Being a Lions Fan Sucks

I'm not sure how else to respond to the official news that Calvin Johnson is retiring. I don't blame Megatron for the decision but seeing another Hall of Fame caliber player cut their career short is even more depressing than all the losing.

It begins.

The Lions have a new general manager, Bob Quinn, formerly director of scouting for the New England Patriots. I suppose bringing in someone from such a respected franchise should be encouraging but I find myself wary. First, I think the success of Tom Brady and, to a lesser extent, Julian Edelman gives an inflated impression of the Patriots' drafting prowess. Here's the history. Obviously they have their fair share of hits but I'm not sure the overall record is quite as impressive as people would think. Second, Bill Belichick is the only one who's been able to make the Patriots system work. So far none of his assistants or former executives from the organization have been able to replicate anything near the success he has had. What do you think the chances are that the Lions are the ones who learn all the right lessons?

Stafford Agonistes

I haven't found much interesting to blog about for a while but the Lions pathetic performance Sunday and the benching of Matt Stafford is exactly the fuel I needed to light the fire. Stafford was awful and today I see an article in the Detroit News arguing that the Lions should trade Stafford. Okay, great, then what's your plan? I'll list the starting NFL QBs and tell you if they would be an improvement if the Lions could somehow obtain them.

Tyrod Taylor: No.
Ryan Tannehill: Not really.
Tom Brady: Obviously yes.
Ryan Fitzpatrick: No.
Joe Flacco: Maybe?
Andy Dalton: Yeah, I guess.
Josh McCown: No.
Ben Roethlisberger: Yes.
Brian Hoyer: No.
Andrew Luck: Yes.
Blake Bortles: No, at least not yet.
Marcus Mariota: Not right now.
Peyton Manning: At this point? No.
Alex Smith: Unless you really love the short pass, no.
Derek Carr: No.
Philip Rivers: Yes.
Tony Romo: Yes.
Eli Manning: I guess?
Sam Bradford: I don't think so.
Kirk Cousins: I love the guy, but no.
Jay Cutler: The older version of Stafford? No.
Aaron Rodgers: Emphatic yes.
Teddy Bridgewater: No.
Matt Ryan: Yes.
Cam Newton: Uh, maybe?
Drew Brees: I'm thinking no at this point.
Jameis Winston: Definitely not right now.
Carson Palmer: Yes.
Colin Kaepernick: No.
Russell Wilson: Yes.
Nick Foles: No.

So that's ten QBs that would be an improvement, maybe slightly more if you grade differently. And the draft? Here's an article on the success rate of first-round QBs that pegs the number at 38% or 36% depending on how you measure success. That seems about right to me. So whatever Stafford's problems are, the chances are that dumping him would cause the Lions to be worse at the position. I'm sure that's not a popular opinion in Detroit right now but it's worth keeping in mind.

Looking back: 2010 NFL Draft

People like to grade the NFL draft the moment it happens, but I rarely see much follow-up in the 3-5 year window where we actually have a pretty good idea how things worked out. So in that spirit here's a link to the results of the 2010 draft. How did Detroit do? The Lions drafted six players. None of them are still on the roster. Three of them are still in the league. Suh obviously had his issues but is considered one of, if not the best, to play his position. Jahvid best showed promise but multiple concussions at a time when the league started freaking out about such things ended his career. Jason Fox is a backup tackle and Willie Young is a decent DE for the Bears now. I'm not sure how you would end up grading that. One Hall-of-Famer for five years and not much else, is that maybe a C?

'15 Lions Draft

I don't have the issues I did last year with the Lions draft picks but there are two that leave me scratching my heard: RB Ameer Abdullah and FB Michael Burton. Abdullah was a great college RB, but he has a propensity to fumble and when I saw him play against a great college defense he disappeared. Obviously I would have preferred they wait and take Langford later, but Spartan bias aside I was also hoping for Coleman out of Indiana. The problem with Burton is simple: Who drafts a fullback in 2015?

Ebron

That right there is exactly the kind of thing I was worried about.

Concern

Just how concerned are you that the Lions are going to totally screw up one of the most talent-filled drafts in history? With all the rumors that have been circulating I'm expecting major disappointment this evening.

Mocking

Since the NFL Draft is finally only a week away I might start to pay attention to the various mock drafts around. But those aside, who would you like to see the Lions pick? I'm completely biased here, but given how horrible their secondary has been forever I'm rooting for Darqueze Dennard. Others I'm seeing mentioned: Aaron Donald (DT, Pitt), Taylor Lewan (dirty player), Eric Ebron (TE, NC), Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (FS, Bama), Mike Evans (WR, Texas A&M), and Justin Gilbert (CB, Oklahoma State).

Booooo!

The Lions finished their catastrophic collapse this evening by losing to the awful Giants in OT, which means they went from first in the division to out of the playoffs in less than a week. Awesome. Jim Schwartz ended the fourth quarter by running out the clock and then swearing at the fans when they booed his decision. Apparently he thought it would motivate his team, not that Schwartz has shown any indication that he knows how to motivate players to play the game. He has to be gone, right? Maybe not tomorrow morning, though that would be a nice Christmas present to fans, but after the season for sure. Even if they owe him $12 million, it's a move they have to make.

Coffee is for Closers

The Lions are not drinking coffee today because they are certainly not closers. We knew that before the Monday night game but they went out and definitively proved it on national television. I could write a lot, but my favorite NFL analyst, Trent Dilfer, summed it up pretty well on SportsCenter:

You can't trust the Detroit Lions because of games like this. It was all there for them, and they threw up on themselves.

The consensus today is pretty clear: Megatron dropped too many balls, the Lions made some really dumb plays, Stafford makes too many bad decisions with the ball, and Schwartz needs to go because many of the issues can be traced back to him. What else is there to say?

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How much closer do you think Jim Schwartz is to being fired after the debacle in Pittsburgh in general and the fake field goal in particular? He was mentioned as potentially being on the hot seat before, do you think it changes now?

At least we know he's not scared.

RE: World Series - Lions - UM/MSU Game

World Series: I wasn't rooting for the Sox, but it doesn't bother me too much either that they won. They're generally pretty likeable, though Victorino really bugs me for some reason, and they deserved it. I also don't know that the Tigers would have been able to pull it off with the bullpen injuries and Cabrera's injury and seeming them lose the series to the Cardinals might have been worse that the loss to the Sox.

Lions: I heard on the radio that when the Lions got the ball at the end of the game they only had a 1% chance of winning, yet I wasn't surprised at all when they managed it. I said earlier in the season to my Dad that there was no outcome to a Lions game that could shock me. They're so talented and so inconsistent that anything is possible.

The Game: On paper MSU should win this one. The offense has improved from utterly pathetic to just very poor and the defense is legitimately good. However, they have a tendency to give up the big play, and Gardner is good at that, but you'd also think there's a good chance he throws a pick six. Whatever the outcome, I'm pretty sure the loser is going to feel like they should have come out on top.

World Series - Lions - UM/MSU Game

It's gotten a little easier to watch the World Series after the Tigers blew it. But, I'll stick with my personal thought: Watching Boston in the WS is like seeing your ex-girlfriend with the guy you hate the most. By the way, when Boston wins this WS, does it make the Tiger choke job hurt more? Just think, that could have been us winning the title this year!


Lions, what an unbelievable win. The HUGE Show Monday question: Where does Sunday's victory rank in Lions history? That's a great question. Some would say "no where, because it didn't mean anything." And that's just it, the Lions don't play any meaningful games, and if they do, they lose. The only meaningful games they've had are playoff games and Lambeau Field and they lose. So, if you are a franchise that doesn't win many games, let alone a come-from-behind win with 1:02 remaining, no timeouts, and needing a touchdown, then Sunday's win has to be ranked pretty high. And, it DID mean something: the difference between being 5-3 and 4-4. 5-3 is playoff bound. 4-4...forces you to go 5-3 in the second half of the season for a shot at the playoffs with a 9-7 record.

