OT: Lions starters looking very servicable

Submitted by PIJER on

For anyone watching this game. I am pleasantly surprised that the first unit has looked as good as they have against Denver. I realize that Denver isn't the golden standard of NFL teams, but even with McDaniels coaching they have been competitive. This is just something that I'm not used to seeing, I'm just hoping that it's not fools gold.

Blue boy johnson

August 21st, 2010 at 10:38 PM ^

Lions starters are good, can't believe it, but they are, offense and defense.

If Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Best stay healthy, this will be one exciting offense. Stafford's improvement is easy to see, Best is better than advertised, and Calvin is simply unstoppable.

hockeyguy9125

August 21st, 2010 at 10:43 PM ^

The only thing i can complain about on the offense is that they need to get in the endzone more. Other than that, they look good. Stafford is throwing the ball all over the field to everybody. Best looks really solid. The offense will put up points this year.

On defense, they will have success when the D-Line gets pressure. The secondary looks...not good. That D-Line looks to be a force though and has top10 in the league potential.

They do not have depth, so as long as they do not face too many big injuries, I could see them finishing anywhere from 6-10 to 9-7  (< if they get the breaks they have not gotten over the past 50+ years)

HAIL-YEA

August 21st, 2010 at 11:09 PM ^

you mean they look superbowl bound..then yes I agree. Seriously though, it's pretty exciting to see this. Stafford looks like a top 10 QB to me and Best is making the lions o-line look good...yea I said it. Am I insane to think they can win 8 games? 

Kennyvr1

August 21st, 2010 at 11:27 PM ^

The offense looks straight but aside from our D-line, Levy who is still very young and Delmas same thing our Defense is horrible. I hope and pray they can somehow get enough pressure cause if they don't it will be just like last year. Pass defense will be near bottom of the league. Playing Rodgers twice Farve (I hate him so much) twice..it could get pretty ugly. Here's to hope.

GVBlue86

August 21st, 2010 at 11:29 PM ^

I am still very worried about not getting in the endzone and the DB's do not look good. As long as we get pressure the D should hold up enough to let the offense win some games. I could definitly see 8 wins possible. they have a tough schedule though.

Tater

August 21st, 2010 at 11:43 PM ^

Hopefully, it doesn't take as long to rebuild the roster as it did for Millen to destroy it.  I just hope they get good before CJ becomes a FA.  It will be interesting to see how much player movement there is after the next round of negotiations.  It sounds like the owners are ready to "dig in" this time around. 

Players and agents can talk all they want, but the owners can afford a lockout for a lot longer than the players can. 

befuggled

August 22nd, 2010 at 1:09 AM ^

Bobby Ross didn't have much to show for the years he was running the draft for the Lions. Most of the better players on that team dated from the Fontes era. To be fair, some of his draft choices had injury problems (Crowell, Fair), but a lot of them just didn't pan out (Juan Roque, Aaron Gibson, Bryant Westbrook).

Millen certainly accelerated the process, but I think that 9-7 record was a bit of a mirage. They'd have had trouble maintaining it without an infusion of fresh talent, which they weren't getting with either Ross or MIllen.

Brodie

August 22nd, 2010 at 3:19 AM ^

While you have a point, there was enough talent on that team to be fairly mediocre for a few more years. Millen came in and got rid of literally every talented player on the team and replaced them with plugs (Az Hakim and Bill Schroeder are not Johnnie Morton and Herman Moore. Period.) and then fired Moeller (who had salvaged what was a lost season when Ross resigned) to replace him with the derpiest derp in the history coaching.

If the Lions had hired a competent GM (like, say, Rick Spielman) and retained Moeller for continuity's sake, they would have had a nice veteran core to build around. A few 6-10 seasons while the team reloads != the Millen era

Copey1050

August 22nd, 2010 at 3:14 AM ^

The Lions O-Line looks fantastic.    Haven't seen that since the days of Kevin Glover & Lomas Brown.  Don't know if it's a fluke or not.  Don't know if it's because Denver's D-Line is bad or not, but it is still nice to see.        They lack depth, though.  1 injury hurts them, 2 destroys them.   

charliebauman

August 22nd, 2010 at 7:38 AM ^

The real difference to me is the Lions are now watchable. The defensive line can now pressure the qb. The offense can now move the chains. I'm not predicting playoffs, but there should be a big improvement barring injuries to the key players.  

ND Sux

August 22nd, 2010 at 11:03 AM ^

a couple years ago, I didn't buy it.  I said they still sucked and I was right on (see 0-16).  I really like Schwartz...the offense doesn't seem near as predictable.  I was excited about the Stafford pick, and it looks better than every now.  Best is much quicker than I thought.  I can see 6 or 7 wins and building toward better things. 

Hopefully our much improved D-line will snag us a few more turnovers. 

 

EDIT: "...better than ever now"  - proofreading is a wonderful thing.

bacon1431

August 22nd, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^

Lions do look a ton better. But the schedule is pretty brutal. This is off the top of my head, but they have 8 games against playoff teams this season as well as 2 against the bears, then the Giants, Redskins, and Dolphins, who should all be decent. Only poor oppenents on the schedule are the Bills, Bucs, and Rams. Other than that I don't see any gimmes. I honestly think the Lions could go 3-13 and be a significantly better team despite only improving by 1 win. I'm predicting 5-11 with a push for .500 next season.

Brodie

August 22nd, 2010 at 3:12 PM ^

Well that makes a lot of assumptions... one being that the better team always wins, which is certainly not true in a league with as much parity as the NFL. It's also important to note that they play the home portion of their divisional schedule after week 13, giving them a distinct advantage if the Bears, Packers or Vikings are either eliminated from or have already clinched a spot in the playoffs.

When you consider those factors, it wouldn't be hard for the Lions to beat the Bills, Rams and Bucs plus two of the other teams in the NFC North late in the season and maybe a random home game like the Jets or the Eagles. Maybe they'll win a Thanksgiving game? Oh god, how rad would that be?

DenverRob

August 22nd, 2010 at 11:25 AM ^

from my point of view the D line was sick. However, no clady for the broncos so take the continuous pressure on the qb for what its worth.

Stafford's passing was eye opening. My dad was visiting from MI and we were blown away on how well they looked.