Detroit vs. Oakland (1 Viewer)

[shakeybarn]

Ok, yes, I'm a Detroit homer, so I am bias, but here are some facts about Detroit's offense.

1) The offensive line was decimated with injures 12 different players started on the offensive line at some point or another during the season. Three projected starters missed a combined 29 starts and on top of that, the original backups were injured and missed starts as well. Yes, I said 12 different players lined up for Detroit on the Oline and the starters missed a combined 29 starts, if you don't know the significance of that, you don't understand football. They went out and got Edwin Mulitalo and George Foster who, even if they don't play well, will still be a vast improvement over what they had last year, they were pulling guys off the street, putting them in the starting lineup and asked them to execute the extremely complex Martz system. They won't give up 63 sacks this year and the run blocking will be improved this year, but our running game will suffer until we get KJ back. He's a good back that has played behind a bad and often injured offensive line.

2) Martz and Kitna never had a viable option for a third receiver last year, there was a revolving door for the 3rd receiver (vital in Martz' offense) . . .they tried Bradford, Drummond, Mike Williams, Kevin Kasper, DeVale Ellis, etc . . .they even played Josh McCown at WR. None of them could hang on to the job. This year, they are not only bringing in Calvin Johnson (who I don't think is going to have a huge year), but they also brought in S. McDonald who, like Mike Furrey, was very familiar with Mike Martz' system from his time in St. Louis. So not only can they properly execute Martz' 3 WR sets, they will also be able to run 4 WR sets as well.

3) A lot of Kitna's interceptions were a result of poor route running by the Receivers. He had his share of mistakes last year, but more than half the interceptions (A number that Martz gave in an interview) were because of poor route running.

Detroit will score points and they will score points against Oakland, they will run, but probably not effectively. But as many points as Detroit gets, they're liable to give up just as many, I just don't know how well Culpepper will do with 2 weeks of practice or McCown in a new system after riding the pine in Detroit. With a healthy Shaun Rogers, Detroit's run defense has always been solid, Oakland will have a tough time running the ball, but should have success through the air.

outstanding post . . .

Look into Kitna's numbers more. Outside of the dome he's got 8 TDs and 9 INTs (with one game a throw-away)... guessing WRs run well at home, and poor on the road. Can't see much changing in that then.

Oakland D pass secondary is top 5. This game is going to closer than ya think. I'm going against someone starting Calvin Johnson AND Roy Williams.

Reminds me of the Saints/Chicago matchup in the NFC Championship... sooooooo many tell-tale stats with Saints outside the dome, and Chicago at home, the Chicago D (not saying the Oakland D is like the Chicago D, but neither is Detroit's offense similar to the Saints).

Agree with the rhetoric with Daunte being rusty and unfamiliar.

Oakland's offensive line will kill themselves.

Oakland running game will be serviceable. With zero passing game and Jordan injured all year, last year was indicative of how they are starting in '07.. but I don't see huge output this week, however.

Raider D is very quick and physical at LB and DBs.... well-matched to face the passing game.

But I'm not sure about "Detroit has always had a solid run defense"????

Bottom 12 in yds/game, bottom 5 in rushing TDs given up...middle of the pack in yards per carry (all those short yardage TDs help here)... last year. Not going to bother with '05 or '04, but I'd believe you if you pulled some proof up.

Per the "not having a 3rd WR?".... ummm MANY teams don't have a 3rd WR any better than what they had. Last checked Furrey's numbers in that stretch of games was ridiculous and Roy Williams is no slouch. ....and they had a top receiving RB, until he went down. 3rd WR... not as important. The Colts didn't have much of a 3rd WR, neither did the Chargers for that matter, and I can't even recall whom was the Pats 3rd WR.

