Playing at home should help. Even the Browns and Raiders can win at home. But yes Caldwell is not a good head coach. Last year they had a super soft schedule and the 11-5 record was a complete mirage. The reality is the offense has regressed since he took over. Stafford has not improved. The schedule is much tougher this year. 8-8 seems like a best case scenario at this point. 6-10 seems more likely.Once again I was fooled by the Lion's shiny new toy. This franchise is garbage and no man's land for RBs.Caldwell can destroy any fantasy players value. The guy stands stoic on the sideline with zero emotion while getting his teeth kicked in week after week. Forget about any consistency with this team along as that rotten turd is coaching and Lombardi is calling the plays. Remember, they let the other team dictate what they can do. They said it themselves. The rest of the league laughed at them. Look for an 0-5 start and they may be able to beat Chicago week 6. Their whole philosophy is to not make a mistake and not take any chances. Stafford looks like an idiot running around in the backfield afraid to throw the ball. Watching this offense is painful.Not one person involved with this team seems like they want to be there, players and coaches included.
I know rookies have to be worked in, but in the context of this game, which I watched a LOT of, it was befuddling to me they didn't seek to create more opportunites for him in some dumpoffs and screens just to open up more for Tate and CJ deep.
OK, maybe they are. Still, he didn't play well. He certainly didn't earn more touches than he got. This is the way things are going to be in Det this year. It's a RBBC nightmare.awful stupid coaching staff, front office and franchise
Did he look better or worse than Joique? IMO Bell is the guy who should be taking a seat on the bench.....OK, maybe they are. Still, he didn't play well. He certainly didn't earn more touches than he got. This is the way things are going to be in Det this year. It's a RBBC nightmare.awful stupid coaching staff, front office and franchise
So how exactly can we say that he didn't play well? No, his YPC were not good but don't know if he is to blame for that, as Bell gained 2 yards on 4 carries. He was also targeted just one time and it went for 9 yards. A guy like that needs to get the ball in space and it didn't seem like they tried very hard to do that.OK, maybe they are. Still, he didn't play well. He certainly didn't earn more touches than he got.This is the way things are going to be in Det this year. It's a RBBC nightmare.awful stupid coaching staff, front office and franchise
I didn't see the game, thus have no idea how well he played. Why do you think he played "not well"? Did you see the game, or are you basing your assessment on stats?So we are allowed to say he played well on limited touches but not that he he didn't play well on limited touches.
Got it.
I saw the game. He looked pretty much how he has prior. Get him to space and he's electric. When the space isn't there he gets swallowed up.I didn't see the game, thus have no idea how well he played. Why do you think he played "not well"? Did you see the game, or are you basing your assessment on stats?So we are allowed to say he played well on limited touches but not that he he didn't play well on limited touches.
Got it.
Excluding the 5 yard loss from a defender tackling him a nanosecond after Stafford gave him the ball?I saw the game.He looked pretty much how he has prior. Get him to space and he's electric. When the space isn't there he gets swallowed up.I didn't see the game, thus have no idea how well he played. Why do you think he played "not well"? Did you see the game, or are you basing your assessment on stats?So we are allowed to say he played well on limited touches but not that he he didn't play well on limited touches.
Got it.
This isn't a case like D. Murray where he is breaking tackles in the back field just to get positive yards.
sig worthyI hate him, I hate the Lions, I hate myself for drafting him, I hate fantasy football, I especially ####### hate Romo who I swore I'd never draft again, ####### Pats are cheaters, Goodell is a turd and if I see one more ###### mother####ing draftkings or fanduel commercial I swear I'm going outside and shooting at cars. We're watching the Wire and if my wife mentions football we're divorcing.
The o-line is in shambles again.Week 2 Snap Counts:
Theo Riddick RB 35 45% (12 ST)
Ameer Abdullah RB 31 40% (6 ST)
Joique Bell RB 18 23%
Zenner had zero snaps, only played ST.
Through two games, RT Cornelius Lucas has been the Lions worst player per PFF, giving up 8 hurries. He ranks 58th out of 66 tackles.
Holy crap, Stafford got his ### kicked! I'm surprised his spleen didn't come outta his mouthThe o-line is in shambles again.Week 2 Snap Counts:
Theo Riddick RB 35 45% (12 ST)
Ameer Abdullah RB 31 40% (6 ST)
Joique Bell RB 18 23%
Zenner had zero snaps, only played ST.
Through two games, RT Cornelius Lucas has been the Lions worst player per PFF, giving up 8 hurries. He ranks 58th out of 66 tackles.
It wouldn't take so much cojones as lack of other options. I'd go Reed. I'd say he has floor of about 10 and upside of 20.So who has the cojones to start this week? Debating him or Reed in flex
I just can't do it. What I thought would be plus game flow (trailing) for Abdullah turned into the Riddick show. I can't predict this, I can't start him.So who has the cojones to start this week? Debating him or Reed in flex
DEN has a great defense in general but I'm betting Abdullah could still make plays vs. them given the requisite volume. The problem is if DET goes down early and this turns into the Riddick show again. Vegas thinks this game will be close (DEN -2) which actually has me befuddled. Peyton has looked like crap at times this year but not nearly as inept as DET's offensive unit has a whole. Do they really expect DET to be able to keep up with DEN? It's odd.Have no clue what to think this week. Considering Stafford may not play ill probably bench him for 1 of Woodhead, Freeman, or Mathews but not sure at this point.
