Lions Notes: One Preseason Game In The Books
by Sean Yuille on Aug 15, 2010 3:38 PM EDT
in Detroit Lions Notes
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- Looking at the Lions' starting lineup from last night, a few things stuck out:
1) Dan Gronkowski started at tight end along with Tony Scheffler. Will Heller played, but does this indicate that Gronkowski is ahead of him on the depth chart?
2) Jake Nordin got the start at fullback. Along the same lines as the tight end situation, does this mean he is ahead of Felton at fullback? The Lions have yet to publish a depth chart, so it's tough to say one way or another.
3) On defense, the two starting safeties were C.C. Brown and Randy Phillips, who really impressed me, especially when you consider he's an undrafted free agent that signed after training camp began. - According to NFL.com's gamebook, Matt Clapp and Dante Wesley didn't play last night. As far as I know, they're the only two players that weren't previously ruled out who didn't see the field. Even Amari Spievey, who had been banged up, got into the game in the second half (and proceeded to get chewed out by Gunther Cunningham after Antonio Brown blew by him for a TD.
- Pro Football Talk is reporting that it's not certain if Jordon Dizon will be out for the year just yet. Take it with a grain of salt, because I certainly don't go to PFT for injury information. Just ask Louis Delmas about that.
- Matthew Stafford's final line for the game was this: 8-11, 61 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT.
- 16 different Lions players had catches during the game.
- Aaron Pettrey missed a 42-yard field goal after originally making it. Problem is the Steelers called timeout right before the snap of the kick he made, and the second time around it was no good.
- Jared DeVries has been unable to practice due to injuries, but he is serving as a mentor for his fellow defensive lineman.
- I was really impressed with how many Steelers fans stuck around despite a weather delay of more than an hour. It was only a preseason game, the starters were already out and the weather was terrible, but quite a few fans watched the whole game.
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I was happy ....
I thought the starters did an excellent job up against the steelers starters …backups need time to improve …and we didn’t have all of our starters out there yet …I’m not drinkin’ kool-aid just yet , but it is a big improvement over many of the last 12 seasons …at least this yaer we won’t be " champions of the pre-season " !!
marc hoople
Depth Chart
I would not read too much into who starts during the preseason. For one a lot of things can happen before the game in Chicago at Soldier Field four weeks from now. For two a lot of times in the preseason veterans do not even get played because the coaches have the confidence in their abilities and do not want to take a risk of injury with them. Dre Bly and Julian Peterson did not start either, but I am sure both of those guys will be starting by the time game one rolls around.
I am pretty sure that is the case with Will Heller. If you recall last years preseason, Gronkowski seen a lot of action there too, only to be cut and placed on the practice squad. I am rooting for Gronk and it would be awesome if he stepped up and but I just don’t see it happening. He performed up to a 3rd or 4th string TE last night but none of the starters need to fear for him taking their jobs. A top notch TE would have kept their feet and had some YAC, and would not have taken the stupid holding penalty that he did.
With Nordin it is a similar view I have, but kind of reversed. If he was ahead of Felton prior to last nights game he sure is not now. Felton was solid in blocking, rushing, and receiving.
On C.C. Brown and Randy Phillips I can say that I seen why Brown did not make other teams. His passing coverage still needs some work and he takes some bad angles at times. Randy on the other hand was a nice surprise. I hope he can keep the momentum going and end up starting next to Delmas.
One thing I didn’t see mentioned here in regards to starting jobs and people on the bubble was the WR position. Derrick Williams looks much improved as a receiver but still sucks as a return guy. However Eric Fowler stole the show along with Time Toone. Both of those guys performed very well. Fowler making some nice sideline grabs and Toone doing better than Williams in the return game, on top if showing some promise for YAC and getting open down field. If Stanton had put the ball on him for that TD…. such is the life of a Lions fan.
