In 2024, the Lions swept November, winning five games in 25 days. This year, they've taken a step back for each one forward, heading into a critical NFC North battle with Green Bay.
Take the hard road and beat the be-jabbers out of the Slackers on T-day. If not, I don't see them getting past the Rams, the Pittsburgers (if Rodgers plays) or the Bearskis in the cold in Chicago. Quit throwing on the flat to Gibbs 10-12 times a game. Teams are constantly looking for that.
Last year's team was much better built to win it all. It was only the massive amount of injuries that did us in -- especially losing Amik in the 11th hour. This year's OL, on the other hand, has been (and will be) inconsistent regardless of their health.
I totally agree the OL took a step back but every other position group took a step up either through player addition or player development.
They need to keep pounding, keep working with the OL and scheme some things up to help them. If they get the OL just decent, they can win this whole thing.
It might, 10% chance they don't make the playoffs, but 10% chance they make the Super Bowl.
Best thing for this OL is they get the reps together. Ratledge plays like a rookie sometimes and then other times he shows us why they drafted him and the more he plays the more we get the latter.
Mahagony really fell under that same heading and now even his fill-in, Yode has just over 800 snaps in the NFL, which despite being a 5-year veteran is less than a full year's worth of reps.
The most important part is they need to work together and there is only one way they can do that and that is play together. They need to just get a little better every week, though it's never a straight line but you learn one way or another.
Just get too decent by January and the offense will be fine.
In the meantime, this is where the coaches make their money. They have to figure out ways to scheme around the deficiencies in the OL. I think we should be seeing more two back sets, and tomorrow if I were the Lions, I would be punishing Parsons as often as possible when they run the ball, run at him and hit him hard. Additionally, Goff needs to step up in the pocket rather than retreat or roll out when there’s pressure, find those openings where he can throw. It doesn’t require speed, but he needs to be more nimble.
Kinda bums me out. I mean I knew what my eyes told me. That this team didn’t have it. That we were just average and working with below average line play. But I secretly liked Dan telling me that we were good. Things were fine. That things will work out as the season progresses to the back half. But now he’s admitted it and the players have too. There’s just too much talent on this team to squander a season. Bummer.
The die is cast with this team for this season. Even Justin commented that the vibes haven’t been exactly high. Players are smart, they know they have unfixable in-season problems. Dan even is tacitly acknowledging it. They are going to keep doing the same things and hope for the best. It probably ends in missing the playoffs. Still better than many decades of Lions football. But still, unfortunate.
Then offseason: draft should be all trenches, both sides of the ball. Maybe a TE as well. No skill players needed. Should be on the lookout for a developmental QB to try and acquire potentially via trade or free agency because Goff is closer to the end than the beginning.
AA, Reader, Davenport, Paschal, Raymond, and Levi will all be gone. Remains to be seen what the future holds for Amik and Lopez. Hopefully they are back. And business decisions will need to be made on the contracts of Decker, Montgomery, and Glasgow. I assume only the last is in real jeopardy of being cut.
Coaching wise, Morton is gone. That’s a lock. He was brought in to call plays and failed within the first two months. The real interesting question is whether the next play caller is on the staff already. I’m skeptical. Dan is not the long term answer there, he’s okay, but not his greatest strength.
Finally, then we’ll see who gets extended among the big four coming due: Gibbs and Campbell are obvious locks. Will come down to Branch or LaPorta.
You're punting on this season already? Where's the mental and intestinal fortitude? Where's the GRIT? Now's the time to lace 'em up tight and go to work.
Brad needs to rethink his approach. It isn’t steering towards a Super Bowl. Pulling the trigger on a player isn’t uncommon for teams that are shooting for the big prize. Trying to built a team like its 1975 without free agency is fools gold.
That's patently unfair. Having lived through Schmidt and Fontes, Holmes and Campbell are far superior in every facet of the game. They draft better, coach better and they have a better culture. The NFL has such parity that it's difficult to have sustained success, unless you have a QB named Brady or Mahomes. This is what good teams go through. Don't disparage them by comparing them to the incompetent past.
This year, only one NFC team is definitely better than us - Rams. Thursday , we’ll find out if we’re any good. With a win we could / should win division. If that happens, anything is possible. With a loss, it’s gonna be a grind.
Huh? For God's sakes. Sometimes Lions fans are so infuriating. NOTHING-not one single element, literally zero things-resemble the Fontes era. Not the coaching-way better. Not the GM-way better. Not the talent-better. Not the culture-leaps and bounds better. Not the owner-better. In all ways, all-these Lions are not those Lions.
Love the Lions, but the OL will have to start playing better against the better defenses starting with Green Bay.
Take the hard road and beat the be-jabbers out of the Slackers on T-day. If not, I don't see them getting past the Rams, the Pittsburgers (if Rodgers plays) or the Bearskis in the cold in Chicago. Quit throwing on the flat to Gibbs 10-12 times a game. Teams are constantly looking for that.
