Predicting The Detroit Lions Record For 2011
by Sean Yuille on Sep 7, 2011 10:01 AM EDT
in Detroit Lions Opinion
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With the start of the 2011 season just days away for the Detroit Lions, now is the time to make predictions for what will happen over the course of the next four months. In turn, Pride of Detroit's four writers shared their thoughts and made their predictions for how the Lions will fare in 2011. You can check them out after the jump, and make sure to vote in the poll and share your thoughts in the comments.
Sean Yuille: 10-6
Admittedly, I have been fooled by preseason hype and too much Kool-Aid drinking in the past. Most notably, the Lions had me fooled after going 7-9 in 2007 and having a perfect preseason in 2008. That looked like it could be the year where the franchise finally turned things around, but that was not the case at all. The Lions went 0-16 instead and set off a chain of events that actually helped put the franchise in the position it is in today.
After spending the last three years building up talent, Martin Mayhew has assembled a team that can compete for a playoff spot and potentially even a division title. I know it's tough to forget the past and skepticism is well understood, but this Lions team is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. Matthew Stafford, Jahvid Best, Calvin Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew are just some of the weapons on offense, and on defense you have Ndamukong Suh, Corey Williams, Cliff Avril, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Louis Delmas and some other talented players.
Between the talent, the coaching, another year in the system and a winning attitude that was established at the end of 2010, I see 2011 as the year things finally come together for the Lions. The schedule certainly isn't easy, but this team seems good enough to overcome it and win 10 games.
I think we will see the Lions' winning streak continue with three straight wins to open the 2011 season before Detroit falls on the road in Dallas. I have the Lions rebounding with back-to-back wins over the 49ers and Bears before losing to the Falcons. A road win against the Broncos sends the Lions into their bye week on a positive note, but the Bears come out and take one at Soldier Field to get the second half of the schedule started. The Lions rebound with wins over Carolina and Green Bay at home (yes, I think the Thanksgiving losing streak finally ends this year) before dropping a game at the Saints. They then finish the regular season with wins over the Vikings and Raiders and losses to the Chargers and Packers.
If this happens and the Lions go 10-6, I think they could sneak into the playoffs as a wild card team. The Packers are poised to win the NFC North, but I don't think a playoff berth is out of the question for the Lions if they can win 10 games.
simscity: 9-7
I'll be honest. In 2007, I was completely fooled into believing the Detroit Lions offense would be one of the best in the league. Jon Kitna was getting up there in age, but he had just come off a 4,200-yard season. His age didn't matter; we had Mike Martz and a slew of receivers. Before you knew it, we'd have the reincarnation of the "Greatest Show on Turf." Flash forward to four months later: The Lions are dragging their feet on the frozen tundra of Lambeau having just lost their seventh game in eight weeks. Though he finished with over 4000 yards, Kitna threw more interceptions than touchdowns.
I haven't come close to feeling that sort of optimism since then. The following three years were filled with record-setting seasons (not the good kind) and rule-changing losses. In the past five years alone, Lions fans have gone through a lifetime's worth of agony. A few years back, all of the frustration got to me. I vowed then that I would never get my hopes up nor believe that this team would finish above .500 until the year it actually happens.
This year, I go back on my word.
While the confidence I have in this offense is eerily similar to that of 2007, one undeniable difference assures me this is different. Say it with me: Sir Matthew Stafford. Stafford had an ominous rookie season, but when the Browns game happened, there wasn't a doubter left in the pride. His small sample of statistics from last year was phenomenal (91.3 QB rating, six TDs, one INT) and he absolutely killed it in the preseason. With an equally impressive supporting cast of weapons, I fully expect a top-six passing attack.
While questions still remain of the secondary, the defense will undoubtedly be improved. The question is "how improved?" Will the linebackers live up to the hype? Will Eric Wright rebound from an awful season in Cleveland? Will Louis Delmas finally have his breakout season? If even one of those answers turns out to be "yes," this team could be seriously dangerous.
Because there are too many questions on defense and because we're stuck in the best division in the NFC, I have to temper my expectations a bit. I think the Lions will go 9-7 this year, with a best-case scenario of 10-6 or 11-5 much more likely than a disappointing 6-10 or 7-9 finish. I hate to say they're a year away, but this time it feels like the truth.
latif: 11-5
I think predicting the Lions record in 2011 is really hard compared to past years. They have rolled through opponents -- even quality ones -- this preseason, which comes at the heels of a four-game winning streak to end the 2010 season. All indications point to the momentum continuing and the Lions winning at least ten games. However, a few things need to happen.
First and foremost, Matthew Stafford needs to stay healthy. I know I'm beating the dead horse here, but the preseason showed us the type of difference having Stafford on the field makes. Aside from that, Scott Linehan and Jim Schwartz need to figure out how to get the running game going. There is more than enough talent both in the offensive line and the backfield for the Lions to be successful running the ball, but they have yet to show that they can consistently pick up yardage when they need to.
On the defensive side of the ball, they just need to continue doing what they did in the preseason. My biggest concern going into the preseason was that a defense full of young players and former draft busts was going to take a step back after a promising 2010 campaign. I think guys like Lawrence Jackson, Chris Houston and Ndamukong Suh proved that 2010 wasn't just a one year wonder. We can count on these guys to perform for a long time to come in Honolulu blue.
All in all, I expect an 11-5 season from the Lions. They play eight games against teams under .500 and the other eight against teams above .500, two of them against the Bears. I think when it's all said and done, the Lions will make the playoffs more so because of their defense instead of their offense.
Mavyrk: 10-6
Originally I had us penned down for 9-7 with us losing the home opener, but the recent turbulence in Kansas City has me bumping up my prediction to 10-6. I see six wins prior to the bye and four wins after, with a 3-3 record in the division (including losses to each divisional opponent).
I find it doubtful that we'll edge into the playoffs, but I expect a strong showing. At a bare minimum expect five home victories and three road wins. Notable upsets I've got include us losing at Minnesota and Dallas and winning against Atlanta.
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Who's going to tell Suh he's wrong?
"To achieve victory, we must mass our forces at the hub of all power and movement, the enemies center of gravity." -Carl von Clausewitz
+304 lbs
I voted 16-0 for the same reason. I seriously don’t see any game on this schedule that the Lion’s can’t win. Execution always gets in the way…. It should will be a fun season anyway you predict the final record.
$.02
Game on!
I think they CAN win each game
Obviously they will NOT WIN ALL their games. They have to go into each game thinking they can win THAT game. And they need to take it one game at a time.
$.02
Game on!
I would
but I’m a Packers fan.
I’m saying 8-8 and that’s just a very conservative estimate because the Lions do have a pretty tough schedule ahead of them this year. I know they looked good in the preseason, and I know they’ve added some components that I think will help them greatly. At every opportunity, I’ve picked them to be my lead defense on fantasy teams behind speculation on my part that they’ll record quite a few sacks and I think Titus Young will be a great return guy.
But the Lions have six games in a tough division (maybe the toughest), and 4 non-division games against teams that are reasonable to assume are playoff contenders. If your Lions can stay healthy, I’d put that estimate at 10-6.
That said, best of luck with your team this year and I look forward to watching them play all year. Should be an exciting year for Lions fans.
"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi
Titus will hardly see the field on ST
because we have Stephan Logan is better (pro bowl).
8-8 is being conservative, but I can respect it.
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
I upped it......
How can I be saying on these threads that we have a top 5 O, and a top 10 D, and then predict 9 and 7? It just didn’t make sense. So 10 and 6 it is.
I just can’t go higher due to this team having to learn how to win, and win tough games on the roads, they just need a little experience as a winning team before hitting the elite.
.Does your momma have a Big Ass like your head?
Fantastic point
top 5 in both
All men are created equal. Its just that some men are more equal than others....
by CapitolLions on Sep 7, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
But the Chargers were the worst Special teams unit in 2010
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamst
STs does matter afterall! That’s why we have kept a couple of guys on this team (Logan, Ekejiuba, Wendling)
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways, cigar in one hand, favorite beverage in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming: "WOW - WHAT A RIDE"
totally agree
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
Right with you Delusional
except I was going to put 10-6, but decided to do 11-5 cause I believe we can beat the bears twice this year as well as the vikings
by hate2lovelions on Sep 7, 2011 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Thats where
I’m at. 11-5
Sweep the Bears
Sweep the Vikings
Split w/ the Packers
Losses to Atlanta, Dallas, New Orleans, & San Diego
I see the division coming down to the last game of the season against Green Bay, which I can see as a loss. Thanksgiving will be different this year and the losing streak in Minneapolis will end this year.
Fuck Dallas
http://twitter.com/#!/rumbulls
by CLF on Sep 7, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I see a lot of favorable predicitions on here
Maybe some homers? I’ve always been a huge Lions fan, but I think anything better than 10-6 is not possible. IMO. I hope those who voted 11-5, 12-4, etc are right though.
Not possible???
…….anythings possible my friend.
Put me down...Lions win at least 11 games next season! 1/6/11
by LonnieLion on Sep 7, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Possible?
I would love to see a Lions victory at Green Bay this year. I don’t think we have won at Lambeau for something like 20 years, which for a divisional rival is embarassing. Last year with a backup QB we came oh so close 28-26. I hope we can pull it out this year. I voted 10-6 but I think all six losses will be incredibly close – no blowouts like last year vs New England or Dallas.
by LionsfaninCT on Sep 7, 2011 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe some Homers?
Gees giggy, I hate to break this to you, but this is a Lions Fan site. I hope to hell that there are at least a few homers around here.
Colour me optimistic.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
Lions fan site, yes.
But some predictions seemed to be fueled by hype more than reality. I guess that happens all the time. I just feel there’s a little too much kool-aid being consumed by a few on the site. But that’s just my opinion. Everyone is entitled to theirs as well. Like I said, I hope those predicting 12-4 or better are correct. That means playoffs!
I voted 12 and 4.
No caveats needed.
Tough schedule? Who cares, the other teams should be worried about us.
Injuries? I like our depth, and nothing could be worse than last year, which a much weaker team ran off four wins in a row.
No running game? The lack of a running game never stopped the Colts, Packers, Saints, and Bears from getting into the playoffs last year. All it does is play to our strength, passing the ball.
I see this team finishing the year off very strong, again , as the new parts get used to working with each other and the best players rise to the top.
I am not sure that this will be enough to win the division though. I think the last game of the year at Green Bay will be very important and may likely decide the division champ.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
by NorthLeft12 on Sep 7, 2011 10:28 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I'm with ya Lefty, 12-4
I look at hard road games, for loses and I see N.O., Dallas,GB. What other big named teams do we actually play on the road? We have all other so called hard teams at home where we are going to go 8-0 this year. So even if we lose in Chicago, that’s still 12-4.
How many lumps you want Doc?
I looked at the schedule in groups.
ie. We will win three of the four games against the NFC South.
We will win three of the four game against the AFC West.
We will win at least four games against the NFC North.
We will win at least one game against SF and Dallas.
I am thinking that we will sneak one other win in against one of those groups. I think we will beat Dallas. They are not as good as people think they are.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
I don't think they are either.
A lot of hype for that team longer than the Lions have had it, and every single year they fall short of the expectations. Romo is good, and they do have talent, but that team finds ways to lose without the Ref’s help. When I look at Dallas, I see a clone of the Bears, talent at the skilled positions, but without a front line to give Romo time to do his thing, they are not going anywhere.
How many lumps you want Doc?
Character, that's what's missing from DAL
And CHI on O. Chi’s D is going to crumble one of these years due to age and I’m hoping this is the year. It has to happen, it always does and when it does they are going straight down.
.Does your momma have a Big Ass like your head?
latif, I thought we agreed not to use that phrase?
Why that phrase is pointless is that it can be applied to almost every other team.
The Packers without Rodgers? The Saints without Brees? The Chargers without Rivers? The Eagles without Vick? Need I go on?
The Steelers and Ravens and Jets might be the only teams that may be QB proof, as they depend on their defences and run games moreso than their passing attack. But you can forget about them advancing much in the playoffs without a very good QB.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
Only difference is
Rodgers, Brees and Rivers have all shown they can stay healthy for the entire season. Stafford hasn’t. So I think it’s a fair statement. I’d make the same statement for Vick and the Eagles.
lol
This was written up before “The Agreement”. I agree with your example and I would even go on to say that the Lions would be in much better shape with Shaun Hill than any of the above mentioned teams and their backups. The difference is that Matthew Stafford has to prove that he can stay on the field, which he hasn’t done…you can’t really deny that
House of Spears | My Detroit Lions/NFL Blog
11-5
been saying that since this time last year when I predicted 5-11 for last season. Took a lot of grief for those predictions. Am thinking now team may be even better, I don’t see a team on the schedule they can’t beat. We are a complete team.
Put me down...Lions win at least 11 games next season! 1/6/11
Wowza
I underestimated the optimism around here. I though my 9-7 prediction was on the high end. But here I sit as Mr. Negative Nancy. This is scaring me, guys.
Be my friend on twitter @DetroitOnLion, but please don't be my friend in real-life. You all scare me.
Without you, the article would paint the site in a bad light.
At least you have some realism. and 9-7 is optimistic. That is a 50% increase in wins.
for the record, not calling other predictions bad
Just surprised. I love the optimism. It’s much more fun to be optimistic, and although you may get burned in the long run, its better than the alternative. Its better than being the fan that predicts 5-11, and if he turns out to be righter than the rest of us he gloats about it. Nothing bothers me more than a fan who take pride in predicting their teams’ demise.
Be my friend on twitter @DetroitOnLion, but please don't be my friend in real-life. You all scare me.
I was a 9-7 guy
for most of the offseason, but seeing Stafford more…man, he just effected me. He’s soooo good – I’m sort of thinking my 10 win prediction is low balling him…we’ll see though. I’m kind of still expecting some injury impacts and growing pains (in the form of timely mistakes and penalties) – thus I feel fine with 10 Ws…
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
9-7
was what I was thinking right after the draft. And then free agency came into the picture and preseason and I just can’t see this team losing anymore than 5 games this year.
by hate2lovelions on Sep 7, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
ok, I'll bite
What’s your learned “opinion”? What will the record be?
Individuals should protect themselves. Governments can't protect individuals from themselves, it's just impossible, otherwise they become a tyranical state. -Ron Paul
I said 9-7
But it’s not guaranteed that’s what their record “will be.” It’s my prediction, my opinion. And it’s also my opinion that anything better than that is a bit optimistic. My “learned opinion” as you put it, is based off of being a part of POD for the past 3 years and watching as every single season, a majority of the people here predict 12-4 and playoffs. That obviously hasn’t happened in a while. As much as I hope 12-4 will happen, I’m just trying to be more realistic. Doubling your wins when you’re 2-14 is much easier than doubling your wins at 6-10. Again, I hope I’m wrong and you’re right.
We tripled our wins last year.
That means we should win 18 games this year. I am good with that.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
I'm still hovering "around" the 9-7 mark
I could see us going 8-8 or 10-6 very easily too, I happen to think we’re going to lean toward the top end of that spectrum though.
Hemmm
Voted 9-7. Middle of the road average vote for me. IF healthy, they could go 11-5.
IF not, they could go 7-9.
Expectations don't produce!
that's the thing
I agree if they stay healthy at the right positions they could go 11-5, but I don’t see them only winning 7 games even in a worst case scenario. 8 minimum IMO just because of the depth and consistency of coaching and scheme. Many of these guys know the system and the expectations that are of them. In some positions, the starters aren’t even remarkably different than their back ups (see the entire Dline, minus Suh, and the OLBs). If Carpenter, Willie Young, Keiland Wiliams, Stovall, Coleman, and Hilliard have to play as starters, I don’t see our production dropping off all that much…we won 4 in a row with mostly scrubs on D – and it was the D that kept us in it or made plays!
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
I think 9-7 would be a respectible expectation this year
with a Wild Card birth, If they do better, all the better for fans, but I don’t want to expect too much from the Lions. I wonder who had the huevos to say 0-16 lol
Fan of the Tigers ~ Red Wings ~ Lions - No Better Town to be a sports fan of!
Avid Gamer and Anime Junkie
are huevos eggs?
haha – cuz I always get “huevos al la Mexicana” and it’s an egg based dish…lol
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
yes but some use it as testicales too
Matthew Stafford, Quarterback: a man barely alive, Gentlemen we can rebuild him, We have the technology, We have the capability to make the worlds first bionic QB, Matthew Stafford will be that man, Better than he was before
Better, Stronger, Faster
Wow....
This article should be titled “What we hope the Detroit Lions Record for 2011 will be.”
Four writers and no one has them under 9-7??? Hard to believe. Then again, this is a fans website. Please never claim to be neutral and objective!
I voted 8-8, which would sadly be a good season for this team. I hope they make the playoffs, but a “news” site should not have four predictions all over .500 for a team that went 6-10 last year.
Wow yourself!
This is a fan site. Very often there is news. This item happens not to be. Sorry if you were disappointed. Show me any supposedly “real news” site that is neutral and objective, and I"ll eat your funky minuteman hat!
Expectations don't produce!
+1
I was trying to make a similar point earlier. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I’d expect the major contributors to the site to be a bit more realistic. Now watch, I’ll be eating my words at the end of the season when we win the division, but until then, I’ll continue to believe that even the authors of this site have succumbed to the hype.
the writers on this site should have a different prediction because my feeble mind wants to be pleasantly surprised
yours truly,
wraich88 and giggy09
P.S. Our guess at the Lions win total is better than yours… but we hope we’re wrong!!
by redwingxviii on Sep 7, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
The writers of this site should have a completely exaggerated prediction so as to please my kool-aid-craving mind
yours truly,
pretty much everyone
P.S. Let’s wait until the end of the season before we start talking about who’s right and who’s wrong.
you're the only one that's saying anyone is wrong
now you want to wait til the end of the season?
of course
maybe we’ll forget to ream him by then!?
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
i just like how serious these idiots take predictions
YOU SAID 11 WINS AND THEY GOT 9 WTFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!!!!!!
if we ream them enough, we’ll fix humanity one internet person at a time
Never said anyone was wrong
I just said in my opinion everyone’s being optimistic.
You say that like it is a bad thing.
I am a little tired of the gloom and doom bunch on the internets.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
So you were expecting folks on this site....
after the preseason we’ve had and just days before the regular season is officially underway to be pessimistic? Lol…. who’s the one not being realistic here?
Personally, I think this team has a 8-11 win floor/ceiling to it. But from what I’ve seen, I think there is no reason to take the low end of that… therefore, I think they will win 11 games this year. Optimistic? Of course. But with good reason. The Lions, with the 4 game win streak, roster upgrades, healthy QB and fantastic preseason, give me that optimism…. not some goofy “homerism” I might be suffering from. This is a good football team and they will win a lot of games this year.
Now you're just putting words in my mouth to help support your point
I never once said I was being pessimistic. Nor did I say anyone else predicting 9 or less wins was being pessimistic either. Just because I’m not predicting 13 wins this year doesn’t mean I’m pessimistic. Everyone makes it sound like I’m shooting down their hopes and dreams of playoffs this year. That’s not the case at all. All I’ve ever said is IMO they’ll win no more than 9, and in my opinion anything above that exceeds expectations. And AGAIN, I hope my prediction of 9 is too low, but I don’t believe it is.
Well, giggy......
the opposite of optimism is pessimism. When you tell everyone that you think they are being too optimistic or generous or homers or whatever, you will invoke a certain response. I gave my opinion after your initial response, so it’s not like you pissed me off personally or anything… nor do I have an agenda or anything.
My point is that I think people are of course optimistic at this time of year and most are doing what I am… taking the high over the low estimation of mental wins they have. I think that’s pretty natural… don’t you?
I absolutely agree it's natural
However, just because pessimism is the opposite of optimism doesn’t mean something is pessimistic just because it’s not optimistic. They’re both on opposite ends of the spectrum, which means there’s middle ground in between. While I think a prediction of 13 wins is optimistic, that doesn’t mean my prediction of 9 is pessimistic. In my opinion, it’s realistic. Anything below 8 wins wold be pessimistic. But again, it’s subjective. But I never said anyone was being pessimistic. I’m just as excited as the next person to see how this Lions team will perform this year.
A two win increase over 2010? That is a good season?
If you really are a Lions fan you would know what kind of injuries we went through and how often our lineup [especially in the back seven on defence] was changed.
Should have won more than six last year, will win more than eleven this one.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
I don't mind a 10-6 prediction.
BUT I think it is absurd to have four predictions average out to 10-6. I never said that this site claims to be neutral; I said please don’t claim to be in the future. Your analyses were well written and explained well, but I’d love to see more objectivity. I think that our running game will be the weak point of our team and will hinder us in certain games where we need it (e.g. final game @ Lambeau). Luckily, the road game vs Chicago is relatively early on, so that won’t be a run-only game.
9-7 seems like a very fair prediction, but 11-5 is nearly doubling the wins and seems excessive to me. My apologies if my comments seemed like attacks.
I'm curious as to what wasn't objective about the predictions, is more what I mean.
I’ve got us losing to the final game @ Lambeau in my prediction for 10-6. What other losses to do you see that add up to 8 losses?
Keep in mind, none of us knew what the others were predicting, the fact that they averaged out to 10-6 is pretty objective given that it’s four different opinions that were given separate of each other. No one’s saying we’re sweeping the division, no one’s claiming that we’re beating San Diego when they’re historically hot at the end of the season, etc. What really seems far fetched?
Are you just picking a bone with the person that predicted 11-5, or are you really attempting to challenge the credibility of this website as a source of news and opinion?
I am going to stop trying to clarify for my own sake.
Thanks for staying level-headed. I didn’t mean to attack your claim to objectivity.
I just happen to think that they are on average on the high side. That is my opinion, sorry to seem self-righteous; that is not my personality at all. I respect your opinions but was surprised to see the opinions of the four writers all averaging out to 10-6.
If I had an issue with the four of you as writers, I would not be reading POD. I love the site and won’t come off as such a dick in the future.
I'm not tryin' to attack you
And I don’t feel attacked either. I just find a claim of lacking objectivity to be a bit odd considering how easy it would be to be a prisoner of the moment and say yeah we’ll sweep MIN and CHI and we’ll beat the Chargers and we’ll do 12-4 and 5-1 in the division, etc.
Mav, you have a funny way of defending your "optimism".
By saying, in effect, “at least I did not go around the bend and predict 12 and 4.”
LOL
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
lol
Well, in order to do 12-4, there’s gotta be a lot of “will wins” and “should wins” with very little flexibility in the schedule. Predicting 10-6, I can see several games that could go either way and still wind up hitting around that 9-10 win mark.
Funny, I used that same method to move down from a 14 win prediction.
Personally, every game on their schedule is a should win or might win. Bar none.
But, as you well know, stuff happens and some games slip away. I will be awfully glad when the games start and we can talk about what happened, rather than what we think will happen.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
your comments sound dumb, not attacks
here is my impression of you
“your subjective guess should be more objective, even though your analysis was well written and explained well. furthermore, my guess is 2 wins less than yours, because your analysis, though well written and explained well, SUBJECTIVELY seems excessive to me. So what I’m saying is, your guess should be more subjectively in line with my guess, but more objective because you are an almighty writer on the vaunted SBN blogs. I’m sorry if I’m a whiny pussy”
by redwingxviii on Sep 7, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry you're right
i should be more mature and suggest that someone’s guess should be more similar to mine and pretend that these predictions somehow are linked to being credible or not.
It has nothing to do with similarity to my pick.
I don’t claim to be correct. These are guesses. The POD writers don’t claim to be correct. I understand that. It has to do with me thinking that they are on the high side. I am sorry it came off as an attack on their claim to objective.
yeah why would anyone get that idea?
Please never claim to be neutral and objective!
I’d love to see more objectivity.
I think it is absurd to have four predictions average out to 10-6
and for the record, my stupid guess is also lower than theirs. i think 9. But I like reading what everyone else thinks, because it’s fun. that’s all. it’s fun to guess and see what happens.
I said please ;)
And that is why I read as well. Sorry for seeming like such a dick. Hopefully you feel the same way.
i am not sorry
but i respect your guess of 8 or 9 or whatever it is.
have you paid any attention to even the national pundits???
many of them are predicting 9, 10 or even more wins…most are saying we’re a playoff contender…AND THAT’S NATIONAL who always give us a hard time!
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
Haha
I live in New England so almost all of my attention is paid to national pundits and even local analysts praising the Lions for their win over the Pats. I still read every Pride post, watch every Lions game, and follow MLive closely. Like I said, it isn’t a 10-6 prediction that bothers me. What bothers me is four predictions averaging out to 10-6.
HELLO! They are predictions.
By fans of the Lions. Not by a computer or by someone who is completely objective [as if such a person exists]. I respect other people’s opinions [more or less] based on their knowledge of the subject and by their ability to communicate their reasoning behind their opinion.
Your reasoning that the predictions as a group are not reasonable because they average out to a record better than you are on record as saying is very unlikely, does not make any sense. This is not a bell curve here. The four predictions by these four particular writers do not have to be evenly distributed.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
When's the last time national pundits got it right
Just because it’s national news doesn’t make it correct. All new outlets thought the Lions were poised for a breakout season after going 7-9 a few years back. and we all know how that season turned out. To say they’ll be good because the nation is saying so is naive.
nobody thought that because they went 1-7 and looked horrible doing so in the back half of 07
and the national pundits get some predictions right and some predictions wrong every year.
you and wraich seem to be the only people here that have a problem with other people’s guesses.
Anyone who predicted the 2008 Lions were bound for glory was insane.
You do remember that we lost seven of our last eight games in 2007. That win was over the KC Chiefs who were at the end of a nine game losing streak and had clearly thrown in the towel. And we barely beat them.
Not to mention we gave away our defensive MVP [Shaun Rogers] and let the coach go who actually knew how to run the offence that they built over the last couple of years.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
that's not what I was saying at all
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
Do the refs have a set schedule ?