(disclosure: not a Raider fan, just a little contrarian to some homerism)

 

[TwinTurbo]

Here is the Lions road record (W-L) during the Matt Millen era:

2001: 0-8

2002: 0-8

2003: 0-8

2004: 3-5

2005: 2-6

2006: 1-7 (Lions finally win a road game in Week 17 at Dallas, just in time to blow getting the #1 overall pick which goes to the Raiders)

If I was a betting man, I would bet on the Raiders to win in Week 1. The Lions absolutely suck on the road. Under Millen, they have won only 6 road games in the last 6 years and won only 25% of the total games played. Every year, Lions fans think it will be different but every year it's the same old, same old. Sure they can beat the Raiders, but the statistics say they probably won't. Final score will probably be 21-28, Raiders win.

 

[kensat30]

Watch Detroit run 4 wide out the gate and blow Oakland's vaunted passing defense out of the water early.

 

[Skinsfansince72]

6. Kitna and Roy are must starts this week. Jordan is a solid start as a rb2. Curry and CJ are decent starts in that order. Tater is a questionable start. Neither defense is a start, unless you get crazy points for sacks/to's, then Oak is a decent option.

Asomugha is shutdown.I think CJ might lead the lions in receiving this week.

Any starting wr going agaist Detroit is a must start. I'm thinking that the Raider D isn't going to surrender more than 17 points unless the offense is turing the ball over. I don't see big day for the Detroit offense. I'll take the Silver and Black 31-17.

 

[Addai's Adidas]

Here is the Lions road record (W-L) during the Matt Millen era:2001: 0-82002: 0-82003: 0-82004: 3-52005: 2-62006: 1-7 (Lions finally win a road game in Week 17 at Dallas, just in time to blow getting the #1 overall pick which goes to the Raiders)If I was a betting man, I would bet on the Raiders to win in Week 1. The Lions absolutely suck on the road. Under Millen, they have won only 6 road games in the last 6 years and won only 25% of the total games played. Every year, Lions fans think it will be different but every year it's the same old, same old. Sure they can beat the Raiders, but the statistics say they probably won't. Final score will probably be 21-28, Raiders win.

I'm not sure what Millen has to do with the road record in particular. His home record isn't much better.

 

[duaneok66]

Ok, yes, I'm a Detroit homer, so I am bias, but here are some facts about Detroit's offense.

1) The offensive line was decimated with injures 12 different players started on the offensive line at some point or another during the season. Three projected starters missed a combined 29 starts and on top of that, the original backups were injured and missed starts as well. Yes, I said 12 different players lined up for Detroit on the Oline and the starters missed a combined 29 starts, if you don't know the significance of that, you don't understand football. They went out and got Edwin Mulitalo and George Foster who, even if they don't play well, will still be a vast improvement over what they had last year, they were pulling guys off the street, putting them in the starting lineup and asked them to execute the extremely complex Martz system. They won't give up 63 sacks this year and the run blocking will be improved this year, but our running game will suffer until we get KJ back. He's a good back that has played behind a bad and often injured offensive line.

2) Martz and Kitna never had a viable option for a third receiver last year, there was a revolving door for the 3rd receiver (vital in Martz' offense) . . .they tried Bradford, Drummond, Mike Williams, Kevin Kasper, DeVale Ellis, etc . . .they even played Josh McCown at WR. None of them could hang on to the job. This year, they are not only bringing in Calvin Johnson (who I don't think is going to have a huge year), but they also brought in S. McDonald who, like Mike Furrey, was very familiar with Mike Martz' system from his time in St. Louis. So not only can they properly execute Martz' 3 WR sets, they will also be able to run 4 WR sets as well.

3) A lot of Kitna's interceptions were a result of poor route running by the Receivers. He had his share of mistakes last year, but more than half the interceptions (A number that Martz gave in an interview) were because of poor route running.

Detroit will score points and they will score points against Oakland, they will run, but probably not effectively. But as many points as Detroit gets, they're liable to give up just as many, I just don't know how well Culpepper will do with 2 weeks of practice or McCown in a new system after riding the pine in Detroit. With a healthy Shaun Rogers, Detroit's run defense has always been solid, Oakland will have a tough time running the ball, but should have success through the air.

outstanding post . . .

