Fear the Lions. Yep, write it down.
The Detroit Lions are a team to be feared.
Maybe not this year, but this team is a comer. They are a fun team to watch and are definitely a team to be reckoned with in the future. They keep games close and can score. Their D is inconsistent but their strengths make good teams look silly at times.
The ghost of Matt Millen has been swept out along with his disastrous draft day debacles. Millen oversaw a steady stream of drafts that ranged from bad to downright goofy.
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| Lions HC Jim Shwartz |
A new regime is in place and they have the Lions finally pointed in the right direction. Fiery HC Jim Schwartz and GM Martin Mayhew have provided some desperately needed stability. They have a lot of talented young players in the key spots, some of whom have asterisks. Calvin Johnson is a fabulous WR, one of the 786 different WR’s Millen drafted but the one that actually worked out well for them. The TE combination of Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Schefler is a good package, while Jahvid Best has impressed as a rookie. QB Matthew Stafford gets the first * as he is a gamer but has been injury prone. Stafford is tougher than a $2 steak but can’t stay healthy long enough to factor in. His injuries do factor in the Lions record as they are much worse off without him. Backup Shaun Hill has done a decent job, but he too, is hurt. Blame that on the Lions awful OLine. With the exception of C Dominic Raiola this is the Lions reason their QB’s have such high insurance premiums. Look for the Lions to target a LT in the draft and pick up some FA’s to address this enormous problem in the off season.
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| Super Rookie Ndamukong Suh wreaking havoc |
On D the, Lions have a frightening, young, and good D Line. #2 draft pick Ndamukong Suh has been a terrifying presence in the line and veteran FA pickup Kyle Vanden Bosch helps create a havoc wreaking front line. S Louis Delmas is a big hitter and young as well. CB Alphonso Smith has looked good… and looked like a deer in the headlights.
But these Lions are only on the rise. Another poor record is exactly what the rest of the NFCN does not want them to have as the front office will mine the draft and should be able to reinforce with quality. The Lions weakest areas, beyond their lack of any depth, are at OLine, LB and at CB. Defensively Suh has to be respected. His brutal and controversial hit on Bears QB Jay Cutler last week led to another Bears comeback against the Lions. Keeping Suh off Aaron Rodgers is priority 1 this week.
LT Chad Clifton hurt a knee in practice this week so the rest of the OLine will need to step up against Suh, especially rookie Bryan Bulaga. This will be an interesting matchup.
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| Packers RB James Starks |
This is week 2 of rookie RB James Starks, and if the line can open up some holes Starks might get some yards. If the Lions DLine cannot contain Starks he may push over 100 yards in only his 2nd game as a pro, and the 2nd game he has played in almost 2 years. The key will be the Packers OLine and their collective ability to push around the young Lions’ DLine. Expect a big battle in the trenches. The Lions will show some bite but the Packers will eventually impose their will. If Starks can get to the 2nd level he is simply too fast and too much for the Lions LB’s.
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| WR James Jones |
If Aaron Rodgers has time he will continue to put up fantasy numbers. He’ll find Delmas and throw the other way. Jordy Nelson and James Jones may find a lot of open space in this one.
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| WR Calvin Johnson towers over the Bears |
Offensively the Lions will give the Packers D fits. When playing an overmatched opponent the Packers have an awful habit of playing down to their opponent’s level. The Lions have talent but has yet to be harnessed and streamlined into a full, cohesive 60 minute game. CM3 gets back to business this week and will get a few more sacks while Sir Charles, who also tweaked an ankle, will not go 1 on 1 with Calvin Johnson. That responsibility will fall to Tramon Williams, who is having a Pro Bowl season. The Johnson/ Williams matchup will be a good one. Johnson will get a few catches, and Tramon will hold his own. ,K Jason Hanson, a longtime thorn in the Packs back pocket is out with an injury. The Packers D will get lost at times chasing the Lions around, but they still manager to rule the day.
The Lions are rebuilding, and without Millen they are rebuilding the right way. Look for them to pass Minnehaha in the not too distant future. The pieces are in place, and the Lions know how to lose.
What is to be feared is that, in the process, they are learning how to win.
Yes, fear the Lions.
Just not today. Not quite yet.
GREEN BAY 38
Detroit 10
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