense to create space for big plays. let’s not get to wrapped up in the numbers. he has excellent vision and optimized his situations as a back, great hands. he’d get more 20+ carries if he got some blocking downfield and we had a downfield passing threat other than Calvin.
K Smoove is a solid back and will probably split carries with Best. It is typical in the NFL now for starting backs to time share.
1st, Calvin Johnson is the ultimate deep threat with Andre Johnson. He spreads the D out plenty. And once again, he had a significant injury and the Lions are the ones moving away from him. If you would like me to rephrase “bust”, I mean his numbers won’t be there. I’m a big Smith fan, but it doesn’t appear the Lions are anymore.
sure Calvin could draw some coverage downfield...
but what i meant is that we didn’t stretch the field enough for our run game to be effective with anyone. Calvin faced shifted zones or multiple team coverage so that threat was abated. He got through a couple of times but teams still stacked up on us to stop our running game as we just pounded it into the ground. The few times Stanton or Culpepper played—forget about it. These guys couldn’t even get the ball more than 20yd downfield. Defenses knew we were trying to reel Stafford in a bit to keep his INTs down since he wasn’t quite seeing everything yet.
Kevin Smith was injured for much of the season and got pounded. When healthy, we will split carries. Smith is more of a Chester Taylor than a Lendale White.
by x$pcents IV on Jul 28, 2010 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Still love K smooth
I think this ACL injury has many people worried. I think his rookie season was helped by numerous factors the team as a whole had fell off after that. I wouldn’t call him a bust I think there is a spot for the UCF rb on are team. Ot may be Morris spot but in the long run Best and Smith could be a great duo. Smith could be the Fred Taylor to Javids mojo. Or his Jacobs to Bradshaw. Smith has some downhill abillitys and can catch out of the backfield theres always room for guys like that. Atleast in my book anyways.
Me and Pheonix Marie..be Jealous (pic)
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
hoookyded fhonyics workeded fo me
Me and Pheonix Marie..be Jealous (pic)
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
by The Profiler on Jul 26, 2010 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions
you can't be serious about Morris
he is clearly not as good as K Smith. there is no question who is the better back between them.
by x$pcents IV on Jul 27, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
I was trying to say
I think Smith will make morris obsolete in are offense. He has much of the same abillitys (or better) and is much younger.
Me and Pheonix Marie..be Jealous (pic)
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
by The Profiler on Jul 27, 2010 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Alrighty then
BOOM – Stafford. I just want this to happen. If Staff Booms! then the whole offence will, including Megatron.
BUST – Hard one. Cherilus maybe, or Burleson, since it may be hard to live up to his paycheck.
RIP Robyn Bailey 1961 - 2010. I love you mum.
im hoping for 60 900 and 6 from Burleson
I would be happy with that.
http://cmufootball.blogspot.com/
by CapitolLions on Jul 26, 2010 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Boom: Offense
I think we are gonna see something special this year out of our entire offense. The LG position has finally been solidified, and Staff will have weapons like he didn’t last year. Everyone should know the playbook well by now, and Linehan has established continuity. If I were to pick a bust, I would have to go with Derrick Williams. I know he was only a rookie last year, but I didn’t see much to hang hope on. Hopefully he understands the playbook and the routes better this year. I guess I should say that I have tempered my enthusiasm concerning him.
Kevin Smith is a Lion
and has busted his ass for this team. He has impressed me way more than Kevin Jones ever did…or any running back since Barry Sanders who has worn a Lions uniform. He’s not a star…he’s not the best running back ever….but he wouldn’t surprise me if he went out there with Jahvid Best and they became a decent tandem. Calling him a bust at this point is a little harsh.
And CJ is too safe of a Boom pick.
GO LIONS! RESTORE THE ROAR!
I think Spivey will have a " Bust " year....
Not that he will be a " bust " for his career. Being his rookie year and no talent other then Delmas to help him, he will get burnt A LOT and look horrible. Although I think in the next draft and free agency we will get him some help and he will learn from his rookie season. That being said, I believe he will be a high ranked # 2 CB for our team. In other words, if you were to take all 2nd ranked CB’s on every team and ranked them, Spivey in 2-3yrs would be at the top of that listing.
kevin smith is a power back and the lions used him as speed back like best is with the lions playing more speed game this year they will most likely use kevin smith for about 15to 20 times a game i think the lions will have both backs in the game at the same time alot this year.
You nailed it
The Lions finally have 2 capable yet different backs
In life, a man is either the hammer or the anvil. Ndamukong Suh is both
Pride of Detroits village idiot
I got there names too
Javid best is – Wham!
K-Smooth is- Bam!
Thank ya mam
Me and Pheonix Marie..be Jealous (pic)
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
by The Profiler on Jul 29, 2010 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Really?
Yes, the Lions are looking for their first non-losing season since 2000; and right now, that looks like a legitimate possibility
You think there’s more than an outside chance the Lions will at least go 8-8? I haven’t heard anyone other than intoxicated (by Kool-Aid or other libations) Lion’s fans claim they have a good chance to do any better than 5-11 or maybe 6-10.
8-8 seems optimistic; not like a legitimate possibility.
by Big Z in Orlando on Jul 27, 2010 3:05 PM EDT reply actions
BOOM!
Detroit Lions revamped offense!
Me and Pheonix Marie..be Jealous (pic)
"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)
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