Detroit Lions Offseasn Thread

[therock48880 14]

Well, here we are. It's the opening day of training camp and the first player drafted by the Lions in a long time that instills some hope in the franchise and he's......................... unsigned. Oh yeah, the supposed quarterback of the future is also at home. Sigh......

[timothy1997 0]

Well, here we are. It's the opening day of training camp and the first player drafted by the Lions in a long time that instills some hope in the franchise and he's......................... unsigned. Oh yeah, the supposed quarterback of the future is also at home. Sigh......

Calvin Johnson will sign as soon as top pick Russell in Oakland signs. Russell sets the precedent or curve so to speak. Stanton has no excuse on why he isnt there yet. Stanton has a good chance of being the QB after Kitna, especially if he plays well.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

You know who's really making me mad? Brady Quinn! Why doesn't he understand that the 22nd pick doesn't get paid top 5 money?! It's not that hard to understand!

[therock48880 14]

You know who's really making me mad? Brady Quinn! Why doesn't he understand that the 22nd pick doesn't get paid top 5 money?! It's not that hard to understand!

You're right. He needs to be in camp. These guys hurt their rookie seasons by holding out like this. The Lions offense if quite intricate and Johnson would benefit greatly by being in camp. Although, from what I hear he is one of the few guys that actually studies the playbook. (Stanton being another one). I don't know much about the Browns but this HAS to be hurting Quinn's development.

[Guest DetroitIan]

I wonder what the hold up is on getting Calvin Johnson signed. Training camp has now begun. So it would be nice to have our top pick signed. If they wanna get anywhere near that 10 win mark(yeah right) then they better damn well ink Johnson soon. Cause each day that Johnson misses training camp, is just gonna delay his progress with the team.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

Kowalski said in the paper today that there is a good chance Johnson will sign in the next 3 days. Hope he's right.

[betterREDthandead 58]

The #3 and #4 picks signed with their teams already, so that should help establish the market price for Johnson. I think he'll be in shortly.

So, who is drinking the optimism Kool-Aid so far? I can't help myself, I'm sipping a little bit from the punch bowl myself. Main reason I'm liking it so far is because the offensive line finally looks improved. They still need a new center, Raiola's still a chump as always, but Woody supposedly lost weight, and Foster and Mulitalo can't both be total busts. If the O-line can even do a halfway job, it'll be a huge improvement over last year.

[Airborn 0]

So, who is drinking the optimism Kool-Aid so far? I can't help myself, I'm sipping a little bit from the punch bowl myself. Main reason I'm liking it so far is because the offensive line finally looks improved. They still need a new center, Raiola's still a chump as always, but Woody supposedly lost weight, and Foster and Mulitalo can't both be total busts. If the O-line can even do a halfway job, it'll be a huge improvement over last year.

I'm with you and drinking away. I can't help but be excited to think about what our offense can do this year.

[Guest jaytan]

We wouldn't have to worry about the Lions if we still had the Detroit Drive.... Now THAT was Detroit's greatest football team. Probably would beat these Lions by 30 points.

If I drink the optimism Kool-Aid, I see the Lions going 4-12.

Edited July 28, 2007 by jaytan

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

I'm having some kool-aid, but I think there are still to many holes on this team. I will predict 7-9...not to shabby.

[Guest jaytan]

I'd be pissed if we went 7-9.... We'd lose out on the high draft pick AND a playoff seed.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

The #3 and #4 picks signed with their teams already, so that should help establish the market price for Johnson. I think he'll be in shortly.

So, who is drinking the optimism Kool-Aid so far? I can't help myself, I'm sipping a little bit from the punch bowl myself. Main reason I'm liking it so far is because the offensive line finally looks improved. They still need a new center, Raiola's still a chump as always, but Woody supposedly lost weight, and Foster and Mulitalo can't both be total busts. If the O-line can even do a halfway job, it'll be a huge improvement over last year.

Every year im so optimistic...why should this year be any different! 10-6 baby! lol. Theres things i really like about this team, like the RB's and WR's obviously....but then i look at the cornerback situation and think wtf are they doing there? I mean, if the O line can just step up to being a middle of the pack group...the offense will be outstanding. Im very excited about Calvin and Tatum Bell. But im really worried about the corners. The success of this team will be riding on whether guys like Wilson and Smith are able to step up. Travis Fisher at best, is a #2...so im very nervous about the pass defense. Gerald Alexander will also have to be a key contributor.