So, the fact they played a meaningful game and won in dramatic fashion has to be one of their all-time greatest wins.


Saturday's game at East Lansing: As a UM fan, I'm nervous. Very nervous. Game is at MSU. Advantage: MSU. MSU has by far the better defense. Advantage: MSU. MSU has gotten better lately. UM has the better overall offense, but MSU appears to have the better running game. Advantage: MSU. MSU is favored by 6.5 points. I'd like to have seen this game played in September and November. It would probably be two different results. All I know is the game will come down to turnovers...and Devin Gardner is a TO machine.

$100,000

The NFL has fined Ndamukong Suh $100,000* for an illegal low block on Sunday. Everyone knew the fine was coming and that it was going to be steep so it's not really a surprise. You know what is surprising to me though? The number of Lions fans defending Suh. There's no question the guy is a dirty player. He's moved well beyond the point where you can give him the benefit of the doubt. I'm surprised any company still has endorsements with him. Cheer for your team, but don't be an idiot.

*If you're scoring at home that's 20,000 $5 footlong sandwiches.

Hanson Retires

Jason Hanson announced his retirement from the NFL today after 21 years in the league. Some stats from the Detroit News article:

Hanson, who will be 43 in June, retires as third-leading scorer in NFL history (2,150) and third in field goals made (495). He made more field goals of 40 or more yards than any player in NFL history.

He also owns the distinction of playing more regular season games with one franchise (327) than any other player and owns every kicking record in the franchise's history.

It's hard to imagine the Lions without Hanson. How will they score?

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Is there any way that the Lions signing sort-of former Heisman winner Reggie Bush doesn't end up disappointing? I certainly don't see it.

Don't take Calvin Johnson...

...in the fantasy draft, he's going to be on the cover of Madden '13.

New Nike Lions Uniform

Any complaints? There look to be some changes on the technical side, but no major adjustments to the design, except for the Pro Combat-style gloves. Gallery here.

Shootin' From the Hip

Where do we start? I can't hold it in any longer. What a crappy weekend of sports.

Thoughts on the Tigers:

Let's be honest, they overachieved. If you were told August 1st they would be two games from the World Series, you'd love it. They never should have beat the Yankees in game 5. The frustrating part is the Tigers could have swept the Rangers if they just had timely hitting...and walked Cruz once or twice...or threw every ball at his earhole. How do you not drill that guy in the ribs by game 3? When they meet up in 2012, someone better have the stones to put one right between his numbers.

Detroit was plagued by timely hits the entire series. Texas's game plan was obvious: be ahead after the 5th inning, throw four different (unhittable) closers in each of the remaining innings. Ball game. Detroit has the starting pitching to win, but Austin Jackson looked like a Little Leaguer in the box. Avila needed rest. Lots of guys were banged up. Verlander never got his two full games...or a good strike zone. That zone in game 1 of the Texas series was terrible.

I am disappointed because for the month of October I got to enjoy Tigers baseball via the antenna. Actually, I watched two full post-season games with Fox muted and listening to 97.1 The Ticket play-by-play. It took some getting used to, TBS had about a 2 second delay and FOX had about a 9 second delay. When Fister pitched, I thought for sure I'd hear two pitches before I saw one on TV. The Tigers also played better when I did it that way, so I couldn't break the ritual in the middle of the series. In fact, pretty much any time I listened on the radio (car, kitchen, basement, etc.) the Tigers found instant success. (Remember when Detroit was down 3-0 in game 1 of the Texas game before the rain delay? That was all me. I got home just in time to see Avila bat after the second rain delay with bases loaded to hit a dribbler to second. Remember when Detoit played the day game (game 4) of the Texas series and they jumped out to an early lead? All me again.)