Look into Kitna's numbers more. Outside of the dome he's got 8 TDs and 9 INTs (with one game a throw-away)... guessing WRs run well at home, and poor on the road. Can't see much changing in that then.

Oakland D pass secondary is top 5. This game is going to closer than ya think. I'm going against someone starting Calvin Johnson AND Roy Williams.

Reminds me of the Saints/Chicago matchup in the NFC Championship... sooooooo many tell-tale stats with Saints outside the dome, and Chicago at home, the Chicago D (not saying the Oakland D is like the Chicago D, but neither is Detroit's offense similar to the Saints).

Agree with the rhetoric with Daunte being rusty and unfamiliar.

Oakland's offensive line will kill themselves.

Oakland running game will be serviceable. With zero passing game and Jordan injured all year, last year was indicative of how they are starting in '07.. but I don't see huge output this week, however.

Raider D is very quick and physical at LB and DBs.... well-matched to face the passing game.

But I'm not sure about "Detroit has always had a solid run defense"????

Bottom 12 in yds/game, bottom 5 in rushing TDs given up...middle of the pack in yards per carry (all those short yardage TDs help here)... last year. Not going to bother with '05 or '04, but I'd believe you if you pulled some proof up.Per the "not having a 3rd WR?".... ummm MANY teams don't have a 3rd WR any better than what they had. Last checked Furrey's numbers in that stretch of games was ridiculous and Roy Williams is no slouch. ....and they had a top receiving RB, until he went down. 3rd WR... not as important. The Colts didn't have much of a 3rd WR, neither did the Chargers for that matter, and I can't even recall whom was the Pats 3rd WR.

(disclosure: not a Raider fan, just a little contrarian to some homerism)

the Lions run D is very good assuming that Rogers is HEALTHY . . . he often isn't . . .

 

[NFZ]

Ok, yes, I'm a Detroit homer, so I am bias, but here are some facts about Detroit's offense.

1) The offensive line was decimated with injures 12 different players started on the offensive line at some point or another during the season. Three projected starters missed a combined 29 starts and on top of that, the original backups were injured and missed starts as well. Yes, I said 12 different players lined up for Detroit on the Oline and the starters missed a combined 29 starts, if you don't know the significance of that, you don't understand football. They went out and got Edwin Mulitalo and George Foster who, even if they don't play well, will still be a vast improvement over what they had last year, they were pulling guys off the street, putting them in the starting lineup and asked them to execute the extremely complex Martz system. They won't give up 63 sacks this year and the run blocking will be improved this year, but our running game will suffer until we get KJ back. He's a good back that has played behind a bad and often injured offensive line.

2) Martz and Kitna never had a viable option for a third receiver last year, there was a revolving door for the 3rd receiver (vital in Martz' offense) . . .they tried Bradford, Drummond, Mike Williams, Kevin Kasper, DeVale Ellis, etc . . .they even played Josh McCown at WR. None of them could hang on to the job. This year, they are not only bringing in Calvin Johnson (who I don't think is going to have a huge year), but they also brought in S. McDonald who, like Mike Furrey, was very familiar with Mike Martz' system from his time in St. Louis. So not only can they properly execute Martz' 3 WR sets, they will also be able to run 4 WR sets as well.

3) A lot of Kitna's interceptions were a result of poor route running by the Receivers. He had his share of mistakes last year, but more than half the interceptions (A number that Martz gave in an interview) were because of poor route running.

Detroit will score points and they will score points against Oakland, they will run, but probably not effectively. But as many points as Detroit gets, they're liable to give up just as many, I just don't know how well Culpepper will do with 2 weeks of practice or McCown in a new system after riding the pine in Detroit. With a healthy Shaun Rogers, Detroit's run defense has always been solid, Oakland will have a tough time running the ball, but should have success through the air.

outstanding post . . .

