bicycle_seat_sniffer
Smells like chicken
good front 7, Slay is the only guy in the secondary worth a darn.
Tulloch doing the discount double check is a huge blow.
Should be decent points coming up against NYJ,Buff and Minny
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2025 Detroit Lions: 0-0 HOF Game on tape, as DC said..."We got work to do" (34 Viewers)
- Thread starter Da Guru
- Start date
Tulloch doing the discount double check is a huge blow.
Should be decent points coming up against NYJ,Buff and Minny
ImTheScientist
Footballguy
Whats different from last year? I would imagine different DC, but I haven't followed them much. Just know they shut down two teams but laid an egg against the Panthers for some reason.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
I don't know if I would say the defense laid an egg against Carolina. They shut down the run game. Newton did sustain three long drives against them but they got five sacks.
Philosophically this is a completely different defensive scheme. The only real common point is they're still in a 4-3.
- 4-3 under (similar formation to Seattle) replaced the Wide 9
- designated DEs instead of interchangeable
- FS/SS designations versus two deep safeties under Schwartz/Cunningham
- more blitzing (the Lions had the fewest blitzes of any team last year)
- personnel based instead of scheme based
- roles are defined according to the actual player's strengths
- much greater emphasis on communication and adjustment versus staying within in the scheme
bicycle_seat_sniffer
Smells like chicken
Darius Slay can actually play.
SUH/Fairley playing for contracts
DeAndre Levy is a stud
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
bicycle_seat_sniffer
Smells like chicken
Makes me wonder if Jim Schwartz coached at all? or did he just rah rah guys
However Slay was a rookie last year so its not a surprise for rookies to struggle.
TartanLion
Footballguy
Pretty sure Slay was beginning to take a gentle upward turn at the end of last season, but yeah, the new coaching team are hopefully going to be doing a much much better job in making sure players realise their potential.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Nonsense. I'm eternally optimistic.Leroy Hoard said:
Usually.
metoo
Footballguy
Part of it has to be the HC. Many Detroit fans didn't want Caldwell but I thought it was a solid hire.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Ziggy is healthy. Suh seems focused and the new staff got through to Fairley. The announcers said the last regime yelled at him and threw things at him. He didn't respond. One of the first things Caldwell did was sit down and talk to Nick. It seems like the old staff may not have realized that some players don't respond to the in your face tough guy routine.
TartanLion
Footballguy
So... We gonna do it today ?
A lot of logical signs would point to yes. Which is when we usually screw up.
Big marker for the new management today, if we can pull out an important road win when we are fancied to do so
A lot of logical signs would point to yes. Which is when we usually screw up.
Big marker for the new management today, if we can pull out an important road win when we are fancied to do so
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
The Lions were 3-1 a year ago as well. The defense, despite injuries, is much better. The run game is worse. Tate III is a complete tool but he is a nice complimentary weapon. Good to see Ebron involved more yesterday.
bicycle_seat_sniffer
Smells like chicken
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
3-1 is nothing to sneeze at, like BL said the D has improved despite injuries. Good hires defensively by Caldwell.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Good player, glad he's on the team.
I don't care for his on field demeanor - celebrates a FD like he just won the Super Bowl - and I'll probably always dislike him for the cheap shot he took on Sean Lee. But he's definitely productive.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Yes/no. I was going nuts on that first drive - it was so friggin' obvious and we never adjusted. Jets would line up in heavy set (3 TEs), and we're in our base D with 6-7 men in the box. It was simple arithmetic - Ivory was gouging us because they had more blockers than defenders. I couldn't believe we failed to adjusted.
Thankfully, too clever by half Mornhinweg (Jets OC) never went back to it after that first drive. The Jets six straight 3 and outs were as much horrible play calling as it was the Lions D. But no doubt, give the front 7 credit - they still had to make plays. Whitehead was outstanding, which is quite surprising how little he has played on D (mostly special teamer). That front four is fantastic.
thatguythere
Footballguy
I'll start to get excited when we play good meaningful football in the second half of the season. Until then we're the SOL.
