A Dynasty from a Curse

by Matthew Malek on May 16, 2011 7:56 PM EDT

From the ashes of a 50 year curse will rise a dynasty to rival the best in NFL history.

Some here may find this a strange proclamation coming from the guy who desperately longs for an upgrade along an O-line that could stall our team in the 2011 season. But truth be told, bringing up the places where I know there is disagreement is a lot more fruitful and worthwhile than just blowing proverbial smoke up the ole pipes. However it seems like a proclamation of the great optimism I have is in order and today being the day that Stafford has been proclaimed 100% healthy and looking strong, just like Sam Bradford did at his pro day, makes the timing perfect.

The perfect storm has come together to give the Detroit Lions a chance to dominate the NFL for the next 10 years. While one more solid off season and draft will be needed to complete the process the train has left the station and is picking up steam. From the moment of Millen's firing pretty much eventhing, even the "bad" things that happened, have worked to our advantage. So many things haven fallen into order for us that it is just to much to ignore. Something is afoot. Whether Bobby Lane feels bad for Detroit's 50 years of sadness or God himself has pity on the city of Detroit I will leave up to you to decide. That all of this is just a coincidence seems like an impossibility.

What are the chances that Mayhew would end up in Detroit? Or that the Fords would have the courage to hire him when a total house cleaning was in order.
Why was Jim Schwartz passed over for so many other head coaching jobs before Detroit? I heard it had to do with him being cocky but I haven't seen that at all in any way that would be bad or turn off an owner. Why did he take the job in Detroit after and 0-16 season?
How lucky are we that Stafford was in our draft and not Bradford? I am going to argue th at Stafford's injuries are part of the "plan" being orchestrated from above.
Stafford was young coming into the league and could have stayed in college. In many ways this upcoming season is his 2nd NFL season. The advantage of being hurt is that he got to watch like an Aaron Rodgers if not for as long.
No Stafford injuries = No Suh, No Fairley, Possibly no Best and only one of the Titus/Leshoure combo
Even when I thought our perfect luck ran out by getting pushed to 13 not 6 in the draft of a loosing season the odds were defied and Fairley fell to us. FULL DISCLOSURE : I hated the Fairley pick at first. I was wrong.

There are many more points that could be added to this list but I think you get the picture. A dynasty is being built and we are getting some help from above. The back 7 should be solidified in the off season and the o-line in the next draft. If the O-line holds up in 2011 the Dynasty might start to show in 2011 with the first playoff berth in quite some time. The national media is noticing the bigger picture but the way this is all playing out is just remarkable.

About the only thing that could have worked out better was the Spievey pick last year. But somehow I have a feeling even the "mistakes" will work out somehow and someway. Everything seems to be fitting into the plan. Please tell me what things you have found remarkable about the last three years that have put us in the position you are in and if there is a mistake or two I am missing lets hear about it.

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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As much as I like them both

Passing on Mike Oher may have given us one of the best tight ends of the new generation. As Gonzalez and other retire no one has both the reciving skills and blocking skills that the Pettibeast carrys. A potential elite tight end was picked even though we desperetely needed any kind of offensive line help we could have gotten that year. I see something in Pettigrew that makes me belive he will be GREAT not just good.

Clear eyes, Full hearts, Can't lose.

PCP 4 LIFE

by The Profiler on May 16, 2011 8:07 PM EDT reply actions

i am with profiler

On this one. Grew is such a big deal. Just wait till the glass cannon is hitting his huge ass in the endzone.

I have a 9" personality

by Waitingfortheroar on May 16, 2011 8:32 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I'm a big Grew fan

To me, he’s a crucial part of this offence. We’ve seen the relationship him and Stafford have struck up already on the field. To me, that will only get stronger with time.

RIP Robyn Bailey 1961 - 2010. I love you mum.

by Hyperion Ecta on May 16, 2011 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Pettigrew

I love him. So glad we have him. Oher would have been great too. But Petts can be the best at his position.

