Is Kitna going to keep starting? (1 Viewer)

[Jail]

So is this Detroit regime going to keep going with Kitna? Dude is 35 years old & still as inconsistent and crappy as he was when leaving his last 2 teams.

I know he gets a lot of yards, but most QBs would when you don't protect the ball like you should and turn the ball over more often then you score. For his career he has 193 combined turnovers in 126 games (Averages 1.5 turnovers a game) and with 161 combined TDs he has a 1.2 TO/TD ratio. Thats right...over his 11 year career he has shown to be 20% more likely to turn the ball over then he is to score.

Strangely, I don't hear much griping about his play or calling for his starting job like they are in Minn or were in Tenn. And Vince Young and T. Jackson don't even have studs like Williams & Johnson to throw to. What gives?

If they do replace him...who takes over? Orlovsky or Stanton? With those 2 WR any QB in detroit warrants our fantasy interest.

 

[Spartans Rule]

Something doesn't look right with Kitna this season. I've been a big supporter of him the past few years and think he took a lot of blame for the shortcomings of those around him. But this year, he's just making dumb decisions and throwing the ball inaccurately.

That said, I don't see Kitna losing his job anytime soon. His teammates and coaches seem to love him. (ETA: Shawn Jefferson might be an exception )

If they do make a change, Orlovsky would be the guy. Stanton might still be viewed as the QB of the future, but he's missed too much preseason time the last two years.

 

[Wally Llama]

Kitna's job is safe for at least this next week at San Francisco. Then the Lions get a bye. My gut tells me that Kitna will be in for a while as Marinelli is, by all accounts, coaching for his job this year.

Kitna's not a great QB, but he's not the biggest problem this team faces - not by a long shot. The Lions have been down 21-0 in the first quarter of both games this year, so a lot of game planning goes out the window quickly. The OLine is terrible, too, giving up 8 sacks already, and paving the way for just 111 yards rushing in 2 games.

As long as your league doesn't penalize heavily for INTs, you'll still get some decent production out of Kitna. The Lions will be behind in plenty of games this year and should face a ton of 3rd-and-longs. With Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams available, air yardage will be had.

If Kitna does get pulled, it would mean the season has been scuttled in favor of evaluating for next season. The sensible thing to do would be to then get Stanton playing time to see how well he fares. Expect to see Orlovsky.

 

[yinzer]

I thought Stanton was hurt?

 

[Wally Llama]

I thought Stanton was hurt?

He is, but he should be healthy again after the bye. I don't expect Kitna to get benched until mid-season at the earliest.

 

[TommyGilmore]

They should give J.T. O'Sullivan a shot. Dude is 28 years old and never got a chance to show what he was capable of. I feel like if he could just get a chance to get a few reps into this offense then he could lead the team to a few wins.

 

[jurb26]

Kitna won't be benched anytime soon. The bottom line is he is still the teams best option at QB and they are not out of contention yet. No reason to bench him.

 

[North]

Any right minded person would say that Kitna won't be benched b/c he gives them the best chance to win, but when was the Lions did the correct and sensible thing? Kitna played well yesterday until the 4th quarter, you have to remember that GB has a great D.

 

[TitusIII]

He takes way too many sacks, doesn't have much upside, and is pretty much the epitome of average. Once their back-ups are ready to play, Kitna will find himself benched for good. Of course, this is Matt Millen and company, so who knows...Kitna probably has dinner with the Fords every Friday evening.

 

[Kiddnets]

Kitna is not a solid starting QB in the NFL - but he is a nice fantasy QB with those WRs and lousy defense. Where did all this benching talk come from? IS this specualtion or is there something there ala Taveris?

 

[W1cked]

IMO he might get benched towards the end of the year ( if the Lions continue to lose) when Stanton comes back to give him a look, but Stanton is hurt atm.

 

[[scooter]]

he has a 1.2 TO/TD ratio. Thats right...over his 11 year career he has shown to be 20% more likely to turn the ball over then he is to score.