Oh, I also never commented on the Redding re-signing. Initially, I thought this was a total farce that Redding had become the highest paid DT in the league. But you know, I sat here trying to think up a bunch of DT's that i knew were better...and ended up getting stumped! So all in all, i give it the benefit of the doubt because of Marinelli. This is his area, so if he thinks Redding has got it..i'll go with it.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

CB's concern me too, but if you think about it this offense should be sick! Bell, Duckett, Johnson, Furrey, and Williams. If the OL, and Kinta don't totally suck they should be one of the best offensive teams with Martz calling the shots.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Kitna im not even worried about....if the line gives him time he'll have a real strong year. You dont have to be a great QB to excel in the Martz system. But those corners, my god...i still cant believe this is what we're going with. I hope somebody decent gets cut so we can sign him.

[therock48880 14]

CB's concern me too, but if you think about it this offense should be sick! Bell, Duckett, Johnson, Furrey, and Williams. If the OL, and Kinta don't totally suck they should be one of the best offensive teams with Martz calling the shots.

The theory behind the cover 2 defense is that you don't have to have good cover corners. I guess we'll find out how accurate that is this year because the corners are scary. I'm also not a huge fan of the safeties. That offense better score 30 a game because they will probably give up at least 28 a game.

p.s. 6-10 prediction. They have the toughest schedule in the nfl this year based off last year's won-loss records.

Edited July 29, 2007 by therock48880

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

Who are the starting safties anyway? Bullock, and who else? I think Bullock can be good, but he has to read things quicker. Hopfully he went through all his growing pains last season.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Kenoy Kennedy i assume is still a starter.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

Thanks...can't believe I forgot him. Anyone know if Teddy Lehman will ever play a role again? He was on track for some success until he kept getting hurt.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Thanks...can't believe I forgot him. Anyone know if Teddy Lehman will ever play a role again? He was on track for some success until he kept getting hurt.

Lehman and Paris Lenon are having one of the top camp battles for that middle linebacker spot.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

If Lehman cant beat out Paris Lenon, he might as well hang 'em up!

[Guest jaytan]

p.s. 6-10 prediction. They have the toughest schedule in the nfl this year based off last year's won-loss records.

How the heck did that happen? I thought the NFL tried to set up scheduling in a way that teams would play more games against teams that were at the same level the previous season.

[betterREDthandead 58]

How the heck did that happen? I thought the NFL tried to set up scheduling in a way that teams would play more games against teams that were at the same level the previous season.

Not as much any more. 14 of the 16 games are on a rigidly set schedule that rotates each year.....you play each team in your division twice, plus each team from a certain division in your conference and each team from a certain division in the other conference. That's 14....the other two are against the teams from the same conference but the division you didn't play, that finished in the same divisional position as you did. 14 of the Lions' opponents are known through (in theory) forever, because of the rotating schedule.

This year, the NFC North is paired up with the AFC West and NFC East, so the Lions will play each team from those divisions (and the teams in those divisions will play against all teams from the North.) Plus, by virtue of finishing last in the division last year, the Lions play the 4th place team from the NFC South and West, which happens to be the Buccaneers and Cardinals.

What I'd like to know is, why is it, every year, the Lions have to visit Green Bay in the dead of winter? We always play the home game against them early and the road game late. This year it's no different....the Packers are the Thanksgiving opponent, then we have to go there on December friggin' 30th. I can just see (no joke here) both teams being 8-7 and fighting for a wild card spot and guess who has the clear homefield advantage? Every damn year.

[therock48880 14]

Great description of the schedule. John Clayton is reporting that Calvin Johnson will be signed by Wednesday or Thursday and it would have been sooner but his agent was at a funeral with Brett Favre. Here's the link if you'd like to check it out: http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2007/...ld_be_in_c.html

[rwfan007 18]

we locked up Johnson for 6 years... he better live up to the hype

[Lou_Siffer 1]

I dont know why, but i have this strange psychic feeling that Johnson will be freakishly injured and never play a regular season game for us.

I cant believe that nobody has mentioned in here yet that Drew Stanton is out for the year!