First of all, the game was blacked out so I had to listen to the game while raking leaves. I haven't gone back and watched the replay provided by NFL Network yet...I may not...who am I kidding, of course I will. So this article will mostly contain my impressions of what happened versus what should have happened.
Let me set the stage for you...the St. Louis Rams had lost 17 games in a row. They came in 0-7 and poised to pass the Lions 0-19 streak on their way to their very own 0-16 season. The Lions were 1-5, at home, and coming off the bye week--so they had TWO WEEKS to prepare for the lowly and hobbled Rams.
Sorry, give me a minute, I'm taking deep breaths.
Obviously, the Lions, in Lions fashion...lost. Once again, the Lions got the ball back with around two minutes left in the game and needed a touchdown to tie or win. Once again, they failed.
Since the NFL schedule came out this year, most, if not all, Lions fans and media pointed to this game as the Lions first "winnable" game.
How pathetic is this? How abysmal of a team do the Lions sport if they cannot beat arguably the worst team in the NFL this season?
There's a saying that "if when you sit down to the poker table, you can't find the sucker at the table, then it's you." That's what the Lions are, suckers. They are the worst team in the NFL. The worst team of the entire decade. Which, by the way, they wrapped up two weeks ago--even if the Lions could manage to win out for the rest of the season and the Cleveland Browns (the second worst team of the decade) lost all their remaining games, the Lions would still be two games worse than the Browns.
17-10 to the Rams? Pathetic.
"Calvin makes big plays for us. We were toothless today,'' Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. Johnson was out for the second consecutive game with an injured knee. "We didn't have a chance, we didn't make plays down the field. As I said before, it was small ball. We ran the ball fairly consistently in this game but that's not enough. This is a game of scoring.''
When the Lions' own head coach gets quoted as saying "We didn't have a chance." How hopeless is the team?
Last week in the Detroit News, Drew Sharpe wrote an article where he compared rosters of offensive and defensive players between the Lions and Rams and decided that the Rams had the best player at 13 of the 22 starting spots.
I don't think he went far enough. I contend that not only do the Rams have better players...I think that the Lions only have a handful of players that could start on another NFL team, they don't even have players that would make the ROSTER of other NFL teams. I'm saying that most of the players on the Lions roster wouldn't be collecting paychecks anymore if the Lions folded. They aren't good enough to fill out the bottom end of other team's rosters--and that includes most of our STARTERS.
I'm going to go through the entire Lions roster right now to prove my point. I'm going to tell you whether they'd be a starter on another team, whether they'd even make a roster spot or not and I'll also tell you what I think the Lions should do with the player.
And I'm not showing you any pretty cheerleaders until I'm done. (Oh, sure you could scroll down and see the cheerleader if you want, but I know you'll feel empty if you do...mouse off the scrollbar!)
Also, I want to point out that the Lions (as of the beginning of the season) have the fifth oldest roster in the NFL too. It's not like the Lions are just this young team trying to learn the ropes, it is stocked to the brim with old, useless failures. If the Lions were the youngest team in the league, maybe this ineptitude might make sense. So, I'm also going to give you the age of the player too.
Offense
WR1 Bryant Johnson (28) - Johnson is a former first round pick of the Arizona Cardinals. In fact, he was the guy they took in the first round before they took Anquan Boldin in the second round. Boldin and Johnson were supposed to be paired up as an elite receiving tandem for ten years. There was only one problem, Johnson sucked. So the Cards went out and drafted Larry Fitzgerald and tried to move Johnson to the third WR spot...but he still sucked. So he left Arizona as a free agent (because the Cards didn't want to resign him) and was signed by the 49'ers...where he sucked and was then cut. For the Lions, he's scored a couple of touchdowns but has dropped 3-4 passes for every TD so far.
Verdict: Gone.
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Yes. Maybe as a 4th or 5th WR.
Can we get anything for him: Maybe a 5th or 6th round pick.
WR1 (2nd) Dennis Northcutt (31) - Northcutt spent seven years with Cleveland primarily as a third WR and a returner. Cleveland gave up on him and he signed as a free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars. (Let me say that again, CLEVELAND GAVE UP ON HIM.) After two less than impressive years with the Jags, the Lions traded injury prone Gerald Alexander for him. With the Lions, he has managed one decent punt return, a fumble and some more drops.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Probably not.
