Pre-season schedule, good news?

[Jimmer]

It could be good news, or a harbinger of very bad things to come. On the schedule we have two teams with a pro bowl caliber passing attack, Indy and Cincy. Most people agree that we didn't get a true test of our defensive line, a huge part of the Tampa/cover 2 defense, last season due to injuries. Offenses were able to pick apart a weak secondary, and expose some serious flaws in the process.
With that logic, warming up against those two teams ought to give us a decent idea of how the secondary will do next year. If they perform well, especially against Indy in the 3rd game, I think the future looks bright.
If they perform like a declawed, defanged Lion troop (like last year) then we have another looooong season ahead of us.

[jpollman]

Darnit! I thought you were going to say that the Lions finally decided to just chuck it all and say the heck with it. I was hoping that they'd decided to take a year or two off and give us all a break from the Sunday afternoon horror for a while. :lol:

John

[MEL]

If they perform like a declawed, defanged Lion troop (like last year) then we have another looooong season ahead of us.


Oh its going to be another Loooooong season for loins fans!!!

Like last year.
The year before..
The year before...
The year before....
The year before.....
The year before..................

[PrtyMolusk]

Howdy-

'Plus ca change, plus ce la meme chose...' (or something to that effect from Jr. High French class).

... translates to 'The more things change, the more they remain the same'. :yikes:

[jpollman]

Well last summer I decided to just plain give up on the Lions. I've gotta tell ya that I've been happier since. :) I made a post about it and apparently I'm not the only one who feels this way. I just plain DON'T CARE anymore! And I don't have to get all bothered when they throw up yet another stinker quarter, game, SEASON. :)

Come on folks, join the rest of us who have completely given up. Quit watching the games and quit going down to the games. When there are enough empty seats and the TV ratings are in the crapper, maybe things will change. But I've got to tell you that I firmly believe that as long as people still put their butts in the seats, things will never change.

John

[Joe Archer]

Most people agree that we didn't get a true test of our defensive line, a huge part of the Tampa/cover 2 defense, last season due to injuries. ....
Injuries on the D-line killed us last year. Who knows what is in store for this season? One thing for sure is that we will be watching a DIFFERENT team! Along the D-line, the only person starting in the same position as last year will be Edwards (and he may be challenged by Francis and probably a healthy Swancutt). Inserted from last years starting front four are Redding, Rogers, and White. Lets face it, if Redding and Rogers stay healthy we will have one of the best interior forces in the league.
The only linebacker starting again from last year will probably be Sims. The Lions are actually deep at linebacker. If Lehman can stay healthy and start between Bailey and Sims, we will have a trio of quick and talented linebackers on the field for the first time in years!
Kenoy Kennedy is the only returning starter at safety. Bullocks will start in place of Holt, and we have depth in back ups with Bashir and Alexander.
The one place I disagree with most of the critics is our secondary. I think we have depth there as well. Bryant is the only returning starter from last year. Wilson will most likely start opposite of him, and in my opinion may be the best corner we have! Travis Fisher and Keith Smith both can start if needed. After that we have FOUR more men fighting for one or two CB positions! In any case, win lose or draw we will not be watching the same defense we witnessed last year!
Starting with the line, the offense has seen nearly the same degree of changes. Kitna, Williams, Furrey, Raiola and Backus will now be teamed with Mulitalo, Foster, Woody, Calvin Johnson, Tatum bell, and TJ Duckett.
As far as the pre-season goes I think the Lions should win 3 of 4 (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Buffalo) and lose to Indianapolis.
DANG! I should have saved this for cornbread Friday! :evil:
<----<<<

[tubejig]

Joe, the reason there are a ton of guys fighting for the same positions in the secondary is that none of them stand above the rest. One big pool of sub-mediocracy.

[DaveW731]

Howdy-

'Plus ca change, plus ce la meme chose...' (or something to that effect from Jr. High French class).

