Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Indy 500: 'Greatest Spectacle In Racing' Set For Sunday

Lions are on the rise

I think that with the benefit of a couple of weeks to get over the loss to the Saints, Lions fans can see how bright the future looks. Sure there are some cap issues to contend with, and some questions as to whether our defense can live up to its billing. But nothing that causes me to lose sleep at night.

Scan the FanPosts and things are generally positive. We have continuity in our coaching ranks, a GM who is in the running for executive of the year, and young and talented playmakers remaining under contract on both sides of the ball. You know things are pretty good when some people are talking about trading down in the draft. If the Lions can get consistent production from the running back position (and I believe they can), this offense will be unstoppable.

In the meantime, all is not rainbows and lollipops elsewhere in the NFC North. I have no illusion that the Packers will struggle in coming years. Even so, their fans on APC are wondering how they got so thoroughly outplayed on their home turf last weekend, and debating whether Jermichael Finley should be allowed to walk in free agency. The Vikings fans are so concerned about their offensive line that they can't even say whether Ponder is going to be good enough to risk passing up RGIII in the draft. And the Bears...where to begin...they have a whole pile of issues, whether it's ownership, front office hiring, love lost for Lovie, or Forte's contract. Here's a sample post headline from WCG:

The Effects Of a Mike Tice Departure-An Indictment of the Lovie Smith Era

And 204 comments down that post, the comment:


Wow.

Our threads reek of cynicism and despair. Bears fans are not in a happy place right now.


I don't delight in other fans suffering (with the possible exception of some Bears fans <cough> Dane Noble <cough>) but all I am saying here is that Lions fans have a lot to feel good about right now.

Is there anyone who would argue that the Lions are NOT on the rise heading into the 2012 season?

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.

Comment 21 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

I would argue they are setting their tee times heading into 2012...

But I agree next season holds more promise for us than any Ive seen in my lifetime

"Common Sense, isn't" Solomon Short

by YpsilantiJeff on Jan 20, 2012 1:55 PM EST reply actions  

Think of it this way...

The Lions haven’t held an offseason training program since 2010.

http://twitter.com/#!/rumbulls

by CLF on Jan 20, 2012 2:12 PM EST reply actions  

Maybe that's the problem with previous years.

Perhaps the Lions should just skip camp altogether!

"Life's hard. It's even harder when you're stupid."
- John Wayne

by UndaDawg on Jan 20, 2012 5:04 PM EST up reply actions  

Another good draft...

and some decent FA pickups and I think we are right there. I’m interested to see what happens with cliff and tulloch but I’m getting pumped to see what next year has in store for us.

by asol8mc1 on Jan 20, 2012 4:23 PM EST reply actions  

There was plenty of clamoring to trade down instead of picking Matthew Stafford

…and we didn’t do so well the previous year.
Just saying.

I would not however, argue with you.
The Lions are in fact on the rise!

Let’s just make sure we don’t pull a “Tampa Bay Bucs” next year.

"Life's hard. It's even harder when you're stupid."
- John Wayne

by UndaDawg on Jan 20, 2012 5:03 PM EST reply actions  

We are a way better team than the Bucs

Staff over Freeman
Our Running Back Group(If Healthy) over the Bucs
Johnson over Williams
Pettigrew over Winslow
Dont know anything about their Oline
Suh over McCoy
Tulluch over Foster
Its their secondary that is better than ours.

Datsyukian Deke, Detroit Red Wings Blog

by Detroitnr1 on Jan 20, 2012 11:04 PM EST up reply actions  

The Bucs major malfunction

was leadership, experience and character issues. There is talent on the team but some of the bucs stars were (are) low character guys. Without veteran leadership and a (players) coach they are underachieving. Kellen Winslow II, Tanard Jackson, Mike Williams, Aqib Talib and LeGarette Blount all had character issues coming out of college. I also attribute the loss of Barret Ruud to be a big reason for their defenses epic fail. We need to resign Tulloch. KVB has been instrumental in the Lions success and I am not sure our D-line is ready to leave the nest yet. If we lost KVB and Avril we would be toast. Barber and Wright are a wash, Talib has the talent to be a superstar but will never get there and I would take Houston over him. Bucs safeties aren’t better as a unit than who we have in Detroit. Staff is way better than Freeman and obviously CJ over Williams. Suh over McCoy. TE’s as a unit are hands down better than the Bucs TE’s. I think you are right, the running backs as a group are better than Bucs RB’s but it’s debatable. Ernest Grahm and Mourice Morris are equal, I can’t say anything about Mikel Leshour but as a unit I think K Smith and Best have the edge on Blount and Lumpkin.