I would like to know if the refs are set in stone for each game before I make my prediction. I know for a fact whenever Mike carry is reffering that game is a loss. lmao
my dad is in an NFL pick 'em
And always checks the refs.
There are some that really skew the odds. He says it matters a ton which team will cover the spread. (with some refs the home team almost always covers).
"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid"
-Albert Einstein
Whoa.....tin hat time
I got the tin hat award three months ago for merely suggesting NCAA refs are slightly bent….LOL.
"Common Sense, isn't" Solomon Short
by YpsilantiJeff on Sep 7, 2011 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Tin hat or not
My dad finished in the mid 100’s of like 50,000 or so.
Not bad.
He doesn’t think the refs are necessarily dirty, just that they have tendencies.
However, if you want to talk Lions with him, you’ll definitely get some “tin hat” theories. He has an ingrained theory that the refs are against the Lions. Not because of any conscious decision, but because they have lost so long, he believes the refs assume they are going to again and often call the game that way. (Don’t get him started on Chicago last year. lol)
"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid"
-Albert Einstein
Score more points...?
Then it doesn’t matter even if the referee trys to make a tackle. Or they could just bash him in the nuttz-sack and give him a ‘wet willie’… like they did in ‘longest yard’..either way… ref problem solved…
Just because...
you’ve had the kool aid doesn’t mean you have to chase it with Phillips milk of magnesia. Good lord Sean, losses at Dallas and San Diego? What has Dallas done to improve themselves? San Diego is still coached by Norv Turner, I’ll be shocked if they even make the playoffs. It takes more than talent to be a great football team. I can also see a win vs Atlanta and we’ll see how the Saints look vs. Green Bay. I look at the schedule and see 12-4.
I voted 10 - 6
However, I’d be pleased with 8 – 8 or 9 – 7. I’m trying to take it easy on the kool aid. We haven’t had 8 or more wins since 2000. Even though this team looks damn good, anything can happen on Sunday. Could we win more? Sure, we definately have the talent. I’d love to win more than 10 games but I think 10 wins is the top end of what our record will be. I do hope I’m wrong though.
Can someone say Mayhewed!? by rames on Jul 31, 2011
by BarryStillRules on Sep 7, 2011 11:42 AM EDT reply actions
I said 11-5.
I pretty much see the exact same thing that Sean does in his prediction, except I think that we can take San Diego. If we don’t take San Diego, I see us taking down the Cowboys instead.
I watch the Detroit Lions and I....
by Lions & Panthers Fan on Sep 7, 2011 11:49 AM EDT reply actions
Why isn't there an option for 19-0?
It's pronounced "en-DOM-ah-ken", but you can call me Kenny.
"The Detroit Disassembly Line" - Bring Your Hard Hat!!
by TheMiniBarAtTheStaffordArms on Sep 7, 2011 11:51 AM EDT reply actions
For the record
The Dan Patrick Show has a poll going “Which team with a losing record in 2010 has the best chance of making the playoffs this year?”
Lions – 29%
Texans – 25%
Rams – 18%
Cowboys – 17%
Vikings – 5%
Brown – 5%
Be my friend on twitter @DetroitOnLion, but please don't be my friend in real-life. You all scare me.
that's telling
seeing I’m almost assured the Texans will given the havoc in that division right now. I also think the Rams will get to 9 wins (they have a tough first half of the schedule but then play the NFC West…enough said)
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
I say the Rams in that poll.
Solely because the NFC West is horrible. I doubt it will be a 7-9 team making the playoffs again in that division, but at 8-8 or 9-7 they could very easily win their division.
8-8
I went 8-8 as I still think this team could struggle on the road. I see wins at home in every game except Atlanta and I think we can win one on the road at Minnesota and Denver but probably not both. I want to say 9-7 but I will not let me emotions get the best of me here.
Want to say we could also lose at home vs. GB.
by Aaron Lambert on Sep 7, 2011 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Or we could sweep them also.
If it wasn’t for a late game pick 6 the Pack would not have beat us last year with Hill at the Helm and Best out with 2 turf toes. And at home we held Rodgers TD’less for the first half.
How many lumps you want Doc?
That pick was early in the third quarter davis.
It put the Packers up 28 to 17.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
They didnt score again and without it we win 26-21.
It wasnt like they quit playing after that score, they would have run it up on us if they could. We shut them down in the 2nd half and if Noodles could have put together any kind of game at all, we would have swept them
"Common Sense, isn't" Solomon Short
by YpsilantiJeff on Sep 7, 2011 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
9-7 -to - 10 -6
Detroit is stacked enough that there shouldn’t be much question about few of their wins. Oakland Carolina, Chiefs, add 2 over Chicago, and they shouldn’t lose to a falling stock Vikings team either giving 2 more add in a split w the packers giving them no less than 8-8. I do believe this can be done w either Hill or Stanton. Not That these are give me wins but ones that should just be expected to be won.
But this is where it gets interesting Dallas, Denver, and Tampa Bay are swing games IMO, and Detroit should beat the Bucs. That’s how they get to 9, and most believe Atlanta, Saints, packers at least one time and then San Diego are for sure losses alrdy … Great won’t have to watch not like anything can happen on any given sunday . It could be a swing game or could be one of the higher caliber considered teams but very feasible to see a 10th or 11th win.
For anyone who hopes the Lions are a playoff team if green bay or Chicago are in the hunt w similar records ill say it again the lions will need the division otherwise better luck next year. The nfc is probably the most stacked conference w ifs and maybes and the only way to ensure ur not one this year will be win your division outright.
A coward dies a thousands Deaths a soldier dies once ....
by JaiGaiaAries on Sep 7, 2011 12:03 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Denver is still not good
IMO – Orton can put up yards but turns the ball over too much and there D is still a year away from being good IMO…
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
Denver D is getting better.
Elvis Dumervil is back from his torn pectoral muscle and adding Von Miller was huge. He had a great preseason.
yes
but they’re in a brand new system and they had a number of big holes last year to fill. I believe they’ll be better, but need some more time to gel and let their youth get the experience they need to be a good unit – a lot like ours last year…
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
Denver's D or their 1st unit
has not looked that good. And Von is having some normal rookie learning a different system woos.
Yooperlionfan is officially "the man"
the Lions D-Line: the Four Horsemen of the A-sack-alypse
Jim Schwart: Erasing the stink of Millen, one fist pump at a time.
P.C.P: It is not just for recreation anymore.