... translates to 'The more things change, the more they remain the same'. :yikes:

C'est vrai!

[Joe Archer]

Joe, the reason there are a ton of guys fighting for the same positions in the secondary is that none of them stand above the rest. One big pool of sub-mediocracy.
Bryant is excellent when healthy (I know, he won't be healthy for more than 1/2 the season), and if you watched them near the end of last year you would have seen Wilson covering receivers and knocking people on their butts supporting the run! He is very good. Travis Fisher is a fee agent signing who has started in the league, and Keith Smith is just slightly behind Stanly Wilson in development. We will most likely keep six corners, so that leaves six players on the roster (not including non-drafted free-agents) fighting for the final two spots. My guess is that Tony Beckham (free-agent) and AJ Davis (4th round draft pick this year) will win out.
In any case, I like the depth in our secondary - safeties included.
The key to the defense again this year will be the defensive line. I went into last year saying that this was the spot that we could least afford injury. At the end of the year we had 5 d-linemen on injured reserve; Shaun Rogers, James Hall, Shaun Cody, Bill Swancutt, and Marcus Bell. On the flip side, we had just as many starting O-linemen on injured reserve as well. We all know what happens when you can't run the ball or stop the run on defense... you pick second in the draft!
For the Lions to compete, we need to stay fairly healthy at the defensive and offensive line positions. Shaun Rogers is really the key to the defense having a great year.
<----<<<

[D-Fresh]

Joe, the reason there are a ton of guys fighting for the same positions in the secondary is that none of them stand above the rest. One big pool of sub-mediocracy.

:yeahthat:

"Bryant is excellent" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Bryant could be an excellent nickelback, be he is not even close to being a number 1 or 2 CB!!!

Here's hoping that the Lions can put up 40 pts/game!

Joe I do commend you for your loyalty and optimistic outlook for the future of the Lions. I will still watch every game, but I don't have the same hope you do. I hope you are right, can you imagine Tiger's playoff baseball and a respectable Lions team?! Until that happens, right now will continue to be the best time of the year for Detroit sports, Tigers game almost every night, Pistons embarassing teams in the playoffs, and the Red Wings playoffs.

[Joe Archer]

Bryant could be an excellent nickelback, be he is not even close to being a number 1 or 2 CB!!!

Joe I do commend you for your loyalty and optimistic outlook for the future of the Lions.
I was really surprised by Bryant's play last year before he was injured. He either fit Marinelli' scheme better than past defenses, or he was completely healthy for the first time since joining the Lions. In any case, last season he was solid before he was lost again to injury. I was also at the Chicago game last year and Stanly Wilson was breaking up passes and knocking people on their butts!
In any case, you are stepping over a line here! :mad: True, I am a faithful Lion fan, but to say I am hopeful or optimistic; that just goes to far!!!
I draw the line at curious! I have been a fan for way to long to really have any expectations. Expectations for Lions fans almost always lead to disappointments.
I am curious to see what the offense can do with all the additions, and I am curious to see if the Tampa-2 takes off in it's second year in Detroit as it has in most other cities. I really believe the defense can be much better this year if Rogers and Redding can stay healthy and start most games.
Again, Lions history aside we have no way of knowing what will happen, and this is a different team that we fielded last year. For me, win lose, or draw... it will be fun to watch.
<----<<<

[D-Fresh]

In any case, you are stepping over a line here! :mad: True, I am a faithful Lion fan, but to say I am hopeful or optimistic; that just goes to far!!!
I draw the line at curious! I have been a fan for way to long to really have any expectations. Expectations for Lions fans almost always lead to disappointments. <----<<<

Sorry for stepping over the line....I have been optimistic for a long time and this offseason I am trying something different, and that is to expect the very worst, at least this way I won't be disappointed. So even if you are "curious" that puts you in the optimistic range compared to me, because from where I sit, anyone who can talk positive about the lions has some optimism.:lol: