Despite lackluster effort in Minny, this team IS different

Let me tell you why.

Tuned into some talk radio "coverage" for a little bit on Monday and guess what, people are straight fed up with the Leos again and some are even starting to question Schwartz, who at least from what I've read and heard, has been relatively unscathed so far in his stint as HC... from the fans, the media, the non-muggles and the green squirrels.  Schwartz hasn't done enough yet for me to label him as a failure or a lame duck, but I can understand the utter frustration of where this team is at right now. 

Another 0-3 start.  More stupid penalties and more errors that players and coaches alike keep saying are correctable... yada yada yada.  The list is the same year after year.  This year was supposed to be something more enjoyable and more W's than we're used to would result. 

Well, the team is looking at an 0-4 start and believe me when I say this, I'm not surprised.

Buuut, what I am surprised about is how close I believe this team is to being at least mediocre again  (remember the warm and fuzzy days of 8-8/9-7).  Now, I'm not a huuuge football junky like many of you who frequent this fine blog, but I do watch the team on an almost weekly basis (illegally usually) and have noticed startling differences in this year's squad that weren't exactly present in year's past.

Firstly, no matter how good you believe Stafford is or will ever become, he's simply a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL.  Let me say that again, Stafford is a legitimate NFL quarterback, who happens to play for the Lions to boot.

Remember now, you don't need a worldbeater at QB to win a Superbowl (cough*Dilfer*cough), or shall we be more realistic, make the playoffs.  Now I know you're thinking, well, Mr. worldbeater checkdown master of the free world is our currently our QB, what to do now mister?  To that I don't have any other answer other than the Lion's have been very competitive in essentially 10 of the 12 quarters played so far this season.  With a very mediocre at best QB at the helm mind you.

So shall we move on to the other areas that I believe are in good standing?

Sure, they finally have some running back depth to speak of, not that in a perfect world they'd need it, because I'd be more than content with giving Jahvid 80%100% of the carries. But neverthless they have some options.  Morris is a solid backup in this league who can catch the ball and make some big plays.  Sure, you don't want to use him more than a half a dozen times a game but he's got obvious skills if given the opportunity.  As for Aaron Brown, I really like the guy and think he could be a very solid backup in the league, and he has spectacular speed.  He's just got to continue to learn the finer points of the game (picking up the blitz!), and stay out of injury trouble as well. 

Really,  there's nothing mindblowing about these backs (I mean I didn't even mention the almost healthy Kevin Smith, (who, let's be honest, is not a scrub either) but it's a big improvement from the backs the Lions have had to resort to in the past when injuries hit.  Aveion Cason, anyone? Brian Calhoun?  Arlen Harris?  Artose Pinner?  My head hurts?

Anyways.

On to the tight ends.  By the way, did you all see that Ines Sainz? Sorry, I'm a few weeks behind.

Got two above average tight ends in Pett and Scheffler, which also lends a little flexibility to the receiver position in that Scheffler is basically a wideout, so there's not a huge need to have five "wide receivers" on the roster if the team lacks depth or has more talent at another position.  Should I now go over all of the mediocre to just plain lame tight ends they've had over the years just to prove my point?  No?  Well, thanks. 

By the way does anybody miss Casey Fitzsimmons?

Yeah I forgot about him too.

Receiver wise we all know what they've got and there's no need to rehash it.  They have a top tier number one and a iffy number two to go along with a couple of fringe guys who come and go.  Like I said before, with a couple of very competent pass catching tight ends a team can get away with not having a real quality receiving corps.  But so far the Leos have found a way to make to not make it work.  Part of it is because of the QB, part of it is because of the running game or lack thereof, and a little bit has to do with underwhelming receiving play, and maybe sub-par offensive line duty.

As for the o-line, not gonna lie but I'm not real adept at knowing whether or not those dudes are playing sufficient enough or not.  All I know is Sims seems to be a keeper and that virtually the rest have been here for sometime and the losing continues as does the mediocre to bad play.   Never been impressed by Peterman or Raiola, but again, not really sure about how they compare against other o-lines.  As for Backus, well, there is the slogan "the Michigan difference", and sometimes I think that's the only reason he's still on the team.  But at least he's so durable, I mean, you play that many games you're bound to make blunders some of the time, right?  Ugh.