If you’re going to throw to Gibbs, please throw it to him beyond the line of scrimmage. I’d like to see more two back sets..
Can’t believe I’m the first to comment on the Chauncey quote. Or is it Pete Rock?
This team is better built to win it all than last year.
Things to fix and work on but it's right there and being a little more battle tested is part of why.
Last year's team was much better built to win it all. It was only the massive amount of injuries that did us in -- especially losing Amik in the 11th hour. This year's OL, on the other hand, has been (and will be) inconsistent regardless of their health.
I totally agree the OL took a step back but every other position group took a step up either through player addition or player development.
They need to keep pounding, keep working with the OL and scheme some things up to help them. If they get the OL just decent, they can win this whole thing.
Unfortunately, the OL inconsistency will likely keep the Lions out of the Super Bowl, and it may keep them out of the playoffs.
It might, 10% chance they don't make the playoffs, but 10% chance they make the Super Bowl.
Best thing for this OL is they get the reps together. Ratledge plays like a rookie sometimes and then other times he shows us why they drafted him and the more he plays the more we get the latter.
Mahagony really fell under that same heading and now even his fill-in, Yode has just over 800 snaps in the NFL, which despite being a 5-year veteran is less than a full year's worth of reps.
The most important part is they need to work together and there is only one way they can do that and that is play together. They need to just get a little better every week, though it's never a straight line but you learn one way or another.
Just get too decent by January and the offense will be fine.
In the meantime, this is where the coaches make their money. They have to figure out ways to scheme around the deficiencies in the OL. I think we should be seeing more two back sets, and tomorrow if I were the Lions, I would be punishing Parsons as often as possible when they run the ball, run at him and hit him hard. Additionally, Goff needs to step up in the pocket rather than retreat or roll out when there’s pressure, find those openings where he can throw. It doesn’t require speed, but he needs to be more nimble.
Kinda bums me out. I mean I knew what my eyes told me. That this team didn’t have it. That we were just average and working with below average line play. But I secretly liked Dan telling me that we were good. Things were fine. That things will work out as the season progresses to the back half. But now he’s admitted it and the players have too. There’s just too much talent on this team to squander a season. Bummer.
Good lord, back away from the ledge.
Haha ok ok... on solid ground for now...😂
The die is cast with this team for this season. Even Justin commented that the vibes haven’t been exactly high. Players are smart, they know they have unfixable in-season problems. Dan even is tacitly acknowledging it. They are going to keep doing the same things and hope for the best. It probably ends in missing the playoffs. Still better than many decades of Lions football. But still, unfortunate.
Then offseason: draft should be all trenches, both sides of the ball. Maybe a TE as well. No skill players needed. Should be on the lookout for a developmental QB to try and acquire potentially via trade or free agency because Goff is closer to the end than the beginning.
AA, Reader, Davenport, Paschal, Raymond, and Levi will all be gone. Remains to be seen what the future holds for Amik and Lopez. Hopefully they are back. And business decisions will need to be made on the contracts of Decker, Montgomery, and Glasgow. I assume only the last is in real jeopardy of being cut.
Coaching wise, Morton is gone. That’s a lock. He was brought in to call plays and failed within the first two months. The real interesting question is whether the next play caller is on the staff already. I’m skeptical. Dan is not the long term answer there, he’s okay, but not his greatest strength.
Finally, then we’ll see who gets extended among the big four coming due: Gibbs and Campbell are obvious locks. Will come down to Branch or LaPorta.
You're punting on this season already? Where's the mental and intestinal fortitude? Where's the GRIT? Now's the time to lace 'em up tight and go to work.
Brad needs to rethink his approach. It isn’t steering towards a Super Bowl. Pulling the trigger on a player isn’t uncommon for teams that are shooting for the big prize. Trying to built a team like its 1975 without free agency is fools gold.
Hey Justin, thanks for taking the hard road by yourself and providing such excellent coverage of this team during the holidays.
I sure hope this isn’t the return of the 1990’s with the Wayne Fontes and Chuck Schmidt era. I’m having a eerie feeling about it.
That's patently unfair. Having lived through Schmidt and Fontes, Holmes and Campbell are far superior in every facet of the game. They draft better, coach better and they have a better culture. The NFL has such parity that it's difficult to have sustained success, unless you have a QB named Brady or Mahomes. This is what good teams go through. Don't disparage them by comparing them to the incompetent past.
Next year?
This year, only one NFC team is definitely better than us - Rams. Thursday , we’ll find out if we’re any good. With a win we could / should win division. If that happens, anything is possible. With a loss, it’s gonna be a grind.
Huh? For God's sakes. Sometimes Lions fans are so infuriating. NOTHING-not one single element, literally zero things-resemble the Fontes era. Not the coaching-way better. Not the GM-way better. Not the talent-better. Not the culture-leaps and bounds better. Not the owner-better. In all ways, all-these Lions are not those Lions.
The only thing that’s similar is the fan base.
Which makes them pretty much like the other 31 fan bases. People love to complain.