3 Pros 3 Cons: Lions vs. Rams Week 1

[cmlfactor]

First of my weekly segments.

Pros:
1. O-Line
2. Kevin Smith
3. Negligible "stupid" penalties

Cons:
1. Shaky Stafford
2. Conservative play-calling
3. Titus Young non-existent

Yes, I said O-Line was a pro. Not very often you say that about this Lions group. Stafford got himself sacked by not stepping up in the pocket. Kevin Smith, from all the bashing he still gets on this board, did a great job. Obviously, he got the game winning TD-catch, and showed that the Lions might ACTUALLY have depth at running back this year once Leshoure and (miracle of miracles) Best return. It was also a testament to Megatron's greatness that he was still able to amass over 100 yards receiving despite Staff's errant ways.

On one hand it was good to see this team win when Staff wasn't on top of his game, but it WAS against the Rams, we have to remember. He'll need to be MUCH better next week against a 49ers defense that just gave Aaron Rodgers fits. I don't know how much of this came from Stafford, but Linehan better stop this dink and dunk conservative crap early in games. I said to myself before the beginning of the season that Titus Young was going to have to take the next step and be the receiver he was over the last half of last season. Unfortunately, he was virtually invisible except for in a negative matter, taking Detroit's only stupid after-the-play penalty.

Not pretty, but as someone said and ugly win beats an ugly loss. We were so close to the latter though, next week's match-up gives me great apprehension. If we beat the 49ers, we make a big statement that we're in this thing to win more than just a playoff slot. If we lose, we prove that we still have a ways to go.

 

[tsmith7559]

I'd have to disagree with the Stafford analysis...yes, he threw 3 picks, but he was threading needles all day with his passes. To me it seemed like he thought he could make any throw almost disrespecting the Rams CB's.

 

[wheels002]

The DL played well. I loved the tackle Suh made on Steven Jackson when he had the OL with one hand and grabbed Jackson with the other.

 

[tomdalton22]

I'd have to disagree with the Stafford analysis...yes, he threw 3 picks, but he was threading needles all day with his passes. To me it seemed like he thought he could make any throw almost disrespecting the Rams CB's.

IMO that makes it a bad day.....any time you throw 3 INTs it's a bad day. He will need to be better than that next week if they are to beat the 49ers

 

[imthetruth]

To me it seemed as Staff made his read of the defense and already made his mind up about where he was going to throw it. Regardless though, he definitely has that "it" factor.

 

[wheels002]

Staff made some very bad throws period. He could have had 5 int's. But you have to give him credit. Those last 2 drives were pure We are winning this game mentality. As soon as we got the ball back I had a feeling we were gonna win.

 

[Slick]

IMO that makes it a bad day.....any time you throw 3 INTs it's a bad day. He will need to be better than that next week if they are to beat the 49ers

How's it a bad day when you win ?

 

[imthetruth]

It was sloppy but a win is a win

 

[imthetruth]

but mainly sloppy on Staffs part. I thought everyone else played pretty well. I even saw Speivey make a nice tackle.

 

[Slick]

week #1...I saw alot of bad throws by some real good Qbs , timing and reps and real game speed.....Stafford was much improved in late 3rd and 4th quarter.

like I said...never a bad day when you get a win in the NFL

 

[kdp1980]

First of my weekly segments.

Pros:
1. O-Line
2. Kevin Smith
3. Negligible "stupid" penalties

Cons:
1. Shaky Stafford
2. Conservative play-calling
3. Titus Young non-existent

Yes, I said O-Line was a pro. Not very often you say that about this Lions group. Stafford got himself sacked by not stepping up in the pocket. Kevin Smith, from all the bashing he still gets on this board, did a great job. Obviously, he got the game winning TD-catch, and showed that the Lions might ACTUALLY have depth at running back this year once Leshoure and (miracle of miracles) Best return. It was also a testament to Megatron's greatness that he was still able to amass over 100 yards receiving despite Staff's errant ways.

On one hand it was good to see this team win when Staff wasn't on top of his game, but it WAS against the Rams, we have to remember. He'll need to be MUCH better next week against a 49ers defense that just gave Aaron Rodgers fits. I don't know how much of this came from Stafford, but Linehan better stop this dink and dunk conservative crap early in games. I said to myself before the beginning of the season that Titus Young was going to have to take the next step and be the receiver he was over the last half of last season. Unfortunately, he was virtually invisible except for in a negative matter, taking Detroit's only stupid after-the-play penalty.

Not pretty, but as someone said and ugly win beats an ugly loss. We were so close to the latter though, next week's match-up gives me great apprehension. If we beat the 49ers, we make a big statement that we're in this thing to win more than just a playoff slot. If we lose, we prove that we still have a ways to go.

I have a feeling that that Rams secondary will give alot of qbs fits this year. With Jeff Fisher running the show they should not be looked at as the same old Rams anymore. That team is going to surprise some teams this year.

 

[Mitchrapp]

IMO that makes it a bad day.....any time you throw 3 INTs it's a bad day. He will need to be better than that next week if they are to beat the 49ers

It might make it an off day but he wasn't shaky. He was cool.

 

[beez]

Yeah he did look pretty well in control the last drive. Didn't look like any of those picks lingered in the 2nd half.

 

[zoombabyzoom]

That pick he threw to Jenkins, seemed like more of the play of Jenkins than Staffs fault. I thought Jenkins should of been playing over the top on Scheffler instead he played under. The INT to Finnegan was bad though, I think Stafford thought he could zip it in there.

 

[zoombabyzoom]

The Rams defense was weird anyways, they seemed to be just sitting back the entire game. Every damn play it seemed their CBs were a good 8 yards off the WRs.

 

[zoombabyzoom]

week #1...I saw alot of bad throws by some real good Qbs , timing and reps and real game speed.....Stafford was much improved in late 3rd and 4th quarter.

like I said...never a bad day when you get a win in the NFL

Good call Slick. Plus, its not like he will throw 3 picks all the time. Meaning the rest of the games this year he should be better

 

[zyxt9]

I still consider the fact they overcame the 3 picks as a huge Pro. Besides, throwing as much as the Lions do, they are bound to have a game or two where Staff throws 2+ INTs. Better it happened vs Rams than the Niners, plus overcoming that type of obstacle only builds confidence. Obviously that isn't something you want to do often, but good for them to develop confidence that as a team they can overcome that type of thing and win. Plus the 2 Minute drill for the win...gotta love the mental toughness, resilience, and character the team showed throughout the game.

 

[tomdalton22]

How's it a bad day when you win ?

I was talking about Stafford....it's a bad day for him when he throws 3 INTs. You aren't going to win many games if you have 3 picks. They were lucky they were playing the Rams.

 

[zyxt9]

Good call Slick. Plus, its not like he will throw 3 picks all the time. Meaning the rest of the games this year he should be better

Exactly...3 picks have happened to Manning, Brady, and every QB to play in the NFL...and more often than not those are the games that come up as a Loss. I guess for some it is the "half-empty" vs "half-full" way of looking at it. Getting the win should mean "half-full" outlook for the season, but some are too hung up on the mistakes to recognize it was outside the norm for Staff and just be happy with the Win.

 

[wheels002]

Rodgers had a bad day and lost, Brees had a bad day and lost, Vick threw 4int's and barely beat Cleveland. We won and we won because of Staff's last 2 drives. Yes we should have won by more but we won. Staff is still just 24. He isnt even his his prime yet. Weeden who made his first start for Cleveland yesterday is 5 years older than Staff and had the worst rating of any QB.