Look into Kitna's numbers more. Outside of the dome he's got 8 TDs and 9 INTs (with one game a throw-away)... guessing WRs run well at home, and poor on the road. Can't see much changing in that then.

Oakland D pass secondary is top 5. This game is going to closer than ya think. I'm going against someone starting Calvin Johnson AND Roy Williams.

Reminds me of the Saints/Chicago matchup in the NFC Championship... sooooooo many tell-tale stats with Saints outside the dome, and Chicago at home, the Chicago D (not saying the Oakland D is like the Chicago D, but neither is Detroit's offense similar to the Saints).

Agree with the rhetoric with Daunte being rusty and unfamiliar.

Oakland's offensive line will kill themselves.

Oakland running game will be serviceable. With zero passing game and Jordan injured all year, last year was indicative of how they are starting in '07.. but I don't see huge output this week, however.

Raider D is very quick and physical at LB and DBs.... well-matched to face the passing game.

But I'm not sure about "Detroit has always had a solid run defense"????

Bottom 12 in yds/game, bottom 5 in rushing TDs given up...middle of the pack in yards per carry (all those short yardage TDs help here)... last year. Not going to bother with '05 or '04, but I'd believe you if you pulled some proof up.Per the "not having a 3rd WR?".... ummm MANY teams don't have a 3rd WR any better than what they had. Last checked Furrey's numbers in that stretch of games was ridiculous and Roy Williams is no slouch. ....and they had a top receiving RB, until he went down. 3rd WR... not as important. The Colts didn't have much of a 3rd WR, neither did the Chargers for that matter, and I can't even recall whom was the Pats 3rd WR.

(disclosure: not a Raider fan, just a little contrarian to some homerism)

the Lions run D is very good assuming that Rogers is HEALTHY . . . he often isn't . . .

Save last year, thats why the Lions start off fairly strong (yeah I use that loosely, but its the Lions). The poor guy can only make it 4 weeks into the season before he is unable to practice anymore. In the last three years he has at least 4 sacks where he has gotten to the QB before the QB was able to hand off the ball. You can't stop the run game much better than that. Culpepper will be lost out there, but there will be a handful of plays where he will have 4-5 seconds to get off a few plays and they will be big enough to keep the game close. Martz already stated that he was running 3 and 4 wide out sets because Oakland doesnt have the personnel to handle it. Whether or not thats true I dont know. By the second half Rogers will be hurt and Oakland will make their comeback and win.

 

[DeadStroke]

Ok, yes, I'm a Detroit homer, so I am bias, but here are some facts about Detroit's offense.

1) The offensive line was decimated with injures 12 different players started on the offensive line at some point or another during the season. Three projected starters missed a combined 29 starts and on top of that, the original backups were injured and missed starts as well. Yes, I said 12 different players lined up for Detroit on the Oline and the starters missed a combined 29 starts, if you don't know the significance of that, you don't understand football. They went out and got Edwin Mulitalo and George Foster who, even if they don't play well, will still be a vast improvement over what they had last year, they were pulling guys off the street, putting them in the starting lineup and asked them to execute the extremely complex Martz system. They won't give up 63 sacks this year and the run blocking will be improved this year, but our running game will suffer until we get KJ back. He's a good back that has played behind a bad and often injured offensive line.

2) Martz and Kitna never had a viable option for a third receiver last year, there was a revolving door for the 3rd receiver (vital in Martz' offense) . . .they tried Bradford, Drummond, Mike Williams, Kevin Kasper, DeVale Ellis, etc . . .they even played Josh McCown at WR. None of them could hang on to the job. This year, they are not only bringing in Calvin Johnson (who I don't think is going to have a huge year), but they also brought in S. McDonald who, like Mike Furrey, was very familiar with Mike Martz' system from his time in St. Louis. So not only can they properly execute Martz' 3 WR sets, they will also be able to run 4 WR sets as well.

3) A lot of Kitna's interceptions were a result of poor route running by the Receivers. He had his share of mistakes last year, but more than half the interceptions (A number that Martz gave in an interview) were because of poor route running.