Thats why i said a swing game
Denver is very much in the Hunt in AFC west w/ the Chiefs and San Diego though San Diego should take it. Oakland looked decent last year but I dont think they did enough to get over hump and regress w/ the Chiefs. I could see the Lions taking 3 of 4 from their AFC West vs matches this year dont get me wrong its too weak a division not to believe, which would also help offset a division loss to Chicago or Vikings because Detroit will win against the Pack once. Again theres at least 6 of those 8-10 wins either way (hate saying this ) but if the Lions stay Healthy and bring it every week w/ the intensity of the preseason game against the Patriots I cant see them losing more than 5 or 6 games and even surprising on some and letting down on the others reaching it.
A coward dies a thousands Deaths a soldier dies once ....
9-7
It’s my worst case scenario for this team. I see them doing better than 9-7. I find this team to not only dangerous on paper, but just think about the mindsets these guys have. I can’t remember the exact number so I’ll ball park it, but to have 12 guys from the original 0-16 disaster still on the roster means something to me. Out of everyone, those are the guys that know what it’s like to go into games without talent, without the motivation to win, without the faith or belief that they could actually play the game competitively. This team isn’t the same team that could only give you a quarter of mediocre play (maybe two), this team has been purged of that stink that held it down for years. If there ever was a year that the Lions would emerge as one of the breakout teams if not THE team, it would have to be this year. They want to win, they believe in their ability to do so, and why would I sell them any shorter? The mindset alone, especially with people bad-mouthing Stafford’s “injury proneness” every time he takes a snap, is enough for me to believe that WE are the team to beat, not the other way around. I can only see them getting stronger and better as the season progresses, but the Lions are going to kick some ass this year. Anything less than 9-7, even with injuries, is just bullshit to me.
ummm,
Kitna played what 3 games in 2008??? He had that back and was IR’d remember…then Furrey went down at one point and McDonald…etc.
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
ummmm
I was talking about 2007, so not sure what you’re trying to say here.
Be my friend on twitter @DetroitOnLion, but please don't be my friend in real-life. You all scare me.
re: Kitna
Detroit FO: Jon we’re putting you on the IR
Kitna: I’m fine.
Detroit FO: No your back is really messed up.
Kitna: I’m fine.
Detroit FO: We’re putting you on the IR.
"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid"
-Albert Einstein
by UndaDawg on Sep 7, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
that's totally how I imagined it
haha
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
10-6
see it play out pretty much the way Sean laid it out…
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
I have a weird feeling that we will go 10-6 and not go to the playoffs
All men are created equal. Its just that some men are more equal than others....
I could live with a 10-6 record and not go to the playoffs.
But I can’t see a different team going in to the playoffs with a same record. I look to the West and see 1 playoff team and that is the division winner. The South should have 2 teams, N.O. and the Falcons/Bucks. The East is going to get 1 team either Dallas or Philly and I’m leaning hard on Philly. The North is going to have 2 teams make the playoffs, I’m not saying that it will be GB and Detroit, because injury’s could change everything. Rodgers go down with a series of concussions and they are done, chicago is in that same boat and so is our Lions. With all 3 of our North teams having such suspect O-lines and Dallas/Philly/TB are in that same boat, anyone of these teams could make a huge jump. The difference makers are going to be how good the defense’s on all these teams do, and again I look at the North as having 3 teams with D’s that can carry them to the playoffs.
How many lumps you want Doc?
I voted 11-5, but
I should’ve voted 16-0.
ALL IN
here's a good link for anyone that wants too complain about predictions
http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2010/9/1/1663131/sis-peter-king-says-4-12-and-4th
so many people in here predicted somewhere around 6, which uh, made sense to me at the time.
sometimes the wisdom of crowds works.
10-6
Here’s my reasoning for a 4 win improvement
- Our Pythagorean win/loss was actually 7.8 wins for last year. This is based on schedule strenghth and point differentials per game. It’s basically saying we played at the level of an 8 win team last year.
- We return everyone we wanted to keep from our 2 deep both offensively and defensively besides maybe Turk McBride.
- Added the following players; Titus Young, Nick Fairley, Stephen Tulloch, Justin Durant, and Eric Wright plus depth/special teams in Erik Coleman, Stovall and Davis
- 3rd year under Scwartz, Linnehan, and Gunther
- Depth; Remember the guys off the street who were playing during our last 4 games? That won’t happen this year. No joke, our 2nd string defense is better than 2008’s 1st string defense.
- And of course having an improved Mathew Stafford (potential top 10 QB) hopefully playing more than 15% of our snaps this year.
A squared plus B squared equals C squared?
Can you explain a little more how the Pythagorean win/loss works?
"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid"
-Albert Einstein
It isn't that pythagorean theorem.
A = points scored
B = points allowed
C = some exponent. “Experts” say that the most accurate exponent for the NFL over the past decade is roughly 2.5, and that it’s roughly 1.8 on the baseball side of the fence.
win percentage = A^C / (A^C + B^C)
Using this pythagorean expectation, we can take, say, the Pittsburgh Steelers from last year and see their 375 points for and 232 points against, and we get a winning percentage of 0.768, which translates into 12.288 wins — they had a 12-4 record last year.
Okay... so are you like, making this shit up?
Cuz if you are… it sounds damn good… lol. I was just looking at Stones1981 comment and thinking he was smoking crack or something, but then you come out with this algebraic formula applied to football and now I am not sure……..
Haha.
You can even take it to the 16-0 New England Patriots, who had 589 points for and 274 points against, and you get a 0.871 winning percentage, which translates into 14 wins. Naturally, it’s impossible to make it predict “perfect” seasons (winless or lossless) unless a team allows 0 points for the entire year, but that team has one of the highest pythagorean expectations in history.
It's pretty accurate, TBH.
Carolina’s points for = 196, Carolina’s points against = 408. Run it through the algebra, and you get a winning percentage of 0.137 — match that up against a 16 game season and it shows 2 wins (they went 2-14.)
So....
If the Lions can put up about 450 (which I think they are capable of)… and they can hold other teams to around 250(ish)….. that would translate to .643 win percentage or around 10 wins for the year.
Hell yeah…. I’ll buy that!
I'd put us
Closer to around 405 PF (good for around 8th in the league), and around 325 PA (which is outside top 10 but top half of the league), which lands us at 0.634 (which is also 10 wins.)
450 PF/250 PA would put us around top three in the league on both sides of the ball, which I think is a little too high as far as expectations go. Coincidentally, unsure how you did the math, but that’s a 0.813 win percentage (13-3.) I mean, I’m not saying it’s not possible, but it seems unlikely.
Wow. Thanks Mav
Appreciate the rundown. I hadn’t heard of it either. Very interesting…
"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid"
-Albert Einstein
Drew, I like your math better.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
But I agree that my numbers were too high.