I am starting him in both leagues I b own him because they are both rebuilds and I don't have much else to start.It wouldn't take so much cojones as lack of other options. I'd go Reed. I'd say he has floor of about 10 and upside of 20.So who has the cojones to start this week? Debating him or Reed in flex
Benching Abs for Dion and Woodhead.So who has the cojones to start this week? Debating him or Reed in flex
So frustrating last week seeing Riddick get so much action and nothing for Abdullah. Is Riddick that much better in pass pro?I just can't do it. What I thought would be plus game flow (trailing) for Abdullah turned into the Riddick show. I can't predict this, I can't start him.So who has the cojones to start this week? Debating him or Reed in flex
So frustrating last week seeing Riddick get so much action and nothing for Abdullah. Is Riddick that much better in pass pro?the fact that it's MNF might push me over the edge to start him, I love having guys on primetime.I just can't do it. What I thought would be plus game flow (trailing) for Abdullah turned into the Riddick show. I can't predict this, I can't start him.So who has the cojones to start this week? Debating him or Reed in flex
Detroit is solid?While DET has disappointed and DEN defense has been pretty good, don't over-react. The Lions are playing at home and these are still both solid NFL teams. Charles had a great day playing the DEN defense at home, and that was with DEN playing many 7-8 man boxes.
Abdullah could be a nice sleeper/bounce-back player this week. I'm incorporating him in about 15% of my DFS lineups.
I was kind of thinking the same thing. The sample size is still relatively small with only two games played. It's not like he has had two horrible weeks, he had a great game in week one, he and the entire team just shat the bed In week 2.While DET has disappointed and DEN defense has been pretty good, don't over-react. The Lions are playing at home and these are still both solid NFL teams. Charles had a great day playing the DEN defense at home, and that was with DEN playing many 7-8 man boxes.
Abdullah could be a nice sleeper/bounce-back player this week. I'm incorporating him in about 15% of my DFS lineups.
I hear ya - definitely a possibility.I mean this might be one of the games where the Broncos get out 21-0 because of Stafford not being able to throw the ball on Denver.
What hurts is how the Lions love Theo Riddick in all 3rd and longs and passing situations.
We are looking at 5-7 touches on offense and 3 KR for 75 yards.
I'm starting him but Doug Martin is my only other choice.
CONCLUSION:
If you read the blow-by-blow, you quickly realize it's not an issue with one or two players. Larry Warford, Travis Swanson, Cornelius Lucas all made multiple mistakes. Manny Ramirez, who played well in the opener in San Diego, was average in this one. The bright spot might have been Burton, the rookie fullback, who seemed to be competent with his assignments on limited snaps.
The running backs deserve little to no blame for this performance, outside of the fumble by Riddick. On the 13 carries, including the two-point conversion, they were hit in the backfield on nine of the 13 attempts. That's nearly 70 percent of plays the back couldn't even reach the line of scrimmage before contact.
Considering that his "old form" is still a sub 4ypc rusher he must have really lost a step post injury.The Lions are expected to reduce Joique Bell’s role if he "doesn’t find his old form soon."
Lions reporter Michael Rothstein believes Bell "doesn’t have the same power or burst out of the backfield," and "has looked hesitant" on his runs. Ameer Abdullah started and played 45 percent of snaps in Week 2. Already in a limited committee role, Bell could be relegated to backup status if his struggles continue.
Riley Reif has been awful at LT - 8 hurries so far, 2nd worst at his position in the league. Cornelius Lucas has started the last two games at right tackle and has the second-worst Pro Football Focus grade among Lions this season (minus-7.4), behind quarterback Matthew Stafford (minus-7.9), giving up 7 hurries while grading out 65th out of 72 tackles overall. Waddle will be back in the lineup this week so don't expect to see much of Lucas. Pettigrew is out again but Ebron played a career high in snaps last week and actually blocked pretty well.I hope they keep continuing to get Ebron looks but the offensive line play is the key to the game. It's not talented group so you would think quick slants to Tate and screens to AA will be in the game plan to help slow down Denver's pass rush. The Lions aren't going to win to many games where Theo is leading the tailbacks in snaps. Last week was game flow I suppose - sort of like Dunbar & Sproles week 1, and Thompson Thursday night - everybody in the copycat league has a little RB who plays in the catch up offense. If the Broncos boat race the start WTF wouldn't you want to use AA in that role?Spartans Rule said:A good breakdown of the Lions run game against the Vikings.
If you don't care to read about all 13 plays, here's the summary:
CONCLUSION:
If you read the blow-by-blow, you quickly realize it's not an issue with one or two players. Larry Warford, Travis Swanson, Cornelius Lucas all made multiple mistakes. Manny Ramirez, who played well in the opener in San Diego, was average in this one. The bright spot might have been Burton, the rookie fullback, who seemed to be competent with his assignments on limited snaps.
The running backs deserve little to no blame for this performance, outside of the fumble by Riddick. On the 13 carries, including the two-point conversion, they were hit in the backfield on nine of the 13 attempts. That's nearly 70 percent of plays the back couldn't even reach the line of scrimmage before contact.
https://i.imgur.com/JQB7kh.jpgThe Lions are expected to reduce Joique Bell’s role if he "doesn’t find his old form soon."
Lions reporter Michael Rothstein believes Bell "doesn’t have the same power or burst out of the backfield," and "has looked hesitant" on his runs. Ameer Abdullah started and played 45 percent of snaps in Week 2. Already in a limited committee role, Bell could be relegated to backup status if his struggles continue.
Completely agree on the play designs. Brutal indeed.Joique Bell looks horrible, but he keeps getting snaps and carries. At least they had Abdullah out there earlier in the game a fair amount on obvious passing downs.Another long-ish TD tonight. In general, Detroit is just brutal though. Play designs seem terrible. Stafford is a mess. Blocking is nonexistent.
Ameer is showing flashes, but I feel like we're not seeing his full potential yet.