The NFL released the 2010 season schedule on Tuesday and as usual it looks pretty scary for the Lions, only because once again they have to play NFL teams which as we know they don't do too well against.
Of course with the draft and the off-season optimism many bold predictions are being made about the Lions winning as many as 7-8 games. I do not share in this optimism and think the Lions are a still a few seasons away from any sort of respectability. There is a pretty good chance that the Lions could make it four years in a row as the worst defense in the NFL. Though there has been improvement with the defense with some new names it'll be young unproven guys and veterans who washed out with their last teams. On the other hand, the Lions offense could actually be pretty good.
The top end with the Lions will be six wins. Hopefully they win a game on the road before they break their own record of road futility with their 25th straight road loss (they are currently are at 22).
The only wins I can see are St Louis, Washington, Buffalo, Chicago and Tampa Bay. (5-11) And maybe they steal another one somewhere.
Game 1 @ Chicago
Game 2 vs Philadelphia
Game 3 @ Minnesota
Game 4 @ Green Bay
Game 5 vs St. Louis
Game 6 @ New York Giants
BYE
Game 7 vs Washington
Game 8 vs New York Jets
Game 9 @ Buffalo
Game 10 @ Dallas
Game 11 vs New England
Game 12 vs Chicago
Game 13 vs Green Bay
Game 14 @ Tampa Bay
Game 15 @ Miami
Game 16 vs Minnesota
My bold predictions bolded.
UPDATE: I predicted 5-11 and as I write this the Lions are 5-10. Of course they let easy ones slip away from them like the Buffalo Bills and completely self destructed when they could have scored a huge upset (the NY Jets) but six wins for this teams is a possibility going into Sunday and would be huge.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
2010 Detroit Lion Draft Picks
After three days of excitement the NFL Draft is finally and thankfully over. For the Lions it was a good one as we picked up the best player in the draft and maybe the best running back too. Here's all 7 players along with what the National Football Post had to say about them.
Round 1 (#2) - Ndamukong Suh - DT
"The Lions have holes on both sides of the football, but Suh could be a real difference maker at the next level. A potential blue-chip defensive lineman who can dominate vs. the run game and knows how to reach the passer. The new cornerstone of the Lions defense." This was the first time since the Lions Drafted LB Chris Claiborne in 1999 that they used a first round pick on a defensive player. (2nd Time. Forgot about LB Ernie Sims in 2006.)
Round 1 (#30) - Jahvid Best - RB
"I absolutely love the pick for the Lions, getting the draft's most dynamic threat. Best not only has the second gear to create in the open field but also the feel to run between the tackles. He runs with a good pad level and is simply so natural with the ball in his hands. He'll end up being the best running back in this class."
Round 3 ( #66) - Amari Spievey - CB
"A thick, well-built cornerback who has the ability to cleanly re-direct in space and find the football. However, Spievey struggles when asked to turn and run down the field. More of a zone corner."
Round 4 (#128) - Jason Fox - OT
"One of the draft's best offensive tackle prospects who fell because of an injury (left knee) during the postseason process. However, he's a good athlete who can redirect and gives the Lions a potential future left tackle."
Round 7 (#213) - Willie Young - DE
"Possesses a great sized frame, but lacks much of a burst off the ball and struggles vs. the run game. Has some upside, but could have a tough time sticking to an NFL roster."
Round 7 (#255) - Tim Toone - KR/WR
"An undersized, productive small-school wideout who will have his work cut out for him making the Lions roster."
Round 1 (#2) - Ndamukong Suh - DT
"The Lions have holes on both sides of the football, but Suh could be a real difference maker at the next level. A potential blue-chip defensive lineman who can dominate vs. the run game and knows how to reach the passer. The new cornerstone of the Lions defense." This was the first time since the Lions Drafted LB Chris Claiborne in 1999 that they used a first round pick on a defensive player. (2nd Time. Forgot about LB Ernie Sims in 2006.)
Round 1 (#30) - Jahvid Best - RB
"I absolutely love the pick for the Lions, getting the draft's most dynamic threat. Best not only has the second gear to create in the open field but also the feel to run between the tackles. He runs with a good pad level and is simply so natural with the ball in his hands. He'll end up being the best running back in this class."
Round 3 ( #66) - Amari Spievey - CB
"A thick, well-built cornerback who has the ability to cleanly re-direct in space and find the football. However, Spievey struggles when asked to turn and run down the field. More of a zone corner."
Round 4 (#128) - Jason Fox - OT
"One of the draft's best offensive tackle prospects who fell because of an injury (left knee) during the postseason process. However, he's a good athlete who can redirect and gives the Lions a potential future left tackle."
Round 7 (#213) - Willie Young - DE
"Possesses a great sized frame, but lacks much of a burst off the ball and struggles vs. the run game. Has some upside, but could have a tough time sticking to an NFL roster."
Round 7 (#255) - Tim Toone - KR/WR
"An undersized, productive small-school wideout who will have his work cut out for him making the Lions roster."
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Wings and Spartans Get Hot at the Right Time
That's what you got to love about the good quality teams. (Especially when they are your teams.) They get hot at the right time. They know how to pace themselves. And they know when to turn it on.
That's what happened with the Spartans (9 wins in 2 years in the NCAA tourney with hopefully two more to come) and now the Red Wings winners of six in a row with six games to go before the playoffs start.
People were down on the Wings but I always believed that somehow, someway the Wings would be there and be ready to go. Of course, the people who were down on them knew more about hockey than I do. But they just couldn't see the forest for the trees.
The Red Wings had some bad luck this year with major injuries (especially the Johan Franzen ACL tear) but that negative is a positive as he is playing well and better rested than he would have been without the injury.
And then how about Jimmy Howard? It seems like Wings management and fans had given up on this guy and now he is carrying the whole load. If he comes through in the playoffs he could be the guy for years to come and would erase a huge question mark about who the goalie of the future will be.
And then the Spartans. Like a machine. This was not expected with the way they ended their season, the injuries and the tough draw in the Midwest region. But in this wide open tournament where 3 #1 seeds didn't make it to the Final Four and 2 #5 seeds did, the Spartans, though underdogs, are in a great position to tough it out and win it all.
That's what happened with the Spartans (9 wins in 2 years in the NCAA tourney with hopefully two more to come) and now the Red Wings winners of six in a row with six games to go before the playoffs start.
People were down on the Wings but I always believed that somehow, someway the Wings would be there and be ready to go. Of course, the people who were down on them knew more about hockey than I do. But they just couldn't see the forest for the trees.
The Red Wings had some bad luck this year with major injuries (especially the Johan Franzen ACL tear) but that negative is a positive as he is playing well and better rested than he would have been without the injury.
And then how about Jimmy Howard? It seems like Wings management and fans had given up on this guy and now he is carrying the whole load. If he comes through in the playoffs he could be the guy for years to come and would erase a huge question mark about who the goalie of the future will be.
And then the Spartans. Like a machine. This was not expected with the way they ended their season, the injuries and the tough draw in the Midwest region. But in this wide open tournament where 3 #1 seeds didn't make it to the Final Four and 2 #5 seeds did, the Spartans, though underdogs, are in a great position to tough it out and win it all.
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