I think it's safe to say...

I despise Stephen Peterman and I have always said he should be replace (not usually in such kind words). I think Dom is past his prime by a few years and Backus is certainly on the decline. I think Sims is a solid player. And I feel like Hilliard and Fox have decent potential. I think we will see an overhaul of the O-Line next year.

We need some young, talented blood to rebuild it.

we have to address this in the draft i think we could move gosder inside to RG he is a better run blocker than pass blocker from what ive seen and we can move fox to RT i just dont think he is the answer at LT hopefully we can get mike brewster in the first and move up to get nate potter from bosie in the 2nd what do you guys think

It’s funny about the Schwartz comments about Raiola, but he praises his guys to try to get more out of them, even if they suck. If Raiola is the best he’s seen, we need to get him to the eye doctor. He’s been in the league forever, and never in the same sentence with the word “Pro-Bowl.” The only thing he’s ever won is Lions’ Good Guy Award. He calls good plays, it’s said… evidenced by WHAT I say. Make him a line coach; just get him outta there, along with Peterman, and see if Backus is any better at RT. Sims is the only good one.

I think Hillliard would do better at LT right now, and I can go along with trying Gos at RG. I believe Backus and Raiola being starters today has more to do with the bloated salaries they are paid, rather them being the best on the team.

Who knows anything about Fox… he’s always mysteriously injured. I don’t believe he’s played a snap in 2 years. He’s a mammoth player, but a wasted one.

Hopefully, Stafford survives the season, but I can’t see how he will, as no one has reason to respect the Lions running game, and everybody is going to be teeing off. Yeah, I believe our top picks should be devoted to building an OL

I credit opposing defenses, and place blame more on the OC and OLine schemes than the players themselves.

Did you watch the Bears/Vikings game?

Do the Lions even have any TEs?

How about the decision to release the one and only FB?

Bottomline is… if you’re QB is getting pummeled every time the offense had 11 personel on the field (1rb and 1TE)…. if you don’t adjust, then WTF do expect when protection doesn’t get better????

As far as I can see, the Lions have 3 damn good TE’s and JJ joe bobby Sue is starting to look good also… why would you not run the same plays with 12 and 13 personnel? (1 rb, 2 or 3 te)???

Sometimes you have to change up the look and the protection schemes…. something that stayed constant on Sunday.

LeShoure flourished behind arguably the worst offensive line in the FBS at Illinois. Now? Now, I wish they had drafted Penn State center Stephen Wisniewski, the only true plug-and-play center in the draft.

Wisniewski was drafted 58th by the Raiders.

That I would be excited about next years draft, and all I really want are O-linemen. If we can get 2 linemen in our top 3-4 picks I will be happier then a fly on a pile of shit.

Agree with CLF. Watching that Bears game when they finally decided to get some protection for Cutler was shocking. They had like 8 people back to block and 2-3 recievers but it gave Cutler time to make the right throws. I’m sure we all believe that Stafford can be a better QB than Cutler. So lets change up our protections and give him some security back there.

Another shocking thing from that Bears-Vikings game was Christian Ponder. That kid looked pretty good back there under the circumstances. Hell he has better pocket awareness then Stafford.

I’ve been all for getting new o-line personal since last season, but knew short offseason would cause a problem with that and it did. So I was hoping the new coaching staff would be the difference with this group and to be honest, they have shown signs of brilliance at times and with a 5-0 start to the season it is kinda hard to be upset but last week they were exposed. Still not to upset because they can bounce back this week and all will be forgiven in the Lion nation. Just hoping they can get us through this season without letting Stafford get hurt and deep into playoffs, who knows maybe a superbowl! I believe Mayhew and Swartzs will address the issue after that.

I agree we need to improver our line, we need a new tackle, RG, and center. Bsckus can switch to RT and maybe Gos to RG. However there are many good teams over ther pass few years that have had O line issues. Last years the Bears, Packers, and steelers had problems. The key for this year is to scheme adjust until we can make roster changes

I really doubt we will see any personnel changes on the O Line, but we may see some different play calling and formations to improve the protection for Stafford.

In six games the Lions have given up eleven sacks; ten of them in two games. So in four games they have given up one sack. The Lions have played some excellent pass rushing teams; Vikings and Niners are tied for third in sacks and Cowboys are eighth in one less game. Even the Bears are 13th, tied with us. I am not making excuses, just stating facts.

Regarding upgrading of the line in the future, we need to see some development from Fox and Culbreath. They were drafted for development and in 2012 I hope we will get to see something from each of them. I know Culbreath is on the IR and cannot practice at all this year, but we need to develop from within, not hoping for an FA or a new draft pick to improve this line.

I know you’ve had problems with the line and Peterman for sure; but I don’t think they done anything outside of the Vikings game to warrant being called a “joke”. I mean, we check the best DE in the game IMO in Peppers to such a slight impact, it was ridiculous.

And while they haven’t been great from week to week, Stafford is taking an average amount of hits (we know they’re doing pretty decent in the sack department). Last game was that bad IMO. San Fran has been playing very well on D and had a bunch of sacks. Stafford held on to the ball A TON, was indecisive, and made some bad decisions that lead to some of those hits and sacks.

While the line could be more consistent, it’s been decent in the passing game. It hasn’t been as bad in the run game as it was early last year, but it’s been close IMO. That’s where this thing needs to change. I think we’re all in for multiple upgrades on the line come the offseason, but that’s then, not now. The ESPN pundits know little, and while they were vaguely right – I’m not jumping ship wholesale on the line.

and we had many site their stats to show the line was in the upper half of the league.

I root for these guys and want them to do well, but also think that they don’t get much help in the scheme.

All of them the talking heads on ESPN the much more respected NFL network I think they had it right. Jamie Dukes, Marshall Faulk you name them all had a viable point that alot of Lions fans failed or refused to see. Our Offensive line is a joke!

But at the same time, those that love to kiss Mayhew’s ass about all of his greatness, likes to forget the fact that he’s ignored the Oline for two now injured fluff pieces and traded up for these two oft injured fluff pieces.

Serious strategic drafting mistake IMO

I think the potential is there for him to start on the O line. He has had injury issues and not really anytime from him to prove that he deserves to start. He is up in the air I really can’t judge him without him getting some playing time. I highly doubt Cultbreath will ever start you never know. Until he is healthy next year we will never have any idea what he can do.

Man, I can’t even recall if Fox played any snaps in preseason. Wasn’t he IR’d in 2010?

The only way you know he’s on the roster is because he’s a fixture on the injury report. It’s a shame… he’s so massive sizewise. I hope he has the heart and demeanor to play pro ball. Perhaps he’s just one of those players whom the Lions want to bring along slowly.

When they drafted Culbreath, he was projected to be a project-type player, but at least we saw what he could do in the preseason, which wasn’t embarassing. Culbreath suddenly ended up being IR’d, without any previous landing on the injury report, if I’m not mistaken. I’m confused about a lot of decisions made about this season’s OL makeup. Without Fox starting out on PUP for the first six weeks, you figured he was at least ready to practice.

With all the OL brought in, Peterman still being a starter is the biggest mystery to me. You can’t help from thinking that there has been a bit of a fear to make any changes, as under normal conditions, they have been adequate for now. I don’t know… maybe this is still normal, but this unit is not getting any better, and hopes that it will are dissipating with some fans.

what is different in the 2011 Lions from the 2010 Lions that had a running game in the last 6 weeks of the season?

   Last year the line was serviceable in pass protection but the run blocking was awful. Another year has gone by and the problems grow for our line. It is time to address this and stop acting like the line is underrated in everyone elses eyes. Draft some more linemen early next year and solidify the line or the problems are just gonna get worse.

Instead of getting up to the line and sitting there for the entire clock how about speeding up the pace. What good does it do to get to the line and let the D catch their breath? Might as well huddle and get the right play. And for all of you shooting down the non-existent run game, when we are in the shot-gun most of the game it makes it hard to run no matter who you are. I mean jeesh we are in the shot-gun almost half the game, and when we are not we are still in a single back formation, you can only run so many plays out of those formations.