I didn’t check the league highs/lows, just thinking from memory what I thought a top 5 offense and top 10 defense would look like……
My formula has it 16x to the 9th power
x = games played.
Yooperlionfan is officially "the man"
the Lions D-Line: the Four Horsemen of the A-sack-alypse
Jim Schwart: Erasing the stink of Millen, one fist pump at a time.
P.C.P: It is not just for recreation anymore.
In that case
If Stafford plays 16 games, we’re a lock for about ten trillion wins this year. I like the sound of that.
by Mavyrk on Sep 7, 2011 9:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
lol... I like that way you think.
Yooperlionfan is officially "the man"
the Lions D-Line: the Four Horsemen of the A-sack-alypse
Jim Schwart: Erasing the stink of Millen, one fist pump at a time.
P.C.P: It is not just for recreation anymore.
7-9
I base this fully on the large band wagon that the media has given the Lions. See 2010 cowboys or 2008 Lions.
don't think the bandwagon was nearly as large in 2008
many pointed to the 1-7 ending as cause for alarm…
and you could play that game every year and come out either way on those that are right and those are not…
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
9-7
I did a confidence poll for each game and added it up. this is actually not the right way to apply math at all, but i’m using it anyway.
Here’s what I used:
@TB 40%; KC 65%; @MIN 65%, @DAL 40%; CHI 70%; SF 70%; ATL 40%; @DEN 70%; @CHI 60%; CAR 75%; GB 45%; @NO 35%; MIN 70%; @OAK 65%; SD 50%; @GB 35%
so the easiest games I think are CAR, CHI, SF, @DEN, and MIN. (5-0)
the toughest games are @NO, @GB, @TB and @DAL and ATL. (0-5)
The middle 6 are: GB, SD, @CHI, KC, @Min and @Oak. (4-2)
Home record: 5-3
Away Record: 4-4
v NFC North: 4-2
v NFC South: 1-3
v AFC West: 3-1
v SF/DAL: 1-1
Self Criticisms: I probably think TB is better than they are. I probably think CHI is worse than they are but I hate CHI.
I'm looking forward to this season
more than any other in years perhaps decades. I never could get overly optimistic about the teams of the Barry Sanders era even though Barry was always a thrill to watch probably because I had so little faith in Scott Mitchell and not much more in the organization.
I expect to see improvement this year but how much I really can’t or wont predict. I also expect to be excited about next year’s prospects this time next year and based on our history that to some can be looked on as a bold prediction.
Ah but I was so much older then and younger than right now
11-4-1
There’s going to be a tie. You heard it here first.
Hey that's a timeout, I can play right? yeah, get me--get the F-- Help me up...I can throw the ball if you need me to throw the ball...
forgot the pundit on nfl.com
but he also predicted a tie
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
I voted 11-5
Since our team has gelled quite a bit .. same OC/DC and system .. better talent .. Staff’s health concerns me less .. I am more concerned that we don’t have our rookie RB ..
9-7
We’re close. But not quite there yet, gentlemen.
"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid"
-Albert Einstein
Why not?
The only glaring need is better play from our secondary. We have talent on ever single facet of our game to make the playoffs, to go 12-4, ect…
"I'm glad they made Flintstone's vitamins because I used to watch The Flintstones and go, "Man I bet you if I ate that dude, I would be healthy."
"I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too."
I also review movies: Read Here
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Hello everyone and fuck Mark Sanchez count: 18
There are a few reasons.
First off, our LB corps still hasn’t proven much to me. On paper “Erryttinns Airee” but I really don’t think Tulloch and Durant have settled in quite yet. This will happen by the end of the season, I’m sure, but for now…
Next is our o-line. I don’t hate our pass protection, but we have yet to show a consistent short yardage run game. That is gonna be a problem when we need to hang on to a lead in the 4th quarter against a high octane offense like GB, ATL or NO.
Also, Stafford.
He hasn’t played a full season yet. The NFL season is long. I’m concerned about his season endurance. Fatigue leads to bad decisions, and bad throws. (I’m not talking injuries here BTW, I think Stafford plays all 16. But I think that game at Lambeau on Jan 1st will be a tough one for him) Besides that concern, (which I admit could be totally moot), I just don’t think Stafford can be as good as he’s been forever. I mean let’s be honest, my man was a superhero during preseason. He’s gonna have bad days. Everybody does.
Which brings up my next point. Sometimes the Lions are simply gonna play bad games. It happens every year when we lose one we shouldn’t have. [insert “old Lions” joke here]
And don’t forget injuries. I’ve watched too much NFL football to think there won’t be any significant injuries on the team the entire year. We have decent depth at most positions, but injuries hurt any team. (unless you’re the 2010 Packers. And even the 2010 packers didn’t do amazing during the regular season)
I think if the stars align we could go 19-0. I really do. We have the talent, and if Schwartzy, Linny, and Gun can do a good job of minimizing our weaknesses while keeping the other teams guessing, the lions really could do it this year. However, there are quite a few teams who I feel that same way about. ATL, NO, NE, to name a few. Hell, even the Eagles are looking like they might have a case. (I’m not a huge believer in that much star power to be honest- too many cooks in the kitchen, but after that offseason, they can’t be ignored) And I can count on no hands the number of teams that have gone 19-0 in history. A more realistic high ball prediction would be 11-5. I could definitely see that. In fact, that’s where I started, but the considerations I mentioned knocked it down to 9-7. As my reasons are admittedly “eyeball test” type reasons I could just as easily see 11-5, but I think it will be 9-7.
"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid"
-Albert Einstein
I have a similar take
I don’t think Stafford can be pin-point perfect in all games or anything. Plainly, he’s not going to be. We’ll have to rely on our defense to make plays in those games/stretches of games.
I’m very interested in seeing if Keiland goes a long way at helping us grind out 3 and 4 yards down the stretches of games (trying to hold on to leads). He’s the 1st back since Kevin Jones to break tackles…I doubt he has a ton of upside, but a lot of people seem to be sleeping on him. Once he gets into a rhythm with the Oline, I could see him being close to 4 YPC – which would be HUGE for us IMO.
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
I said 9-7
I just thinking making that leap from a .500 team to an elite, double-digit win team is so much harder than going from 6-10 to .500. Guys are gonna have off days, they’re gonna have little injuries nagging them, they might miss a play they wouldn’t normally have missed. I can’t predict any of the games that they absolutely cannot win, but the Lions have one of the toughest schedules in the league, and the officials in the NFL don’t exactly have a track record of helping us out. 9-7 seems about right to me.
I'm a 7 WAR player in bed.
I can dig that
about the strength of schedule, I’m just not so sure it rings true. The Bears seem off – I don’t see them as a very difficult matchup given our strengths and their weaknesses.