Faust
MVP
Joseph Fauria: I injured my ankle chasing peeing puppy
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000403340/article/joseph-fauria-i-injured-my-ankle-chasing-peeing-puppy
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000403340/article/joseph-fauria-i-injured-my-ankle-chasing-peeing-puppy
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Jerry Curl
Footballguy
Jerry Curl
Footballguy
5 W vs Bills
6 W at Vikings
7 W vs Saints
8 L at Falcons
9 Bye
10 W vs Dolphins
11 L at Cardinals
12 L at Patriots
13 W vs Bears
14 W vs Buccaneers
15 W vs Vikings
16 L at Bears
Looks like 10-6 with possibilities of 9-7 or 11-5. Obviously can go worse but just decided to look at the schedule and see the matchups since I am trying to acquire Tate and make someone reasonable projections. Looks like some easy wins and only a few tough teams. Not he biggest Lions fan but would love to see this team reach consistent success.
6 W at Vikings
7 W vs Saints
8 L at Falcons
9 Bye
10 W vs Dolphins
11 L at Cardinals
12 L at Patriots
13 W vs Bears
14 W vs Buccaneers
15 W vs Vikings
16 L at Bears
Looks like 10-6 with possibilities of 9-7 or 11-5. Obviously can go worse but just decided to look at the schedule and see the matchups since I am trying to acquire Tate and make someone reasonable projections. Looks like some easy wins and only a few tough teams. Not he biggest Lions fan but would love to see this team reach consistent success.
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Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
With tensions surrounding the local baseball teams playoff chances, you can always rely on the Lions to provide comic relief.
simey
Footballguy
I remember when one of the Lions coaches was arrested for indecent exposure for ordering food at a drive-thru window naked.
Faust
MVP
Not quite the same, but close enough?Jerry Curl said:
Let sleeping dogs lie or Griese will trip on them:
http://www.michigandaily.com/content/let-sleeping-dogs-lie-or-griese-will-trip-them
Forget concussions, the real menace to NFL players health is man's best friend!
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TartanLion
Footballguy
That game against Atlanta is at Wembley which makes it more winnable, imo. Neutral ground, and I fancy our D as better than theirs. Not a big fan of the whole Wembley games idea, but I'll certainly be there willing the Lions on to winJerry Curl said:
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
A bit off topic here, but with the the push to locate a team in the U.K. by 2022, I'm curious to know more about the fan base. By way of example, here in NYC you can find various bars that cater to particular team. In my neighborhood (Hell's Kitchen), there is a Steelers pub. You can go around the city and a number of EPL bars packed on Saturday mornings. When I went to the Atsenal - Red Bulls friendly this summer, there were way more Gunners jersey in the arena. How popular is the NFL there? Have you attended NFL games in London before?
TartanLion
Footballguy
NFL has always had a loyal following in the UK. There has definitely been certain peaks and troughs that I have noted, and they have usually been relative to the ease of accessing footage of games. Back when I was a kid in the late 80s/early 90s, one of our network channels, Channel 4, showed games every Sunday for instance. The popularity of the NFL has been steadily on the rise, imo, in recent years. Much like you feel a certain small sense of annoyance when that under appreciated little known band you love makes it big and attracts a whole new host of fans ; its current popularity slightly rankles with me when I watch Sky Sports showing footage of bars in London having Superbowl parties with celebrity Z listers being interviewed and a growing mass of young hipsters, art school, indy types that usually hate any sport, tagging on cause they've decided its the 'in' cool sport to get into to be different. I am by no means a jock frowning upon those types, just someone who has always played and loved a lot of sports at the same time as being in various creative industries of that ilk. Anyways, bit of a tangent there, apologies.
All in all, its a good thing that it now has extensive programming on cable and that its popularity is on the rise. Sky Sports show TNF, 2 live games back to back on the Sunday with the option of red zone being on instead, with CH4 the network channel showing the late Sunday game. Sky also show MNF. Personally, I just use NFL gamepass which allows me to watch any Lions game thats not on tv, and all the extra #### that comes with Gamepass.
Most UK NFL fans already support an NFL team. They would not suddenly switch allegiance to a London team, imo. I'm sure they'd always manage to fill the stadium with people willing to cheer on the team, however. A Broncos supporting Londoner would most likely go along to cheer on a London team on a regular basis as long as they weren't playing the Broncos for instance. Personally, I have no real interest in a London team and think it would be very hard to make work from several logistical points of view. I've also never been to any Wembley games because I just don't really like the idea of it. I'd rather wait, save money and go to a game in the US. American Football should stay in the US, imo. I love the sport as it is, I love that it is something different and I'm a Lions fan that wants to see Lions games in Detroit.