Oh yeah and good by DeDe Dorsey. After the fumble I would be surprised to see him make the team over anyone else. A fumble will stick in a coaches mind longer than just about any other mistake a player makes, except maybe getting burned in the secondary for a TD. Which brings me to Spievey. Looks like he is going to take some time to develop, maybe I will be wrong but I would not expect him to start this year, barring injury. But hey Chris Houston looked decent.
Anyways rambled on long enough.
On the fumble...
It was a helmet to ball fumble…. not much you can do about that. Dorsey was hit by 2 guys, 2 different directions.
Yes, but hte bad decision to put himself in the position to take that hit was his fault.
That was one of the things that made Barry so great. How he set up his blocks and took his angles. Barry rarely gave a defender a chance to take a shot at him like that. Dorsey gave two defenders a chance to clean up on him, that is pretty bad ball carrier vision.
schwartz on fumbles....
"Fumbles are a random occurrence," Schwartz said he told Belichick. "Being able to get interceptions or not throw interceptions has a high correlation with good teams. But over the course of a year, good teams don’t fumble any more or less than bad teams. Bill didn’t agree. He said, ‘No, good teams don’t fumble the ball.’ But actually, they fumble just as often as bad teams."
I'll bet you 5 bucks he's cut : ), you can tell yourself it's because
of other things then the fumble
I doubt the fumble will help
But if he’s cut it’s simply because there’s not enough room for all the running backs the Lions currently have.
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by Sean Yuille on Aug 16, 2010 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
That was the game changing play the score was 13-7
we could have taken the lead at the the least the Lions would have been within a field goal of a tie game instead of going two scores down . On a dive play your priority is ball security,as you know your going to get slammed.
DeDe lessend his chances on making the team on Hills first drive he screwed up on 3rd and short pass Linehan called him over and gave him 1 on 1 coaching on the sideline after that play, you could see the coach was not pleased as he showed him how to shake the defender on that play.
PS Maweldi Moore pancaked Follet on a qb run looked nasty
by Wayne Fontes on Aug 16, 2010 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Sorry, but Dede Dorsey
Was never going to make this team…. Fumble or not.
My point is that the fumble was/is/would ever be a breaking point in the eyes of Schwartz.
more concern
I’d be more concerned with DeDe Dorsey’s pass blocking. I can’t stand the fact that all he ever does is dive straight at the defenders feet. He did that on one play and the defender nearly took out Stanton’s knees. Imagine if that had been Stafford at QB. That dive at the feet is not only fairly easy to dodge, it’s dangerous for the QB.
If that was a #1 QB that would have been a penalty under the Brady rule
by Wayne Fontes on Aug 16, 2010 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions
well
it should be a penalty no matter if it’s a #1 qb or the emergency qb. A players status in the NFL should not mean he gets special treatment. I know this happens but it shouldn’t
I agree with you BBlades but when the starting QB is in the game
The Official has one hand on the flag before the ball is ever snapped.
by Wayne Fontes on Aug 16, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
evilsmurf barry sanders and dede dorsey in the same sentence? come on man i know you didnt mean to compare it like that but. you should expect from a 4th string back the ability of the greatest RB of all time. not trying to be a dick at all btw.
Oh no, I was just pointing out that he is most likely to get cut in my book.
The Sanders comparison was an extreme example. Look at Best and see how he does cut backs and spins. I am not saying that DeDe can not make the team if he steps it up, nor am I saying he would be a horrible player. He may even make another team if we cut him. What I am saying is that from what I have seen I personally would put him at the bottom of our running backs.
Great running backs make something out of nothing, Barry had that, and I see the potential of that in best. Good running backs get what they should on most plays, if you guys remember James Stewart, he was a good running back. Then you have the niche guys like Eric Metcalf, or Brian Westbrook, guys that can do one or two things really well but not are not necessarily the whole package. Right now I see DeDe as having only speed as an asset. His vision is lacking, along with his blocking, and his receiving and tackle breaking abilities are nothing to write home about. He is the typical 4th 5th guy on the depth chart for an NFL team and I hope he makes me eat those words but it is not likely.