I also see T.B and K.C as having inflated records from last year. Oakland shouldn’t be as good as well…
Still a hard schedule, but I don’t think it’s as hard as last year’s records would indicate…
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
I'd rather
People keep thinking all those teams are as tough as they’re billed up to be. That way if we get a winning record it won’t be blamed on ease of schedule.
There are a few teams we should definitely beat
but there are some other teams I’m iffy on.
I'm a 7 WAR player in bed.
Schwartz is good for at least 2 wins
This is the year that Schwartz wins coach of the year. He is brilliant, learns from his mistakes and knows how to prepare his guys each week.
13-3
I say 10-6. And that is what its gonna be.
Yooperlionfan is officially "the man"
the Lions D-Line: the Four Horsemen of the A-sack-alypse
Jim Schwart: Erasing the stink of Millen, one fist pump at a time.
P.C.P: It is not just for recreation anymore.
you can do it!
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
99% of 2000+ responses have the Lions .500 or above
Even though we haven’t had a winning season in over 10 years.
Wow.
by WestsideLionsFan on Sep 7, 2011 8:43 PM EDT reply actions
Mike and Mike
Picked Shwartz as thier pick for coach of the year. I generally find those guys a bit annoying but it was still nice to hear.
Is this what you wanted?
Is this what you had in mind?
Is this what you wanted?
'Cause this is what you're getting.
I love Mike and Mike.
Golic kind of stuck in my craw with his 7-9 and fourth place prediction but eh, what can ya do.
by Mavyrk on Sep 8, 2011 12:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
In all honesty
As long as we CRUSH chicago twice this year I’ll consider it a winning season.
Is this what you wanted?
Is this what you had in mind?
Is this what you wanted?
'Cause this is what you're getting.
AMEn!
Win both games in a rout.. Make Cutler have to leave the Monday night game because of his bent facemask and unsightly PEE stains on his uniform..Maybe leg whip Mike Martz on the sideline a few times…. okay maybe four times. Or possibly if Stafford running out of the pocket has to throw one away and does his best Elway impersonation and rifle a dart square into his chubby mid-section…all accidentally of course…..Im a happy camper…
11-5. fact.
It’s true cause I said fact at the end.
"I'm glad they made Flintstone's vitamins because I used to watch The Flintstones and go, "Man I bet you if I ate that dude, I would be healthy."
"I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too."
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Hello everyone and fuck Mark Sanchez count: 18
13-3. It's an historical fact.
1979 – San Fran 49ers : 2-14. Montana’s first year.
1980- San Fran 49ers: 6-10
1981- San Fran 49ers: 13-3 Superbowls champs.
We are the team of the decade in the making.
by ncbur10 on Sep 7, 2011 11:56 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
You can't argue with history!
Recked you for that research.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
A tentative 10-6
I think we have the talent to win games, and although our schedule is on the tough side, we are definitely not pushovers anymore. Aside from Stafford, a lot will rest on our defence. That D-Line needs to perform to expectations.
The Lions
are going to win every pre, regular, and post season game for the next ten years and be the TEN TIME, TEN TIME, TEN TIME…NFL Super Bowl Champions.
okay
I get the occasional crazy kool-aid talk. It’s cute. But it can’t be EVERY post you make…
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
Sorry Guys
Not meaning to be a buzz-kill but this team has to learn how to win consistent. Not shoot itself in the foot with dumb penaltys after a great play. And come together as a team, culture a winning additude and form an identitiy. They are the feel good story of the year in the NFL or so it seems. But talk of playoffs and SuperBowls are way way premature. They are still a solid secondary, revamped O line and fullback away. The last thing I wanna see is them pulling off what the Cardinals did a few years back when they snuck into the BigGame then get de-panst in front of the whole world. Will they be tough to play against? Hell yes! Any team foolish enough to come in here thinking it’s gonna be like years past and an auto-win or a bye week is going to be rudely awakened and get beat. To me they are in the same stage as the Jets were a few years back. Learning to win. 8-8 at best 9-7
I really shouldn't do this but.............
How does going 8 and 8 teach you how to win consistently? That seems to me to be very inconsistent.
So we won’t learn how to win until we win a lot of games?
Can we learn how to win by losing a lot of games?
Oh, and by the time we get that revamped O Line, rebuilt secondary, and Fullback [we don’t have one you know] we will have lost KVB, Corey, maybe Calvin, Nate, Hanson, Muhlbach, Logan, and maybe a few others.
This team has enough talent to win now. Whether they do or not depends on coaching, planning, motivation, temawork, and luck. Why not now?
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
well
I think he’s saying that the 4 games late last year were not enough experience for this team in learning how to win and that those same issues we saw last year that haunted us (penalties, timely mistakes etc.) will still be there for most of 2011. Thus we’d lose a few games we should have won (ie Chicago, GB, Jets of last year…) .
It’s a fair criticism. Something that can only be proven by more wins. I guess we’ll find out in a few weeks eh?!
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
Yea Sheesh who needs progression?.
.. where’s that kool aid n cornbread I need a bigger dose… So unrealistic of me..what was I thinking???? Now looking at it from your perspective… this is a 16-0 team if i ever saw one. Maybe if we all just ‘BELIVE’..we fans can start flapping our arms at games like that ‘Angels in the outfield’ movie when guys like Drew Breeze start shredding our secondary or our run game gets stuffed by other team’s defenses because their so predictable and by doing this the angels will come.. and our secondary and O line will will majically not suck anymore and the Lions will >>>POOOF<<< go from 6-10 team to winning the Super Bowl 125 to nothing…..
Uh.
You said they have to learn to win and until they do so they’re at best a 9-7 team. When we disagree with you, now we’re kool-aid drinking maniacs who are predicting a 19-0 season with the first shutout in Super Bowl history.
There is a gray area you’re missing here.
No you are right max, no NFL team can win unless it has Pro Bowl players at every position.
The Steelers and Packers have awesome O Lines, that`s the key to their great success.
Hold it, their O Lines are actually worse than Detroit`s and are probably two of the bottom twelve in the NFL. well, strike that theory.
"Filling a need doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a good player," said Schwartz. "It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that best fits; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting a player that’s better than what you have already."
DIDnt say PRO BOWLER @ EVERY Position.. YOU DID!
I said SOLID.. to say going from 6-10 to10-6.or more this year, or talk about the playoffs and the Super Bowl with out any progression or gaining the experience of how to win consistently . WREAKS of cornbread and cherry Kool aid. You belive what you want but I 100% belive with the way they are building this team, In time and with experience all of those things will come, but not yet.
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