Detroit will score points and they will score points against Oakland, they will run, but probably not effectively. But as many points as Detroit gets, they're liable to give up just as many, I just don't know how well Culpepper will do with 2 weeks of practice or McCown in a new system after riding the pine in Detroit. With a healthy Shaun Rogers, Detroit's run defense has always been solid, Oakland will have a tough time running the ball, but should have success through the air.

outstanding post . . .

Look into Kitna's numbers more. Outside of the dome he's got 8 TDs and 9 INTs (with one game a throw-away)... guessing WRs run well at home, and poor on the road. Can't see much changing in that then.

Oakland D pass secondary is top 5. This game is going to closer than ya think. I'm going against someone starting Calvin Johnson AND Roy Williams.

Reminds me of the Saints/Chicago matchup in the NFC Championship... sooooooo many tell-tale stats with Saints outside the dome, and Chicago at home, the Chicago D (not saying the Oakland D is like the Chicago D, but neither is Detroit's offense similar to the Saints).

Agree with the rhetoric with Daunte being rusty and unfamiliar.

Oakland's offensive line will kill themselves.

Oakland running game will be serviceable. With zero passing game and Jordan injured all year, last year was indicative of how they are starting in '07.. but I don't see huge output this week, however.

Raider D is very quick and physical at LB and DBs.... well-matched to face the passing game.

But I'm not sure about "Detroit has always had a solid run defense"????

Bottom 12 in yds/game, bottom 5 in rushing TDs given up...middle of the pack in yards per carry (all those short yardage TDs help here)... last year. Not going to bother with '05 or '04, but I'd believe you if you pulled some proof up.

Per the "not having a 3rd WR?".... ummm MANY teams don't have a 3rd WR any better than what they had. Last checked Furrey's numbers in that stretch of games was ridiculous and Roy Williams is no slouch. ....and they had a top receiving RB, until he went down. 3rd WR... not as important. The Colts didn't have much of a 3rd WR, neither did the Chargers for that matter, and I can't even recall whom was the Pats 3rd WR.

(disclosure: not a Raider fan, just a little contrarian to some homerism)

I guess I don't see the difference between indoors and outdoors. He has a 7.3YPA indoors and a 7.3 YPA outdoors. He's got a 61.6% completion rate indoors and a 64.5% completion rate outdoors. He has 13TD's and 13 INT's indoors in 11 games and 8 TD's and 9 INT's outdoors in five games. Help me understand what the difference between an indoor game and an outdoor game for Kitna?Before they lost Shaun Rogers and two other members of their starting Defensive line, Detroit was giving up 3.5 YPA on the ground. Without Rogers, Hall and Cody, they gave up almost 5.5 YPA without those guys.

Maybe you don't understand the significance of a third receiver, because it relates to football and not to fantasy production. Every team has a third receiver, you have to, but Martz didn't have one that could do what he needed done last year, this year he's got 3 other guys that can perfom better than the #3 guy last year (2 if you don't want to include Calvin yet). The third receiver isn't going to DIRECTLY generate more passing yards or more TD's. What it will do is to allow the offense to be more efficient. Martz' likes to run a lot of 3 WR sets and with a viable third receiver (honestly, his receptions are irrelivant, but he needs to run a correct route), it opens up the defense and thus makes the passing attack more effective. Having a viable 3rd receiver won't generate more fantasy production in terms of yards, but it should put them in better position offensively (less 3rd and long's, more 3rds and short) and thus cut down on Kitna's INT's (which a large percentage was due to misrun routes) and give Detroit more scoring opportunities.

I never said that Detroit would win this game (although I hope they do), I said they would score points and they will. I also said that with Shaun Rogers in the lineup, they will be effective against the run. They might not shut Oakland down, but they will be effective. If Detroit loses Kitna, they are hurting on offense, if Detroit loses Rogers, they will be hurting BIG TIME on defense, (when healthy he's one of the best DT's in the game, bar none), but for this Oakland game, both guys are starting.