Joey Harrington's TO/TD ratio in Detroit: 1.17:1

 

[chris1969]

I'm not sure that Peyton Manning could do much better behind that o-line.

 

[red stripe]

When Kitna came in he was way the best QB us Lions fans had seen in a generation and his heart and toughness endeared us to him.

But man that clunker last game was really something and especially at the home opener... I think this might be the house cleaning year for the Lions in as much as Rod might get pressured to let the youth play. So I wouldn't be surprised if we declare rebuilding again this year, around CJ3 Sims and Bodden (if Rod realizes he's better than Kelly and Fisher lollollool)

People are really really pissed in Detroit and if Martz beats us it will be ugly.

 

[red stripe]

he has a 1.2 TO/TD ratio. Thats right...over his 11 year career he has shown to be 20% more likely to turn the ball over then he is to score.

Joey Harrington's TO/TD ratio in Detroit: 1.17:1

Jon Kitna >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Joey by any sane measure everEveryone here knows Jon gives us the best chance to win on any given Sunday

 

[Heaton]

Kitna will play every game baring injury.

 

[Jail]

Joey Harrington's TO/TD ratio in Detroit: 1.17:1

Jon Kitna >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Joey by any sane measure ever

Everyone here knows Jon gives us the best chance to win on any given Sunday

This seems to be the most common opinion. I'm shocked though. How does any team expect to win with a QB that turns the ball over an avg of 1.5/game and is 20% more likely to turn the ball over then score? That is not a recipe for victory.

 

[cobalt_27]

Kitna won't be benched anytime soon. The bottom line is he is still the teams best option at QB and they are not out of contention yet. No reason to bench him.

Yes they are.

 

[[scooter]]

he has a 1.2 TO/TD ratio. Thats right...over his 11 year career he has shown to be 20% more likely to turn the ball over then he is to score.

Joey Harrington's TO/TD ratio in Detroit: 1.17:1

Jon Kitna >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Joey by any sane measure everEveryone here knows Jon gives us the best chance to win on any given Sunday

I guess. But Detroit gave up on Harrington (in part) because he had more turnovers than TDs, yet Kitna produces turnovers at an even higher rate.

 

[jon_mx]

Jon Kitna throws about 20 TDs and 4000 yards per year as a Lion. Harrington threw about 15 TDs and 2500 yards per season. Sorry, but Kitna is about the best thing going for the Lions. Certainly needs to work on reducing turnovers, but until the Lions defense shows up, it is hard to pin much on Kitna.

 

[simey]

But man that clunker last game was really something and especially at the home opener...

I don't think the Lions threw it enough in the first half of the game. They kept running it, and they were behind then. I thought Kitna made a nice comeback in the second half. He did throw all those interceptions at the end, but it seems he is always put in the position where they have to throw it to catch up. Mistakes happen when you are in that desperate situation at the end of a game. I don't think he is the problem in Detroit.

 

[Jail]

Jon Kitna throws about 20 TDs and 4000 yards per year as a Lion. Harrington threw about 15 TDs and 2500 yards per season. Sorry, but Kitna is about the best thing going for the Lions. Certainly needs to work on reducing turnovers, but until the Lions defense shows up, it is hard to pin much on Kitna.

If that is true the Lions are very, very, very pathetic.

 

[AB in DC]

he has a 1.2 TO/TD ratio. Thats right...over his 11 year career he has shown to be 20% more likely to turn the ball over then he is to score.

Joey Harrington's TO/TD ratio in Detroit: 1.17:1

Jon Kitna >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Joey by any sane measure everEveryone here knows Jon gives us the best chance to win on any given Sunday

I guess. But Detroit gave up on Harrington (in part) because he had more turnovers than TDs, yet Kitna produces turnovers at an even higher rate.

But how many of those INTs came after the game was already decided?

 

[sholditch]

I thought Stanton was hurt?

He is, but he should be healthy again after the bye. I don't expect Kitna to get benched until mid-season at the earliest.

