OT - Who is Drinking the Honolulu Blue Kool-Aid?

Submitted by smotheringD on

How big a difference will Reggie Bush make to the Lions' offensive efficiency?  They gained a lot of yards last year but obviously didn't score enough touchdowns.

Will the retooled bigger defensive line with our linebacking corp be the right pieces to make the wide 9 work or will they get gashed?

Will they finally be able to field a decent squad of defensive backs?

Let's set the over/under at 8.5 wins.

And finally, will the Detroit Lions make the playoffs in 2013? (cue the Jim Mora clip)

MichiganTeacher

July 1st, 2013 at 8:45 PM ^

Over. Because of the annoying scheduling system the NFL uses.

Yes.

Playoffs? Playoffs? /jimmora

WMUgoblue

July 1st, 2013 at 9:14 PM ^

I think they made quite a few improvements to the secondary. Houston, Quin, Delmas and Slay/Bentley doesn't look all that bleak to be honest, now the linebacking unit is a different story. Realistically I think this is an 8-8 that could overachieve and get to 10 wins but who knows.

JHendo

July 1st, 2013 at 9:26 PM ^

Everyone who is a Lions fan is drinking some sort of Honolulu blue Kool-Aid. How else would we continue to be fans all this time. Anyways, I'll take the over by a smidge (9 wins) mainly because of Bush and how he may cause or take advantage of teams not playing balanced. Early in the season, either teams will only respect the pass, allowing Reggie to excel far greater than expected, or they'll over compensate for Reggie, allowing Megatron to go off.

cozy200

July 1st, 2013 at 9:36 PM ^

The way this team drafts (save for two worth while picks) is terrible. I do not trust Jims eye for talent. Period. Suh (a homerun either way) is the only thing that is even worth a mention. This team will be garbage. It starts at the top.

SalvatoreQuattro

July 1st, 2013 at 9:37 PM ^

They need Ansah, Slay,  and Warford to be good starters from day one, which is makes one question how good they can be this year. If the Lions defense can improve to at least solid and if Stafford regains his 11' form than the Lions can win 10-11 games. But if the defense struggles and Stafford is simply good than this team will win 6 games. 

 

It really depends on the defense.

HipsterCat

July 2nd, 2013 at 10:15 AM ^

idonije or jones will start opposite of ansah, hopefully we will see some more creative packages out of gunther rotating the D-line around since i've read jones and idonije have experience on the inside. Suh needs to get moved around a little more i think so the offense cant target him on every play, and he also needs to figure out that wham/trap/whatever it is called that the 49ers ran against us cause they just let him rush in and he got trucked by the TE and it worked at least 5-6 times the last two years for pretty big yards.

MGoneBlue

July 1st, 2013 at 9:46 PM ^

I predict that at some point during the season, I will think the Lions have a nonzero chance of making the playoffs. You're right, that's some pretty strong kool-aide

ckersh74

July 1st, 2013 at 9:52 PM ^

This is a 6-10 team at best, IMO. I'm not sold on Ansah, we're short an LB or two, and the line still needs work. Raiola is on his last legs (and wasn't too great to start with), and we're replacing both tackles with question marks. 

thisisme08

July 1st, 2013 at 10:03 PM ^

I have no dog in this fight (dislike the NFL), but seeing how everyone is saying Bush is good for turning those 1-2 games each year the Lions find a way a loose into wins then I should forewarn you that Bush will be out for the season by Week 6.  Raback and BKFinest that.  

CookieMonster

July 1st, 2013 at 10:04 PM ^

8-8. Stafford throws off his back foot 80 percent of the time because raiola is getting knocked over, and they get gashed late in the season after an injury or two.

Michigan4Life

July 2nd, 2013 at 12:04 AM ^

Minimum. They still are one of the most talented team in the league. Stafford has the ability to be the best QB in the league. Megatron is Megatron. Lions offense were humming when they had Jahvid Best at RB but losing him really hurt the offense. With an addition of Bush, I expect the offense to get back to the level of '11 season.

I expect the defense to be much improved with a more consistent pass rush and improved secondary. They added Ziggy, Devin, Slay, Quin and resigned Houston and Delmas. They added Jason Jones and Isreal Idonije. The DL has more size and upgraded pass rush. I expect Suh and Fairley to get into the next level which is surprising considering both played at an extremely high level. The two question marks are at OL and LB.

My expectation is 8 wins minimum with a realistic shot of winning 10 games. According to the computer, the Lions are one of the unluckiest team in the league based on Pythorgeon values.  They were a 9-7 team who happen to be 4-12 team last season.  They lost 8 games decided by a touchdown or less.  They were 4-4 at midseason before their 8 game losing streak to end the season.  4-4 was a huge disappointment considering they lost because of their special team.  I expect the trend to reverse and Lions goes 10-6 thus making the playoff twice in the last 3 years. People forget that they made the playoff 2 years ago and they were in the game against the Saints at first round.

TWSWBC

July 1st, 2013 at 10:21 PM ^

Lions will find a way to win less than 8 games due to injury, derp coaching, and or derp playing and they will get embarrassed on Thanksgiving again

Maizenblueball

July 1st, 2013 at 10:41 PM ^

ever make the Superbowl in my lifetime.  Every year I drink the honolulu blue kool-aid, and every year I start to wish Dr. Kivorkian made the kool-aid.  I also start to wonder why God is so angry with the Lions.  AHBG.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

July 1st, 2013 at 11:11 PM ^

I signed up for season tickets once again this year, so that comes with a free year's supply of Kool-Aid.  Can't say I'm sold on Reggie Bush, though, and the offensive line is garbage until proven otherwise.  Bush might still have it in him but no running back that ever had Dominic Raiola blocking for him has ever succeeded, nor ever will.  (However, cutting Stephen Peterman was obvious addition by subtraction.)