Felton is still the starting FB if you ask me.
Felton is a known quantity at this point. My guess is Schwartz wanted to see how Nordin would mesh with the first team offense. Also, Felton was used as a tailback for a bit last night, maybe that was his more important role in the game.
D-line looked good in 1st qtr. lots of quick pressure. tim toon looks like a keeper.even bryant johnson looked better. they need to trade morris. alot of teams need rb’s right now, the lions aint one of them. best looked like the fastest dude on the field.staff looked sharp. calvin is a stud. overall team looks more talented than they have in a long time. still a ways to go . on the right track.
by California Dillon's on Aug 15, 2010 6:15 PM EDT reply actions
The number one concern from last night
Lack of quality depths. When are backups are getting burned by other backups it makes me wonder what happens if they need to start. Some positions the depth I am fine with but the secondary,Linebackers and O line (outside of Jansen) lack serious depth I belive. I love the new D line when Avril got the sack I fell in love with the line right there. Cliff is DA MAN! trust me he’s gonna have career season.
Suh,Williams,Avril,VandenBosch
With the Four Horsemen ride,Or choose your fate and die
A lot of positives from a 23 to 7 loss, but this is the preseason.
Staff, Best, Calvin, KVB, Avril, Phillips all looked very good. The O line kept Staff clean and opened some holes, but I can’t wait to see these guys play a whole game. Hopefully they will continue to improve through the next three games.
Avril?
Lots of Avril love being spread around I see. Isn’t there any concerns of him still being a one trick pony? Looked like he’s so intent on a pass rush that he forgets to defend against the run.
Not complaining, just saying
by delusional on Aug 15, 2010 8:22 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
depth
Watching the first game yesterday I came away with one obvious conclusion. The lions, while improving, are still two drafts away.
The one guaranteed thing to happen during an NFL season. Players will get hurt and the lions depth, while better than in the past, is still pathetic. This dramatic drop from starter to back up is clearly the teams achillies tendon. While I hope for more, my mind is telling me that 4 or 5 wins this year is the cap for a team in the lions personnel situation after the starters.
I have faith, being down consistantly by 2 or 3 tds going into the second is a thing of the past but that fact does not award wins alone. If every starter on the team stayed healthy, I would feel great going against almost any team. I just know that will never happen.
Lions fans deserve better than being the laughing stock of the NFL. Lets all hope they are heading in the right direction finally.
by joshsun on Aug 15, 2010 10:41 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
having said that
Read this article.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100815/COL01/8150398/1049/SPORTS01/Call-Lions-Staffords-team&-Hes-cool-with-that&template=fullarticle
Mitch is a talented writer and he hits home with one thing that is new in Detroit. Our qb knows, believes and wants better things right here in Detroit. Last year I was not sold on “The staff”, today I am.
Lions fans deserve better than being the laughing stock of the NFL. Lets all hope they are heading in the right direction finally.
by joshsun on Aug 15, 2010 11:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I never read Mitch
He lives in L.A.