Much like you noted more Arsenal shirts than Red Bull ones at the game you went to, people will buy into and get into a quality product first and foremost. They will pick a team for any one of a myriad of reasons ( the worst by far being simply picking the best team at the time, of course. Better known as glory hunters ). US soccers fans will watch the PL and develop emotions towards a PL team and be more into that, than your lower grade domestic football league. Likewise, American football fans here will mainly watch NFL and follow an NFL team, rather than getting out there and going down to watch and follow your local British college team, or British league team.
I am going to the Lions Wembley game because its the Lions basically. Can't not do it. Will have a great time no doubt
All in all, its a good thing that it now has extensive programming on cable and that its popularity is on the rise. Sky Sports show TNF, 2 live games back to back on the Sunday with the option of red zone being on instead, with CH4 the network channel showing the late Sunday game. Sky also show MNF. Personally, I just use NFL gamepass which allows me to watch any Lions game thats not on tv, and all the extra #### that comes with Gamepass.
Most UK NFL fans already support an NFL team. They would not suddenly switch allegiance to a London team, imo. I'm sure they'd always manage to fill the stadium with people willing to cheer on the team, however. A Broncos supporting Londoner would most likely go along to cheer on a London team on a regular basis as long as they weren't playing the Broncos for instance. Personally, I have no real interest in a London team and think it would be very hard to make work from several logistical points of view. I've also never been to any Wembley games because I just don't really like the idea of it. I'd rather wait, save money and go to a game in the US. American Football should stay in the US, imo. I love the sport as it is, I love that it is something different and I'm a Lions fan that wants to see Lions games in Detroit.
Much like you noted more Arsenal shirts than Red Bull ones at the game you went to, people will buy into and get into a quality product first and foremost. They will pick a team for any one of a myriad of reasons ( the worst by far being simply picking the best team at the time, of course. Better known as glory hunters ). US soccers fans will watch the PL and develop emotions towards a PL team and be more into that, than your lower grade domestic football league. Likewise, American football fans here will mainly watch NFL and follow an NFL team, rather than getting out there and going down to watch and follow your local British college team, or British league team.
I am going to the Lions Wembley game because its the Lions basically. Can't not do it. Will have a great time no doubt
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TartanLion
Footballguy
I've got extensive family in Washington state. When they visited Scotland in the late 80s ( I was around 8 ), they brought with them a hardcover NFL guide book to the game and all the teams in the league. As soon as I saw the Lion helmet that was me. From that point on it grew into a love of the Red Wings ( healthy interest in hockey as I've played field hockey all my life ) and Tigers and a general growing interest in the creative culture of the city and everything about. I have visited the city on two occasions now. A love of city's sports teams basically caused me to have a strange love of the city in general.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
You have to admit that for all the team ups and downs, those are 3 pretty cool logos.
Spartans Rule
Footballguy
This is funny cause it's the exact same thing here, except with the sports reversed. Lots of hipster soccer fans. I assumed they maybe preferred the aesthetics of the beautiful game to the bone-crunching hits of the NFL, but I think I was giving them too much credit. They're just looking for something to be pretentious about.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
You can say what you want about Detroit and Michigan, but the sports teams (college and pro) all look good. It hasn't always carried over to their play though.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
A look at the matchups for Detroit's game Sunday against the Buffalo Bills:
Detroit Lions offense vs. Buffalo Bills defense
Few can claim to possess a defensive tackle tandem that stacks up with Detroit's duo of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, but the Bills are one of those teams.
Pro Bowlers Kyle Williams (who is doubtful with a knee injury) and Marcell Dareus anchor a formidable front on the inside. On the edges, Buffalo has $100-million-man Mario Williams and underrated and explosive Jerry Hughes. The group enters the contest fourth in the league with 11 sacks, all while holding opponents to 2.9 yards per carry on the ground.
On the back end, Leodis McKelvin and Corey Graham are a play-making tandem, recording three picks and nine pass defenses in the first four weeks.
Healthy, Detroit's offense probably holds a more significant edge, but star wide receiver Calvin Johnson remains gimpy with an ankle injury and power back Joique Bell isn't expected to play with a concussion.
The Lions have moved the ball on every defense they've faced, it's just a mater of limiting turnovers and capitalizing on opportunities. Buffalo counters with a red zone defense allowing touchdowns on just 50 percent of trips.
Edge: Lions
Detroit Lions defense vs. Buffalo Bills offense
The Bills have some ultra-talented skill players, starting with running backs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller. Jackson, the NFL's oldest running back, is still as tough as anyone to bring down between the tackles, while Spiller's lethal speed makes him capable of scoring from anywhere on the field.