Can we get anything for him: No.
LT Jeff Backus (32) - Backus has played all of his 10 abysmal years in the Honolulu Blue. He has never known a winning season. Never sniffed the playoffs. Known nothing but bad coaches and other horrible players. If you wanted to keep him for veteran leadership all he could teach your younger players is how to lose. He has started 133+ games in a row, never missing a start in his entire career, which is commendable, except for the fact that he is a below average player. He has been called for more penalties than any respectable starter could have ever been forgiven for. He has let more guys go through him than the turnstiles at the gates of Ford Field.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Yes, maybe a 4th or 5th round pick from somebody who needs a steady back up LT.
LT (2nd) Ephraim Salaam (33) - Salaam is a 33 yr old journeyman backup tackle who has played Atlanta and Denver. He is well past his prime, which was why he wasn't resigned by Denver. He can play both T positions, which is handy...or might have been handy a few years ago.
Verdict: Gone
Start for anther team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
LG Manny Ramirez (26) - Ramirez is only in his third season in the NFL. It has taken him each of those seasons to get a legitimate shot at breaking the Detroit starting lineup. That's not a good sign considering how bad the Detroit OL has been over the last decade. But, because he is so young, he may be worth keeping and seeing if he does have anything.
Verdict:Keep
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Maybe, on potential, probably a practice squad
Can we get anything for him: No.
LG (2nd) Daniel Loper (27) - Loper is in his fifth season in the NFL. He followed Schwartz over from Tennessee where they had an awesome OL. He played in all 16 games for a the Titans last season as they compiled the best record in the NFL. He was a backup for that team. He has been in a season long battle with Ramirez for the starting LG position, which does not bode well for his chances of starting for another team.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: No.
Make another team: Maybe, on potential
Can we get anything for him: Maybe a 7th or conditional pick.
C Dominic Raiola (30) - Drafted by the Lions in the second round nine years ago, Raiola is most likely the most overrated center in the NFL. He has never known a winning season. Never sniffed the playoffs. Known nothing but bad coaches and other horrible players. If you wanted to keep him for veteran leadership all he could teach your younger players is how to lose. Every commentator will make empty statements about how much the team captain is respected, but in actuality, he is too small to play center in the modern NFL. As long as he has value to other teams...
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: Yes
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: maybe a 3rd or 4th round pick
C (2nd) Dylan Gandy (27) - Gandy has been in the league only 4 years, but has been on four different teams--the definition of journeyman. He hasn't started a game in two years.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
RG Stephen Peterman (27) - Peterman was signed to a five year extension before this season. He has been steady and consistent. I don't know if he would start for other teams, but I don't have many complaints about him. You don't hear his name very often in games, which means he does his job.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: Probably not.
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: No, best to keep him.
RT Gosder Cherilus (25) - It's not saying much, but Cherilus is most likely the Lions best OL.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: Yes
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Keep him.
RT (2nd) Jon Jansen (33) - An 11 yr veteran out of Michigan, Jansen was cut by the Redskins after last season. He has two bad knees and, although he's a warrior that'll give you all he's got, he doesn't have anything left in the tank.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
TE Brandon Pettigrew (24) - I didn't agree with the Pick of Pettigrew, but he has played well. He is a fine blocker and receiver. Granted he has dropped a few balls, but he's a rookie and a rookie this team can continue to build around.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: Not yet
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Keep him
TE (2nd) Will Heller (28) - Heller has played in the league for eight years for five different teams. This is his first year in Detroit. This year he has proven he can be a decent receiving TE. He's young enough to be a decent backup and hasn't been spoiled by the years of ineptitude surrounding the Lions.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: No
TE (3rd) Casey FitzSimmons (29) - A good special teamer who can do spot duty as a TE. He came into the league with Detroit seven years ago as 7 on 7 football player from Carrol, MT. He has never caught for more than 160 yards in a season.
Verdict: Gone.