Malek

by Matthew Malek on May 16, 2011 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think he'll be targeted quite as much next season

but I think he will be just as valuable as he continues to get more consistent blocking and sitting in vacated zones (which he’s already good at). Drops and penalties about his only area to really improve in, but he was already much better with drops by the second half of last season. Having a TE like him is really a must because of the versatility and options he gives when it matters the most (3rd downs and TDs)

""Dont get fairly, dont get fairly, dont get fairly PLEASE DON'T! PLEASE DETROIT! DONT get fairly.....................FUUUUUUUUUCK!!!" - T. Moore

by rames on May 16, 2011 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah Grew may not get the targets

he has been getting. But he will be crucial in the red zone. His red zone targets if anything will go up. He will be one of the 2 recievers over 6 foot ( if we let BJ go) which i hope we do.

by mochaj on May 16, 2011 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Unless we see the year 3 break out from D Will or Aaron Brown

I would have to say that they were both bad picks.

We could have had Brandon Tate or Mike Will or Johnny Knox instead of D Will at WR.
and we could have had Arian Foster at Rb.
Also kept Murtha off the practice squad.

Either way the good out ways the bad but had we went that route we could have saved some more picks this year to plug more holes. Don’t get me wrong I am excited about Leshoure and Young but we could have already been set at those positions. Just Saying!

OR used a pick on Blount

by Motown_Soldier on May 16, 2011 9:24 PM EDT reply actions

Late Picks....

don’t count unless you hit on them. So Aaron brown was a risk and we shall see what happens this year. Regardless no big deal.

D Will wasn’t a bad pick at the time. I wish we went Knox or Mike Wallace but at the time we wanted a guy who could return kicks and catch. Most of us thought it was a good pick. You can’t blame the coaches for D Will not performing.

We should have kept Murtha off the practice squad. Young GM and coach got a bit cockey. But maybe we wouldn’t have drafted Fox or Culbreth. They seem to have more potential than Murtha. But who knows.

Bount? Our coaches won’t take a guy like that.

Malek

by Matthew Malek on May 16, 2011 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

No one hits on all draft picks and it’s easy in hindsight to say we missed the one good player that came from that range…

""Dont get fairly, dont get fairly, dont get fairly PLEASE DON'T! PLEASE DETROIT! DONT get fairly.....................FUUUUUUUUUCK!!!" - T. Moore

by rames on May 16, 2011 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

Any team could have had Bount or Foster. How many GMs are kicking themselves for those passups.

by jeremy j on May 17, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

It is not always that simple though

Blount is a big back, that had a lot of character issues to scare clubs away. A lot of clubs steer clear of “big backs” because their track record is not very good. They tend to get beat up and have a much shorter career than smaller backs. So in a lot of ways he would not be a fit for a lot of clubs. Some clubs like the Lions tend to steer clear of certain personality types. Blount might have been a good fit on the Lions, come back in about 5-7 years and if he is still playing at a high level, and kept clear of assault charges I will agree that the gamble paid off for Tampa. If taking the gamble is the right choice to begin with is another debate though.

Foster was not as good when he was signed by the Texans. What really made him was his hard work for a year on the practice squad. He also is a zone blocking scheme runner. The talent set for those guys relies a lot more on athleticism than vision. That one cut and up type of runner. It has been proven by Shanahan for years that you can make a much less talented back a super star in that scheme. It is also why most NFL teams have went to that type of run scheme. Foster would suck on the Lions.

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

by Evilsmurf on May 17, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Plus who says either would have had the same numbers in Detroit?

P.C.P. supporter since March 2011

A Bears fan on Ndamukong Suh+Nick Fairley- "This sort of makes me want to kick myself in the groin. If he plays to his potential this line is going to be all kinds of nightmare for the Bears"

by Enforcer on May 17, 2011 12:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

exactly

Malek

by Matthew Malek on May 17, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

To be fair they both had 1 great year

Lets see if they can sustain that before we consider it a horrible move. That and if Blount gets in trouble again.

Clear eyes, Full hearts, Can't lose.

PCP 4 LIFE

by The Profiler on May 17, 2011 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions

i say move Dwill and Aaron Brown to corner back!!!!!!!!!!!!!

heck they have to speed.

by Shankdiddy on May 17, 2011 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Are you saying that God is a Lions fan or the Universe is? :P

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

by Evilsmurf on May 16, 2011 9:38 PM EDT reply actions

HA!!!

You tell me. I have my thoughts but I want to know what everyone else thinks. If Bobby was a Catholic I would say he changed his tune in heavan a few years back and God has been listening. LOL.