by delusional on Aug 15, 2010 11:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
the biggest difference
I look at the steelers and then look at us… and I see that they have made many great choices , year after year , in the second thru seventh rounds of the draft that stick with the team ….not free agents but good drafting ….cost effective , good management planning and good coaching …I think we have all three now like we haven’t had since the early 90’s
marc hoople
first look
O.k., so the first preseason game is in the books and the Lions of course, lost the game. Irrelevant because the year they went 0-16, they were 4-0 in the preseason. It’s not about wins and losses this time of year, it’s about getting better. And the Lions appear to have gotten better in the off season. Jahvid Best as the running back looked more dynamic than Morris or a healthy Kevin Smith. One pass did go off his hands for a pick, and he did get stopped in the backfield for a few losses, but he gained 30 yards on 6 carries, caught a 9 yard toss, and looked good picking up the pass rush. Had a good 15 yard scamper to boot. Stafford looked comfortable and confident in the offense, and the o-line kept him off his back (although James Harrison did flatten Jeff Backus like he was Jason Hanson or somebody). He got a couple to Cal and a couple to Nate, looked sharp and focused. Defense looked good, too. Vanden Bosch and Avril had good hits on the QB, and Suh drew what will be many double teams this season. Secondary looked better than I thought it would, but they have a ways to go (King and Phillips might be steals, especially King. He looked like a pro cornerback out there), and the D-line will make the linebackers look better than what they are. They need to take advantage of the pressure that Suh puts on a line and rush the QB in the lanes that he creates. He is a big, strong kid, and he was moving o-linemen around like rag dolls, freeing up space for Avril and Vanden Bosch. We’ve punted so much in the last 10 seasons that we have that down to a science, and the kicking game will improve when No. 4 comes back for the regular season. Don’t slip on our return game. Tim Toone is fast and will break one or two and even help in the passing game a bit. Brown and Williams looked good on kickoffs (Brown had a 33-yard return). Overall, I was impressed with the starters but not with the reserves. We are not a very deep team and when the injury bug hits us, we will struggle greatly unless these guys get better very quickly. We’re pretty much one man deep at every position, and the backups are either rookies or cast offs. This is why you need a top flight coaching staff, and I guess we’ll find out if we have one that can put these guys in a position to help the team win when they get on the field.
Go, Sparty, Go!! Deeeeeeeeetroit Baaaasketbaaaaaaaal!!
You did...
He certainly looked better Saturday, although I would have liked to see more Sanders (he looked good when given the chance), Brown’s a player. Good call.
Good first showing all in all. The Dizon injury is a tough break, he was looking at an important role this year.
Good luck this year PoD… You’re putting together a good group of players, your time will come.
Ambition is like a frog sitting on a Venus Flytrap. The flytrap can bite and bite, but it won't bother the frog because it only has little tiny plant teeth. But some other stuff could happen and it could be like ambition.
-Deep Thought By Jack Handy
by NYSteelersFan4 on Aug 16, 2010 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Pre-Season
The thing I took away from the first pre-season game was that we are slowly building depth. Are back-ups shouldn’t be as bad as they were in years past but their still not even close to having depth like the Steelers. Just give the team a couple more drafts and we will have quality depth to go with our good starters we have now.
by Detroitsportsfan3 on Aug 16, 2010 9:45 AM EDT reply actions
Poor Tackling
What I took away from the game was the really poor tackling from our team. The first string weren’t as bad or blatant as the back ups though. When they came in, I saw multiple guys whiff on the same ball carrier. Or there would be shoulder tackles which only moved the ball carrier a bit, but they kept right on running. The Lion’s have been horrible tacklers for a long time and our back ups showed exactly what needs to change.
It always amazes me to watch a Lion’s game, then turn to another game, and see how well the other team tackles. Instead of going for the big hit, missing, and giving up 8 yards, they will hit, wrap up, get help, and give up 4. More than anything else the Lion’s players need to get this ingrained into their heads.
And I like Follett, but he was one of the main guys trying to just knock someone out rather than wrap up and take them to the ground or slowing them down to get help. I hate doing this since it is early in his career and comparisons typically suck, but I never saw Speilman shoulder tackle anyone. He would hit hard with the shoulder, then wrap. Follet hits with the shoulder, that’s it.
The depth
Didn’t get to watch it, but the fact that the it was a close game until the starters went out makes me fear for how poor the depth is on this team. It seems to be the worst in the secondary and the LB corps. Everything else seems to have reasonable depth, but those two are paper thin.
I was pretty happy with the game
Especially from the starters. Randy Phillips was impressive. So was Best. Dizon’s injury was unfortunate but on the whole, I was happy with the game.
RIP Robyn Bailey 1961 - 2010. I love you mum.
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