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
WR2 Calvin Johnson (24) - One of the best WR in the game today. Some question about his durability, but has only missed three games so far in his pro career and never missed a game his last 3 years at Georgia Tech in college.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: Yes
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Yes...but back off. We're keeping CJ.
WR2 (2nd) Derrick Williams (23) - Rookie WR and returner. Not enough info on him. Could be a piece the Lions can build on. He has made some impressive catches and runs, but also made some egregious rookie mistakes.
Verdict: Keep
Start on another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Keep
WR2 (3rd) John Standeford (27) - In only his third season in the NFL. He is a cheap, bottom of the roster possession receiver.
Verdict: Keep
Start on another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
QB Matthew Stafford (21) - The Franchise Savior. Only 21 years old. Can make all the throws and is a real leader in the locker room.
Verdict: Keep
Start on another team: Yes
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Back off!
QB (2nd) Daunte Culpepper (32) - 11 years in the league has taken a nasty toll on old Daunte. He has had multiple knee surgeries as well as multiple court cases (ie The Minnesota Boat Party scandal). He has been a good QB in the past, but he is well past his prime and not the kind of "team" guy who wants to sit around and help mentor the Franchise Savior.
Verdict: Gone
Start on another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
QB (3rd) Drew Stanton (25) - This is Drew's third year in the NFL, he's only 25 and he could be a capable backup. Nobody knows enough about Stanton to make a real verdict on his prospects as an NFL QB. He has had several injuries and many teams may have given up on him by now.
Verdict: Keep
Start on another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
FB Jerome Felton (23) - Young full back, can block, catch, and is a good short yardage runner. Smart too. Is he a building block? Most would probably say no, because of the devaluation of the FB position.
Verdict: Keep
Start on another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: No
FB (2nd) Terrelle Smith (31) - Journeyman FB who has helped several backs get to a 1K yards over his 11 year career, but is now well past his prime.
Verdict: Gone
Start on another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
RB Kevin Smith (22) - Smith, taken in the 3rd round out of Central Florida, is proving to be a very, very good backup running back. He blocks well, catches well, and runs well, but doesn't have the kind of top end speed to be able to break the long run. There's a reason why he dropped three rounds. He reminds me a lot of James Stewart, but without the bruising, punishing running style to go with it.
Verdict: Keep
Start on another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: A 3rd maybe, if we were interested.
RB (2nd) Maurice Morris (29)- Morris has been in the league for 8+ years and never broken the century mark in yardage. He is a serviceable backup, but is getting long in the tooth and seems to be more of a roster spot holder as opposed to contributing part of a rebuilding franchise.
Verdict: Gone
Start on another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: 5th or 6th round pick
RB (3rd) Aaron Brown (24) - Aaron Brown is lightning wrapped up in speed. He has the makings of a great change of pace back that might be able to pair up with Kevin Smith and be an admirable running package. However, he is too small to pound it up the middle and too much of a rookie to avoid crucial mental errors in blocking.
Verdict: Keep
Start on another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Hold your horses, this guy might be good.
Offensive results: Keep 13 of 25 players, ie 49% of the offensive players should be dumped. Only four could start on other NFL teams and 16 of the 25 players could legitimately make the rosters of other NFL teams. Not good. If we were to trade those players that should be gone, we may be able to get 2 4th round picks, 2 sixth round picks, and a 7th. The four players who could possibly start on another NFL franchise are Stafford, CJ, Cherilus, and maybe Peterman.
Defense
LDE Jason Hunter (26) - Hunter is a respectable backup DE. He plays angry and with a big chip on his shoulder. I don't think he has the talent to be a dominating DE, but in spot duty he'd do just fine. Not to mention, he's really cheap.
Verdict: Keep
Start on another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: No
LDE (2nd) Cliff Avril (23) - In his second year, Avril is being counted on to be an every day DE. He has racked up 7.5 sacks so far in his first two years despite barely playing most of his rookie season. He may be too small to be an every day DE, but would probably prosper as a 3-4 OLB.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: He's supposed to be a building block, he's not going anywhere.