Defenses around the NFL will fall victim to the fatal disease "Natecalvintitus"

by Bret Crino on Jan 22, 2012 2:04 AM EST up reply actions  

Higher picks

equals the reason we’re a playoff team.

by Trysdor on Jan 21, 2012 12:41 AM EST up reply actions  

Right, we have our superstars

we don’t really need more of them. We do need starting-caliber players to fill the various holes in our depth in our OL, RB, and secondary.

If all of our starters stay healthy and perform at the level we expect from them this is a playoff, maybe even super bowl team. Our problem is the dropoff in talent from starter to backup. Our starters are solid players, but our backups shouldn’t even be playing in this league.

"There's something out there, beyond the horizon in the corner of your eye. I'm going to find out what it is."
-Thomas Solomon, Gentleman Adventurer.

by TheLoneDavid on Jan 21, 2012 5:16 PM EST up reply actions  

Bingo

'The reality is - the police become necessary in human society, only at that junction in a society where it is split between those who have, and those who ain't got' - Omali Yeshitela

"In the absence of logic it is not uncommon that sanity can only be found by embracing lunacy." – Leonuro, circa 2011

by Nate D. on Jan 21, 2012 6:06 PM EST up reply actions  

I would actually be inclined to trade up.

We aren’t very far off from being a great team. Couple this with the new Rookie Pay Scale and we could look to make a splash.

by doctorj on Jan 22, 2012 2:52 PM EST up reply actions  

This is a trait that knows no team allegiance

Every team’s fans think their team should trade down, acquire more picks, and still get a great player. If every team listened to the fans, there would be 5-7 first round picks a year. People fail to realize that in order to trade down there has to be a team looking to trade up.

I'm so ahead of my time, my parents haven't met yet

SE Michigan Sports

by YakAttack on Jan 22, 2012 12:06 AM EST up reply actions  

Pats

trade every year, they seem to be pretty good.

by Arrogant on Jan 22, 2012 12:06 PM EST up reply actions  

They have destroyed their last few drafts.

I don’t know if they have a single guy that is making an impact in from their draft this year.

by doctorj on Jan 22, 2012 2:53 PM EST up reply actions  

I'm picking them at 12-4 next season

This would have been a sign of insanity in previous years.

by rekar on Jan 21, 2012 1:01 AM EST reply actions  

The task for the Lions during the off-season is straightforward.

It is the same as every season where you do not have a lockout or strike. Some of the keys to the upcoming season will be difficult to see. It is hard to evaluate how well the Lions will refocus and get on the right page for next season. We don’t get enough information to evaluate progress of injuries until OTAs and camp. Nevertheless, those two factors might have more bearing on the success of the Lions next season than roster changes do.

Listen to the Two Bro's Talk podcast!

by TuffLynx on Jan 21, 2012 7:28 AM EST reply actions  

I went into a sports store in ND

and they actually had Lions stuff. We really must be on the rise if stores are preparing for the bandwagoners.

I watch the Detroit Lions and I....

by Lions & Panthers Fan on Jan 24, 2012 12:08 PM EST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's blog that is your source for everything Detroit Lions.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Small
Matthew Stafford & Will
Dylan_small
POD's Offseason Open Thread
Mikel-leshoure2_medium_small
Top 10 Fanpost!

Recent FanPosts

Small
Martin Mayhew - One Question
Small
NEED YOUR HELP!!!!
Small
Poll
Mikel-leshoure2_medium_small
AOL SportingNews' Bad Attempt At Ranking 32 NFL Coaches
Lion_facepalm_small
Last Rookie Contract numbers
Small
Bold predictions (offense)
Small
Broyles - Value AND Reach?
Small
All other fans hate and disrespect the Lions and their faithful fans (us)
Calvin_dallas_small
Stafford Stats Stand Strong
Desolationrowlarge_small
The 3-4 Look

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Managing Editor

Pod_small Sean Yuille

Writers

Detroit-lions_small simscity

Untitled-2_small Latif Masud

41li1jpy5il Mavyrk