I don't know how much of the WS I'll watch with Texas in it. I'm bitter now. Texas was better, but Detroit had their chances.


Thoughts on the Lions:

I was at the game. My first Lions game at Ford Field. I think my current Lion record is 1-3 (with two losses coming from the 49ers...Alex Smith wasn't exactly Steve Young.) In the words of Big Daddy, I must be bad luck. I broke the Lion streak and I was at game 4 of the Yankee series that was 1-10.

The Lions got exposed. Blitz all day and stop Johnson. That was the quietest 7 catch - 117 yard day I've heard of. He was not utilized at all. The running game? Yikes. I will admit I was very impressed by the noise of the crowd at the game. We were sitting in the endzone in the upper level and it was very loud. It was also the looooooonnnnnnngest game ever. Didn't get done until after 4:45. We got up from our seats before they snapped the ball on the last play, so we missed all the Jim v Jim commotion after the game. In my opinion, Harbaugh didn't do anything Schwartz hasn't done all season after a win. Schwartz was just being a poor sport. He's just as emotional in other games (check out his trash talking in the 3rd quarter with Dez Bryant of the Cowboy game on the catch that was challenged and found to be out of bounds. Schwartz dropped a nice "INCOMPLETE MR. FALCON" lip-bomb on national TV...more on "Mr. Falcon" later.)

Very disappointed on the Lions last two positions. They had three timeouts and 1:51 remaining to just get to the 35 yd line to tie the game. Then at the end they couldn't do jack squat. No targets to Johnson at all. Just throw him the bleep ball!


The "other" game:

I've never watched a Michigan game where they played Wayne State, Oregon, and Baylor all in the same day. Anyway, moving on. You know how they say you can throw out the records and rankings for these rival games? No doubt. Michigan should never have been ranked #10 and MSU was better than the #19. But, that isn't UM's fault where they are ranked. MSU was by far the better team on Saturday...and the last 4 years for that matter. So, no congrats for doing what EVERYONE expected and that was beating Michigan for the fourth straight time. The better team won. Plain and simple.

I was very disappointed in the use of Denard and the lack of adjustments. MSU man-handled the O-line all day, yet nothing changed, just more yards lost on sacks. Why did they go away from their only game plan...keep the ball in Robinson's hands and let him get free. The worst part is they never figured it out, yet with 9 minutes to go in the game, THEY WERE STILL IN THE GAME! His running has to set up the pass. Granted, UM had numerous scoring chances with great field position all day. The whole Gardner thing didn't work and I'm not sure what they are thinking there. He looked sloooooooooooow.

MSU is a very good team, maybe Top 10 good. UM is still a much improved team, maybe Top 15 at best. If that game is at UM, I'm still not convinced UM wins. MSU has the better team and they did what was expected...beat a weaker opponent.

Yes there was lots of unsportsman-like stuff that went on, mostly by MSU. I just wonder why Gholston wasn't ejected. They clearly saw him punch the UM player or else a flag wouldn't have been thrown. Gholston was very dirty and a dink. He should definately be suspended. Even the D-Coordinator was quoted in the Free Press that he wanted them to play "60 minutes of unnessasary roughness." Side note: Gholston is a beast at D-end for MSU.


What was worse?:

I'm still debating what was the worst loss of the weekend. I think the Tiger season ending was the worst. The Lions are still in good position and the UM loss was expected. It was just frustrating the offensive scheme was so bad.

REACT TO ME!!!!!!!

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I'm watching the Bears game, hoping it can finish so Fox can show the end of the Lions game. They show up to the point where Calvin Johnson catches a TD, then go back to the studio saying they can't show the rest of the game due to NFL rules. NFL rules suck. I have to think with media being available in so many forms this is going to come back and bite them someday. I hope.