Buffalo invested heavily in their receiving corps this offseason, trading up in the draft for Sammy Watkins and sending a sixth-round selection to the Bucs for Mike Williams. The Lions secondary must be sharp defending all depths, from bubble screens to bombs.
But all the weapons in the world can be negated by subpar quarterback play and the Bills are trotting out veteran Kyle Orton for this one, his first start since signing with the team at the end of September. He's 4-0 against the Lions in his career, but this is a vastly different defense than he's faced in years past, a No. 1-ranked defense to be exact.
The Bills offensive line allowed recently demoted signal-caller E.J. Manuel to get popped behind the line of scrimmage 16 times last week. With the notably less mobile Orton taking the snaps, Detroit's front seven should have some opportunities to tee off.
Edge: Lions
Special teams
The Bills special teams are playing well coming into this contest. Kicker Dan Carpenter has made 10 of his 11 field goal attempts, the team's coverage units have compensated for punter Colton Schmidt's below-average leg strength, plus Spiller and McKelvin are both capable of taking taking a kick back to the house.
Detroit's special teams have also played well, particularly Sam Martin, who is averaging more than 50 yards per punt. The placekicking situation is still a little shaky, with Alex Henery slipping and badly missing one of his two attempts during his Lions debut last week.
Edge: Bills
Coaching
Jim Caldwell and crew have passed the initial test, leading the Lions to a 3-1 mark at the quarter point of the season. The penalties are down, the turnovers trimmed and the team has overcome the adversity of every early injury to lead the NFL in total defense, while closing out all three victories with a power running game in the closing minutes.
Buffalo's staff has made some questionable decisions with its young talent, including the benching of Manuel and the criminal under-utilization of Spiller. But at 2-2, the Bills share first place in the AFC East, in large part to the disruptive defense led by former Lions coach Jim Schwartz.
Edge: Lions
Intangibles
An intriguing matchup, with Schwartz preparing Buffalo's defense to stop a roster he's intimately familiar with after five season in Detroit. While the Lions' scheme is unquestionably different, Schwartz will have an understanding of individual strengths and weaknesses he can use to his advantage.
Both teams are banged up. Johnson won't be 100 percent, Bell won't play, but Kyle Williams' absence will be the biggest blow for either team.
Of course the biggest advantage for Detroit is having this one under the dome at Ford Field, where the fans can disrupt communication for Orton in his first start for Buffalo.
Edge: Lions
Detroit Lions offense vs. Buffalo Bills defense
Few can claim to possess a defensive tackle tandem that stacks up with Detroit's duo of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, but the Bills are one of those teams.
Pro Bowlers Kyle Williams (who is doubtful with a knee injury) and Marcell Dareus anchor a formidable front on the inside. On the edges, Buffalo has $100-million-man Mario Williams and underrated and explosive Jerry Hughes. The group enters the contest fourth in the league with 11 sacks, all while holding opponents to 2.9 yards per carry on the ground.
On the back end, Leodis McKelvin and Corey Graham are a play-making tandem, recording three picks and nine pass defenses in the first four weeks.
Healthy, Detroit's offense probably holds a more significant edge, but star wide receiver Calvin Johnson remains gimpy with an ankle injury and power back Joique Bell isn't expected to play with a concussion.
The Lions have moved the ball on every defense they've faced, it's just a mater of limiting turnovers and capitalizing on opportunities. Buffalo counters with a red zone defense allowing touchdowns on just 50 percent of trips.
Edge: Lions
Detroit Lions defense vs. Buffalo Bills offense
The Bills have some ultra-talented skill players, starting with running backs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller. Jackson, the NFL's oldest running back, is still as tough as anyone to bring down between the tackles, while Spiller's lethal speed makes him capable of scoring from anywhere on the field.
Buffalo invested heavily in their receiving corps this offseason, trading up in the draft for Sammy Watkins and sending a sixth-round selection to the Bucs for Mike Williams. The Lions secondary must be sharp defending all depths, from bubble screens to bombs.
But all the weapons in the world can be negated by subpar quarterback play and the Bills are trotting out veteran Kyle Orton for this one, his first start since signing with the team at the end of September. He's 4-0 against the Lions in his career, but this is a vastly different defense than he's faced in years past, a No. 1-ranked defense to be exact.