HE's practicing this week but still listed third on the DC. I think we could see Stanton take over at some point this season but I am thinking the earliest would be about week 12, unless Kitna completely melts down.

 

[Da Guru]

We all know Kitnas upside and the fans have been calling for Kitna to be benched, but the fans have also been calling for Millen to be fired for years. That being the case Kitna should be safe for quite some time.

 

[TommyGilmore]

he has a 1.2 TO/TD ratio. Thats right...over his 11 year career he has shown to be 20% more likely to turn the ball over then he is to score.

Joey Harrington's TO/TD ratio in Detroit: 1.17:1

Jon Kitna >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Joey by any sane measure everEveryone here knows Jon gives us the best chance to win on any given Sunday

I guess. But Detroit gave up on Harrington (in part) because he had more turnovers than TDs, yet Kitna produces turnovers at an even higher rate.

But how many of those INTs came after the game was already decided?

Wait, did you just try to argue that Kitna is a better quarterback because he falls behind quicker??

 

[drew726]

Kitna is hardly the reason they're losing.

 

[AB in DC]

he has a 1.2 TO/TD ratio. Thats right...over his 11 year career he has shown to be 20% more likely to turn the ball over then he is to score.

Joey Harrington's TO/TD ratio in Detroit: 1.17:1

Jon Kitna >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Joey by any sane measure everEveryone here knows Jon gives us the best chance to win on any given Sunday

I guess. But Detroit gave up on Harrington (in part) because he had more turnovers than TDs, yet Kitna produces turnovers at an even higher rate.

But how many of those INTs came after the game was already decided?

Wait, did you just try to argue that Kitna is a better quarterback because he falls behind quicker??

Are you saying it's Kitna's fault that Detroit keeps giving up 21 points in the first quarter?

 

[TommyGilmore]

he has a 1.2 TO/TD ratio. Thats right...over his 11 year career he has shown to be 20% more likely to turn the ball over then he is to score.

Joey Harrington's TO/TD ratio in Detroit: 1.17:1

Jon Kitna >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Joey by any sane measure everEveryone here knows Jon gives us the best chance to win on any given Sunday

I guess. But Detroit gave up on Harrington (in part) because he had more turnovers than TDs, yet Kitna produces turnovers at an even higher rate.

But how many of those INTs came after the game was already decided?

Wait, did you just try to argue that Kitna is a better quarterback because he falls behind quicker??

Are you saying it's Kitna's fault that Detroit keeps giving up 21 points in the first quarter?

Partly, yeah- 72.7 passer rating in 1st quarter (vs. 88.1, 86.3 and 73.3 in the other quarters)

- worst TD/INT ratio in 1st quarter

- plays his best when playing from behind

So yeah, part of the reason why Detroit gives up 21 points in the first quarter is because Kitna plays so badly that the other teams get better field position and more opportunities to score. The facts simply don't support the notion that Kitna threw significantly more INTs after the game was decided (unless you want to argue that the games were decided in the 1st quarter).

 

[T Man]

By week 6, if there is not marked improvement, the Lions need to start Orlovsky. Why? To see what they have. Kitna is not the future. Stanton may be, but he has had little time in the offense due to his injury. They should giv e Orlovsky a few games and if it does'nt work out, then give Stanton the last three or four. The Lions will then have a gauge of what they have before the draft.

With that said, they will start Kitna the entire season.

 

[TitusIII]

Kitna is hardly the reason they're losing.

On the flip-side, I don't think he contributes much to their winning either...he just makes too many stupid mistakes, and quite frankly, a monkey who didn't turn the ball over/hold on to it for too long could have reasonable success throwing the rock to the studs they have at WR. For the sake of the Lions fans, I hope Orlovsky/Stanton is behind center before long...

 

[AB in DC]

Wow, those 1st Quarter stats are brutal by 2005-2007. I was looking at just of the two games in 2008, where three of his four interceptions were thrown in the fourth quarter.

 

[sholditch]

as a Megatron owner in many leagues, I hope he stays behind center. The results thus far have been pretty good.