DT Grady Jackson (36) - Grady Jackson is so old, when he was born, the name "Grady" was in style. He and his other overweight friend Grover Cleveland would go down to the town drug store and get barrels of malted milkshakes. Way past his prime. Spends most of his time injured and can only give a team 15-20 snaps a game.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
DT (2nd) Landon Cohen (23) - Another young player with a lot to prove. A 300 pound run stuffer in the middle. Not enough is known yet.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Probably, but he's not going anywhere yet.
DT (3rd) Andre Fluellen (24) - Another young player. Fluellen has shown some ability to play outside at DE also.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Probably, but he's not going anywhere yet.
DT Sammie Hill (22) - 330 pounds of rookie who grabbed the starting role out of training camp despite only being drafted in the fourth round as a pure project. These are all good signs. He may be able to hold down a NT position in a 3-4 to boot.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Probably, but he's not going anywhere yet.
RDE Dewayne White (30) - Dwayne White had 13 sacks over the last two seasons, but none so far this year. He has been dealing with injuries. White came to Detroit after several years backing up ProBowl DE's like Simeon Rice. He is a very able backup, but probably not a full time starter.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Yes, probably a 4th or 5th round pick.
RDE (2nd) Copeland Bryan (26) - Went to the IR after playing in 5 games managing just 4 tackles and 1 sack. Might be something someday, but hasn't been much of anything so far for Buffalo or now in Detroit.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
RDE (3rd) Turk McBride (24) - Third year player who was squeezed out of Kansas City when the team switched over from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Might happen to him again next year. Kansas City's defense wasn't anything to write home about last year and neither was McBride. He came to Detroit due to playing under Gunther Cunningham in KC.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Probably, just don't know enough about him yet.
OLB1 Julian Peterson (31) - Peterson is one the very few 30+ players I would keep on the Lions. He's been to multiple probowls. He's very versatile and he's won before (ie he's not tainted with Lions history.)
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: Yes
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Probably, but he's not going anywhere.
OLB1 (2nd) Zack Follett (22) - Follet is a rookie who has already shown that he can make a real difference on special teams. He is a thumper who loves to bring the wood and make big hits. He could be a player some day.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: No
OLB1 (3rd) Vinny Ciurciu (29) - Journeyman OLB. He's been in the league seven years, played in 101 games and managed only 79 tackles and no sacks. Says a lot.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
MLB Larry Foote (29) - Larry Foote is a stud. He's a free agent at the end of this season. The Lions need to do everything they can to get him signed up long term. A guy from Michigan who honestly wants to play for the Lions...give him whatever he asks for and a free psych evaluation.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: Yes
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Don't let him go.
MLB (2nd) DeAndre Levy (22) - Another rookie from this year's class that is making a really big impression. He will take Ernie Sims' job any second. The Lions want him on the field at all times. The Lions drafted Levy in the third round and everybody said "Who?" Which gives me a little bit of hope for Martin Mayhew.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Don't even think about it.
OLB2 Ernie Sims (24) - Sims is only 24? Doesn't it seem like he's been around forever? Why? Because he's been around for all of the Marinelli years. He was the shining jewel for Marinelli's Tampa Two. He's got to go. If you were too busy watching Stephen Jackson racing down the field for the St. Louis victory...that was Sims following him. Why? Because once again, he didn't fill the right gap. I'm not saying get rid of him because of that one play...I'm saying get rid of him for all of the plays he's allowed just like that. See ya later and take that weird reptile menagerie with you.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: A 3rd maybe.
OLB2 (2nd) Jordon Dizon (23) - Another special teamer who may show promise.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: No
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Probably, but he's not going anywhere yet.