Defense

On defense is really where I think it could be a bit of a stretch when I say it's getting close to respectable.  Let's start with the good news first, the d-line.   It's apparent after three weeks this group is suhch an improved unit, and arguably the only unit that is even close to being pretty darn good.   KVB, where have you been all of our lives?  It's been great to watch those guys consistently pressure the QB and get some hits on them.   I'm still waiting for my Willie Young jersey to be shipped, I like that guy.  Yes I know, he has been on the inactive list so far but he'll get his shot soon.

Now here's where the stretching on my part comes into play.  Usually a good to very good d-line (safe to say Leo's is somewhere in between?) makes the linebackers and especially the secondary better, or at least gives the appearance that they're better than they really are? Am I sorta close on this? Say, Mrs. Doubtfire conceivably looks good compared to Khloe Kardashian on the left and Rachel Dratch on the right.

Though it's asking way too much for the Lions to put together a decent secondary for a change, or for them even to have a CB put together a gang buster season like Bryant Westbrook did back in 2000. Or even a spunky playmaker like Dre' Bly of some sort.  Why can't they land any of those guys?

I'm sorry but Delmas is pretty good, but lots of folks think he's much better than he is because of the band of mouth-breathers lining up next to him.  I think we know pretty much why the new guys acquired from FA were available.  They were either backup caliber and the Leos have to start them because the cupboard is bare, or they're just plain underachievers or slow learners and, guess what, the Lions have to start them.  Mr. Randy Phillips and Amari Spievey best be ready because sooner or later they'll be called on and I think both have legitimate potential.  Of course I'm forgetting an important thing here, all of these penalties and miscues these guys continually make, well, they're all correctable.  Still waiting on that...

Liinebackers have been hit with injuries as everyone knows, but there are no even near pro-bowler types on this unit.  DeAndre Levy had a respectable rookie campaign last season but it's tough to examine his progress considering his nagging injury that may slow him the entire season. 

Julian Peterson hasn't exactly been lighting things up either, and was benched in the fourth quarter of the Eagles game.  The rest of the guys are either very young or adequate at best backups, but when you have to play more than one 'adequate backup' at a time you're in trouble.

Fans

I don't think I'm being overly optimistic or slappy, or cornbread-y, by saying the Lions are not a bottom dweller team and with some injuries healing up and a dedication to smarter play, the Leos are a dangerous team not that far away from playing meaningful games in, say, November for a change.  Not necessarily saying they will 'correct' many of their mistakes and play any meaningful games THIS November, but a couple of victories would be more than enough to wet the appetite of the faithful but understandably impatient fans.

Aaaand, getting back to what much of the loyal Lion fan base feels right now about yet another season probably down the tubes... sure it stinks and it's frustrating.  Yup, Schwartz made some very questionably decisions and said some odd things just a few days ago.  It was bound to happen.  Frustration is normal and the fan base is thinking oh boy same old Lions.  But the Lions are really not the same.

I'm one of those loyal fans who keeps tuning in (or logging in) pretty much every week hoping I'll see something that gives me an idea if there's light at the end of the tunnel.  Maybe my eyesight is betraying me, but I think I'll know it when I see it, and I think I'm seeing something right now and am excited about what the Lions are going to do this year, despite the troubles they're having.  Maybe it's just that fast, pure running back they drafted, or the beast of a lineman they drafted, or the beast of a lineman they signed, or even one of the better receiving tight ends in football they signed. Can just four individuals really get me excited about the direction a team, with some other talented parts, is headed? It has and I don't think a less than favorable start to the season should dampen those thoughts.

I know it's foolish to put all of your eggs in one basket, and with the difference between the Leo's number one QB and the number two being huge it has happened, all the eggs are cracking, sort of I guess?  Very good NFL teams are, well, very good so they can overcome a QB going down, and while the Lions obviously aren't in that universe yet, they're playing good enough football where they shouldn't be winless.  There's more talent on this Lion's team than in the past and I think it's just a matter of a couple weeks where this team gets over the edge and shows us all a little something, and receives some luck powder or something from the luck fairy.  Everybody needs some luck, now let the Leos in on the stash.

Oh, guys (and gals), remember, this team in a perfect world, is 1-2 at the very worst.

Well a perfect world, where does one of those exist?  I want in on that share.  But I will promise you when the Lions turn it around, and then all the way around, the loyal fans will be forever glad and probably even a little nostalgic of the dark years (and years and years) of Lions football they endured.  Just think of this process as an unfortunate croaking of the the delayed gratification clock for several years, but now it's back and ticking, and you WILL be rewarded for sticking true to your team.  That'll be the day. Can't wait. Much longer.

Now if you'll excuse me I need to go find where I hid the rest of my cornbread, it's only September 28th!!!11!1!