The Lions are 1-0. It's been four years since they could say that. And really, it's been more than ten years since I actually felt a little confidence about a Lions team...which I'm starting to do now.
The Bucs are a good team. They finished 10-6 last year, barely missing the playoffs...and they haven't taken a step backward this offseason....and the Lions plunked'em good. The final 27-20 score is in no way indicative of how close this game was.
The Lions went into the half up 20-13...and they gave away 10 of those 13 points. Downright handed them over to the Bucs on a platter.
Furthermore, at the end of this game...there wasn't a line of players waiting for the cart...ie nobody suffered any season ending injuries or lost limbs or anything...
There's been a tradition in Lions football for as long as I can remember, week one means dashed and splattered hopes and at least one irreplaceable crucial player will be carted off the field...some taken out back behind the stadium and shot--like a lame horse.
No shots. No cart. No crushed and shattered dreams...the Lions won.
The front seven looked downright formidable. The secondary did it's job...most of the day. The only thing that stopped the offense all day...was a stupid penalty here or there or ultra conservative time running strategies.
So...wow! Pretty cool.
3rd and 3 or less.
As I don't have a normal arm-length list of complaints about this week. I can pull out my time-honored 3rd and 3 or less statistic. The object of offense is to be able to make manageable third down plays. Typically, "manageable" means 3rd and 3 or less.
I have always maintained that since the average NFL rush goes for 4 yards, the largest percentage of play calls in this situation should be runs...you can't do it all the time, you do have to keep the defenses honest...but for the most part...RUN THE BALL.
The Lions faced 3rd and 3 or less three times on Sunday....what did they do? Passed, all three times. How successful were they? 0-3.
Um...let's see if this changes next week.
Fade stop.
The most ultimate goalline weapon in sports, so Herman Moore taught me in the 90's, is the fade stop. On the snap, the tall WR sprints forward to the endzone line, forcing the CB to backpeddle..then he stops at the line, turns around and catches the high thrown ball that only his 6'4 or 6'5 body can get to...
Calvin Johnson is 6'5. He can out jump anybody. Did the Lions do it? Nope. They did run a fade...maybe they're setting something up for the future...but probably not.
Block that punt!
It has been a long...long....really long time since the Lions have even tried to block a punt. I'd really like to see that change this year.
Wouldn't it be great if the Lions had cheerleaders?
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.
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