LCB Anthony Henry (32) - I really wanted the Lions to draft Anthony Henry in the third round -- 9 years ago. He's had a respectable career, but he no longer has the speed to play the game. The Lions picked him up with hopes of being able to move him to safety. Turns out he sucks there too.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
LCB (2nd) Kevin Hobbs (26) - A journeyman CB at 26? With three years in the league and no INT's is it any wonder he'll be gone. Frankly, nobody from this secondary should ever be allowed to play in the league again. Except maybe the rookie.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
RCB William James (30) - Eight year NFL career: 5 Teams, 6 INT's...bye.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
RCB (2nd) Phillip Buchanon (29) - Once a high draft choice by the Raiders, Buchanon has turned into an enigma. He has had good seasons in the past, two maybe, and this isn't one of them. The Lions can't afford to gamble on which Buchanon will show up...because the next Buchanon will be 30 and on the downside of his career.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
RCB (3rd) DeMarcus Faggins (30) - Eight seasons, 5 INT's, 0 impact.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
SS Marquand Manuel (30) - I am so tired of watching him chase people into the endzone. This guy is so past his prime--if he ever had a prime. A key member of the worst secondary in NFL history.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
SS (2nd) Kalvin Pearson (31) - 0 INT's, 0 impact. Brought in primarily as a special teamer. Not worth the roster spot.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
SS (3rd) Marvin White (25) - If you can't get on to the field in this secondary, you have no hope.
Verdict: Gone
Start for another team: No
Make another team: No
Can we get anything for him: No
FS Louis Delmas (22) - 35 tackles, 1 sack a fumble recovery for a touchdown...all in seven games this year. This is the one guy in the secondary that the Lions can have some kind of confidence about.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: Yes
Make another team: Yes
Can we get anything for him: Not gonna happen.
FS (2nd) Ko Simpson (25) - Simpson is a young player with a track record of playing very well. He was squeezed out of Buffalo by a couple of strange draft picks. He's a player who could stick with the team for a long time.
Verdict: Keep
Start for another team: No
Make another team: yes
Can we get anything for him: No
Defensive Results: Of 25 players, only 12 are worth keeping, only 3 would start for other NFL teams. 15 of 25 would be able to get another job if they left the Lions. If they traded, they might be able to add an additional 3rd and 4th rounder.
Overall Results: Of 50 players (I'm not counting special teams, nobody would trade for Nick Harris or Jason Hanson) only 25 players are worth keeping. Only 7 would start on other teams, while only 31 of 50 players would be able to continue playing in the NFL, in other words the Lions only have 62% of a real NFL roster. 33% of a starting team of 22. But if they cut loose the dead weight and traded for whatever they could get 1 3rd, 3 4ths, 2 6ths and a 7th. Add those seven picks to the seven the team is allocated every year and maybe the Lions could score another 14 worthy players next season. And then this team really would be a "young" team going through the learning curves.
Wouldn't it be great if the Lions had Cheerleaders?
Just a little something to help my readers as we continue to suffer under the tyranny of the Ford's and their incomprehensible aversion to professional dance teams.
Currently only six of the NFL's 32 franchises have chosen to go without the all important cheer brigades--Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, Detroit, Chicago, and the New York Giants.
3rd and 3 or less
Every team works to get to "manageable" third downs, ie 3rd and 3 or less. When a team gets to this situation, supposedly the whole playbook is open to them and the defense needs to be on its heels.
I say that since the average NFL rush is approximately 4 yards a carry, it is best to always run. What did the Lions do against the Rams on 3rd and 3 or less?
Early in the game, the Lions thought it was a good idea to run on 3rd and 3 or less. Twice they faced 3 and 2 and ran it with Kevin Smith. Both times the result was a 1st down. After that, the Leo's got pass happy--passing on 3 of the 4 opportunities in this crucial down and distance. The Lions were 1 of 3 passing, where as they were 3 of 3 running.
For the season, the Lions are successfully proving out my rule, while ignoring it at the same time. So far the Leo's are 7 of 8 rushing, and 4 of 9 passing.
A good week for the inept
The St. Louis Rams (1-6) were lucky enough to face the worst team in professional sports, our Leo's. The Rams won 17-10 breaking a 17 game losing streak and reminding us all what a pitiful bunch of losers we crowd around the radio to follow.
The Tennessee Titans (1-6) pulled Vince Young out of mothballs and got a 200+ yard rushing day from Chris Johnson (another player I screamed about on draft day two years ago) in a crushing 30-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. I guess the "titanic" battle of 0-13 teams is off for this year.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7) pulled the misfortune of having a bye the week all the rest of the inepts managed to pull out victories. Maybe next week...too bad they don't play the Lions.
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