 

[Garrett]

last year, Asomugha (Oakland's CB1) only covered the WR1 for the opponent 37% of the time . . .

Is there a site that tracks stats like that? That would be pretty interesting to see for all the NFL teams.

 

[dirtywaters20]

Watch Detroit run 4 wide out the gate and blow Oakland's vaunted passing defense out of the water early.

Derrick Burgess will love that.

 

[Pittsburgh United]

Good info here!

 

[duaneok66]

Anyone who thinks that Detroit cant score this year is kidding themselves . . . a name is a name - a few years ago, people were still trashing the Bengals, but now they have a dominant offense . . .last year Detroit piled up yards WITH that mediocre QB and only two receivers and a HORRIBLE OL . . . the OL should be better, and they have two more receivers, and Martz will get a chance to use alot more of his playbook . . . watch out people . . .

The Bengals went out and got themselves a stud qb. The Lions got a retread who thows more interceptions than td's. No running game. Kevin Jones is LT compared to what's taking his place. I'll wait until they actually do something beforegranting them anything. FF is about consistent points. Not seeing them in Detroit this year.

now you can grant them something . . .

 

[kensat30]

Watch Detroit run 4 wide out the gate and blow Oakland's vaunted passing defense out of the water early.

Derrick Burgess will love that.

Don't think he loved it.

 

[patriarchz]

Obviously a Raiders homer here, but I think Oakland is gonna crush Detroit. In a big way.Trust me, the Oakland defense is the real deal, especially against the pass. I like the run defense to be better this year and I think Oakland is going to cause oppossing offenses fits all year long. The offense is not only going to be better than last year (how could it possibly be worse), it is going to be significantly better. We have a real blocking scheme in place now and Kiffin has the team ready to play. I think the players are going to respond on offense and play to make everyone forget about last year's debacle. Look for a shut down day by the Oakland defense. If Detroit scores 10 poitns, I will be surprised. I think C-Pep, Porter and Jordan all have nice fantasy days as well as Oakland sets the tempo for 2007!

Where are the "I told you so" comments?

 

[Spartans Rule]

Obviously a Raiders homer here, but I think Oakland is gonna crush Detroit. In a big way.Trust me, the Oakland defense is the real deal, especially against the pass. I like the run defense to be better this year and I think Oakland is going to cause oppossing offenses fits all year long. The offense is not only going to be better than last year (how could it possibly be worse), it is going to be significantly better. We have a real blocking scheme in place now and Kiffin has the team ready to play. I think the players are going to respond on offense and play to make everyone forget about last year's debacle. Look for a shut down day by the Oakland defense. If Detroit scores 10 poitns, I will be surprised. I think C-Pep, Porter and Jordan all have nice fantasy days as well as Oakland sets the tempo for 2007!

Where are the "I told you so" comments?

I dunno if Lions fans are really in the mood to brag. Clearly we were still looking at a matchup of bottom five teams.But I suppose a is in order for Raider fans who thought things would be different.

 

[DeadStroke]

I don't think any Lions fans are going to brag about it.

1) Kitna was very effective against a pretty good Raiders pass defense.

2) You can really see what the additions of Calvin Johnson and Shaun McDonald to go along with Roy Williams and Mike Furrey does for Martz' offense. It's night and day compared to last year.

3) The offensive line is still at best an average offensive line, but they did manage to get a couple of nice holes for Bell and protected Kitna fairly well.

4) Kitna should be an effective fantasy QB option virtually every week.

On the flip side,

1) Oakland isn't that far away from being a decent offense. The timing with McCown and his receivers was off, he'll either get better in the next couple of games or they'll bring in Culpepper. I think McCown will get better and I also think that Oakland will be a better team with McCown.

2) I think Kiffen was a good hire for the Raiders, you could see a big difference in the Raiders offense as the game went along. He adjusted his game plan well.

3) Warren Sapp can still create a lot of havoc.