The Bills offensive line allowed recently demoted signal-caller E.J. Manuel to get popped behind the line of scrimmage 16 times last week. With the notably less mobile Orton taking the snaps, Detroit's front seven should have some opportunities to tee off.
Edge: Lions
Special teams
The Bills special teams are playing well coming into this contest. Kicker Dan Carpenter has made 10 of his 11 field goal attempts, the team's coverage units have compensated for punter Colton Schmidt's below-average leg strength, plus Spiller and McKelvin are both capable of taking taking a kick back to the house.
Detroit's special teams have also played well, particularly Sam Martin, who is averaging more than 50 yards per punt. The placekicking situation is still a little shaky, with Alex Henery slipping and badly missing one of his two attempts during his Lions debut last week.
Edge: Bills
Coaching
Jim Caldwell and crew have passed the initial test, leading the Lions to a 3-1 mark at the quarter point of the season. The penalties are down, the turnovers trimmed and the team has overcome the adversity of every early injury to lead the NFL in total defense, while closing out all three victories with a power running game in the closing minutes.
Buffalo's staff has made some questionable decisions with its young talent, including the benching of Manuel and the criminal under-utilization of Spiller. But at 2-2, the Bills share first place in the AFC East, in large part to the disruptive defense led by former Lions coach Jim Schwartz.
Edge: Lions
Intangibles
An intriguing matchup, with Schwartz preparing Buffalo's defense to stop a roster he's intimately familiar with after five season in Detroit. While the Lions' scheme is unquestionably different, Schwartz will have an understanding of individual strengths and weaknesses he can use to his advantage.
Both teams are banged up. Johnson won't be 100 percent, Bell won't play, but Kyle Williams' absence will be the biggest blow for either team.
Of course the biggest advantage for Detroit is having this one under the dome at Ford Field, where the fans can disrupt communication for Orton in his first start for Buffalo.
Edge: Lions
TartanLion
Footballguy
We got Waddle back this week which should help. Williams out for them, and Waddle in for us is a nice swing in our direction. Carey back as well.
Really hope our O piles on the points against Schwartz and sticks it to him.
Really hope our O piles on the points against Schwartz and sticks it to him.
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Ilov80s
Footballguy
I was thinking the same thing. A blowout win would be really nice today.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Where are Eddie Murray & Jason Hanson when you need them?
Seriously, Jay Feely or Matt Prater should be kicking by next week.
Seriously, Jay Feely or Matt Prater should be kicking by next week.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Matt Prater's first team was the Detroit Lions. UDFA during the 2006 TC & preseason, he bounced around a half dozen teams over the next two years. When Elam went to Atlanta as a FA, Denver signed him. They were impressed enough during 2008 TC they cut his competition before the preseason began.
bicycle_seat_sniffer
Smells like chicken
Same Old Lions
TartanLion
Footballguy
Absolutely terrible. Unimaginable. No, wait. Not unimaginable at all as this is the Lions. Sadly predicted it would come down to Henery missing a field goal about 50 mins before it happened when the score was 14-6. There's always a new way for the curse to keep hold of us. We sort the defence out, we're managing whilst adapting our O and suffering some injuries so by default it must be our kicking game that becomes the new farce of epic proportions and stops us going 4-1. Even against the Panthers in the other loss it would've been interesting if we'd sunk our field goals.
Worst thing about it was Schwartz claiming the limelight and celebrating at the end. If Henery had sunk his two regulation FG's we could've been 20-6ish up with the game pretty much dead and buried despite the O falling apart and not doing anything.
Potentially falling apart at the seams here.
Wynn looked good at points is the only small scrap of comfort I can find
Worst thing about it was Schwartz claiming the limelight and celebrating at the end. If Henery had sunk his two regulation FG's we could've been 20-6ish up with the game pretty much dead and buried despite the O falling apart and not doing anything.
Potentially falling apart at the seams here.
Wynn looked good at points is the only small scrap of comfort I can find
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Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Some chance still. Get a new kicker and hope the prognosis for johnson & bush is good. Bell should be back.
Hope that the site of jerkface being carried off the field puts a little spark into the team. Needless to say a must win in Minny next week.
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Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Well the offense mostly sucked & the most offensive part of special teams was again offensive. But they still won a fairly easy one on the road. God bless Teddy Bridgewater.
bicycle_seat_sniffer
Smells like chicken
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Whatever it takes to motivate him. As long as he stays away from the twinkies.