Malek

by Matthew Malek on May 16, 2011 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

You must admit....

Something sure is fishy?

Malek

by Matthew Malek on May 16, 2011 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions

IMO, the passing of the torch from Sr. to Jr. in ownership was the change.

No knock against Sr. but he is not the type of man that demands excellence, he is more the type to inspire it. Jr. is a similar cut, but IMO more of a shark if you know what I mean, lurking behind the scenes and willing to pounce if he smells blood in the water. He is hands off, but he does not share the loyalty to a fault gene that his father has.

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

by Evilsmurf on May 16, 2011 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Of course! God is a Lions' fan.

Now, the last 50 years makes sense!

Look at the jews. They had a pretty hard time of it. Now they rule Hollywood!

And just look what happened with his son. Pretty rough time for awhile, you know with the whole cross and all, but now he’s immortal! I mean, he’s STILL sellin’ t-shirts!

Hopefully our 40 years in the desert is over! Go Lions!

by UndaDawg on May 17, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Dude!

Probably one of the greatest reply’s that I have ever read. Awesome!

"WR Brandon "I'll stab you bitch" Marshall (who finally got stabbed himself for once) had 10 catches for 102 yards and no TDs". - KDAWG

by KevinZ418 on May 17, 2011 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Just Happy to be a part!

Something special is definitely in the making! Just a sidenote….I was in Iraq the last time the Tigers were in the Series, Afghanistan the last time the Wings hoisted the Cup….I’m going to Saudi for a year this fall…the Lions have 35-1 odds….dare I say…..? I’ll just get back to sippin’ the Kool-Aid….

by Roughneck 7 on May 16, 2011 10:06 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Take care of yourself and your boys over there. becareful

by mochaj on May 17, 2011 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Gotta echo the thoughts of mochaj

and add a big- THANK YOU for your service.

by Detroitfantc on May 17, 2011 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Ditto-

Thanks, Roughneck! And be careful.

by UndaDawg on May 17, 2011 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Honestly....

I thought about putting a G on 35-1. If they make it to the playoffs you basically can hedge an guarenteed a solid winning. So basically 35-1 is like 8-1 to get to the playoffs I think. I think those are good odds.

Malek

by Matthew Malek on May 17, 2011 1:28 AM EDT reply actions

Hey Roughneck 7

Thank you for your service to our country. As a former Airman myself, I appreciate all of our men and women in uniform and know the pride and commitment you put forth every day. God bless all of our service men and women!!!

by LionTarHeel on May 17, 2011 6:37 AM EDT reply actions

Appreciate the Support!

…This has been a cool posting, Malek. I was thinking along those same lines while the draft was taking place, thankful we weren’t in a dire QB situation (this year and last) and that our core is actually pretty solid. Stafford, despite the injury bug, has elite potential…let’s hope for a break out this year.
Going into the draft, I was right there with everyone else thinking picks 1 & 2 should be CB and LB to address our “needs”. I had the Lions picking CB/LB/RB/WR/OL, not necessarily in that order. Hind sight being 20/20…I’m sure glad it turned out differently. As it was, both Young and LeShoure were players I felt fit our system best but based on their position rankings, I didn’t see them falling to us because of our other needs. Another stroke of “luck”…and excellent discipline from the FO for sticking to their board.
I don’t expect much else to be falling into our laps…but maybe, just maybe… Bobby is finally smilin’ due to the fact Lions’ football of the ’50’s is back!!

by Roughneck 7 on May 17, 2011 7:56 AM EDT reply actions

Rough,

Thanks for the support and your service.
You are correct….getting both TItus and Leshoure, who both PERFECTLY fit our system was a stroke of luck and genius. I bet not even our coaching staff thought we could get both of them.

Malek

by Matthew Malek on May 17, 2011 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I share all of these feelings

However as much as I support the choices in this years draft I guess I’d like to see them play some pro ball before I get quite so excited until then it’s hope and frankly compared to past years, even when Barry was playing, hope was a sparse commodity.

Also time will tell whether or not we were lucky to get Matt rather than Bradford. If he can stay healthy I think Matt will become an excellent qb. I also think the same of Bradford.

Ah but I was so much older then and younger than right now

by Justan Oldfart on May 17, 2011 11:58 AM EDT reply actions

Bradford.....

May be better.. Who knows. But if we got Bradford we most certainly would NOT have Suh, Fairley, etc.

Malek

by Matthew Malek on May 17, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I like Spievey...

I hope he starts opposite Delmas next year. I thought he outperformed expectations for a rookie that was asked to learn a new position. I also like Bobby Carpenter. He played exceptionally well during his snaps at the end of the season. If we keep Houston, I think our back 7 is onlt 2 players away from being solid. 1 OLB and 1 CB.

by Alowicious on May 17, 2011 1:58 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed..

Which is why i think our Oline is the main concern moving forward.

Malek

by Matthew Malek on May 17, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree as well....

I think with the re-signing of Vasher and the signing of Coleman our immediate needs in the defensive backfield were shored up and with the exception of Peterson, the FO didn’t see any of the available CBs in the draft as an upgrade. With regards to our linebacking corp…we have three solid players in Levy, Carpenter and Palmer just no real depth. All of the above can be improved, of course, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens when FA opens up and trades can be made. I’m thinking we won’t be out to spend a butt load on aging players, but instead do some Mayhewing to add quality depth, pushing the potential of current starters.

by Roughneck 7 on May 17, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

I think he can be something.

RIP Robyn Bailey 1961 - 2010. I love you mum.

by Hyperion Ecta on May 18, 2011 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Malek, I agree that the O-line is a concern,

But it’s not a major one.

COP:"Do you know why I pulled you over Mr. Dunn ?" ME:" Was I speeding officer?" COP:"A lil bit, but I really wanted to see a SORRY ASS DETROIT LIONS FAN UP CLOSE!" He gave me a ticket for 50 in a 45 zone. So I ask him his team. COP: DA BEARS HAHAAHAHAA

by M10 LIONS FAN on May 17, 2011 7:34 PM EDT reply actions

Fair Enough

One a scale of one to 10. A 10 being the biggest concern possible and a 1 is WE ARE SET FOR A LONG LONG TIME I give the Oline a 7. The highest on the team.

If no corners are added and we loose houston it would be a 7

QB – 1
RB – 2
WR – 2
TE – 1
OL – 7
DT – 1
DE – 3
LB – 5 one FA will make a 3
CB – 5 one FA will make it a 3
S – 4

Malek

by Matthew Malek on May 17, 2011 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I have to disagree...

OL-5….based on age
LB&CB 3….both 2 with FA/Trades
S-2

by Roughneck 7 on May 17, 2011 9:49 PM EDT reply actions

POD Too excited.

You are just too excited for your home team. Not trying to be a jerk but there isnt a team in the league that doesn’t have a position group that isn’t above a 5 or so. You are basically saying we are bar far the best team in the league with your ratings. We have NO holes basically and only have an aging line that are all probowlers but might retire. You can be honest about your team and still be a fan. especially when the front office is so good.

Malek

by Matthew Malek on May 18, 2011 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Eh....

Yeah, you’re right on that. Was looking at the rankings you listed and modified based my thoughts. I won’t deny the the hometown bias, but I have to thank you for the reality check. The Lions have their issues, but I don’t think they are as glaring as a lot of folks think.

by Roughneck 7 on May 18, 2011 7:04 AM EDT reply actions

Thank you....

for not jumping on me for being a bit smarmy. I might be a bit pessimistic about the o-line. Though I don’t think I am too far off. I hope I am actually. If I am this season going forward is going to be sweet.

Malek

by Matthew Malek on May 18, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

No Probs, Brother...

We’re all Lions fans and are supposed to be pessimistic….but I’ve NEVER felt this optimistic for our team going into this season…and I’ve been watching Lions’ Football since the mid-70s. That said, I’ll take things with a grain of salt, but I’ve a good feeling we are witnessing something very special unfold.

by Roughneck 7 on May 19, 2011 7:59 AM EDT up reply actions

I would give them a 5-6 w/o bias because the FO

has a plan on how to build the O-line for the future. They have drafted players to develop and coach ‘em up to be ready. Also Mayhew uses the waiver wire and trades to bridge that gap. Hey , I’m not saying that I love our C personnel( a undersized one or a unproven one) but we have a lot DEPTH on the O-line now. It might not be the best talent wise though.

by M10 LIONS FAN on May 18, 2011 9:03 AM EDT reply actions