Biggest PreSeason Surprises

[inkfreq]

Just some of my thoughts on the preseason, and things I didn't really expect:

#1 La'Adrian Waddle: This guy is legit. I don't know if he will be starting at RT this year, but I expect him to be starting for us in the next few years. For a guy his size, he's pretty fluid, gets back in his kick quickly, and is able to move very well to go along with that power frame. Hard to believe he was undrafted and a kid like Long went in the 1st.

#2 Devin Taylor: Tag on this kid in college was all the talent, none of the work ethic and motor. May have been true, and if it was, I'd say I am buying into Suh's new leadership role. This kid is impressive. He played mostly against backups, but he was man-handling guys. Could be a real potential starter next season.

#3 Jason Jones: The one man wrecking crew. It was said that he never really played end well, and was always better on the interior, but he really dominated the snaps he played, and looks absolutely monstrous on our D-Line.

#4 Joique Bell: Wow, this guy looked great. Ran hard, ran for power, caught the ball well, scrapped for extra yardage, and exploded often. I am very impressed.

#5 Matt Willis: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?! Where in the holy hell did this guy come from? I think he not only earned his roster spot, but maybe a good hard look as a starter.

#6 Joseph Fauria: Didn't see much to write home about other than DAYUM the boy is big. You hear 6'8" and you know he's big, but then you see Calvin giving him the high five after the TD against the Pats, and Calvin is looking up at home, and you realize how big he really is. Wow, that's a basketball player in a helmet. Could develop into something special at TE.

#7 LB Corps: Not impressive at all. I really thought we had good depth there, as I am high on Ashlee Palmer. Thought he was ready to take it to the next level. Expected Levy to finally find his groove and settle in. LB's make me nervous.

#8 Secondary: Maybe it's just me, but I didn't see a lot to give me wood over Groves and Delmas together, and while Slay looks good, I don't think anyone really owned that #2 corner spot, and I'm not even sure Houston looked like himself. We improved the secondary, and I am more nervous this year than last. Pass rush will have to be even better than it already is to help the secondary.

#9 Injuries: We were lucky with injuries this preseason. The word "lucky" and the Lions don't often go together. Nice surprise there. In a year when "ACL" became the buzzword for almost every NFL team, the Lions look pretty healthy headed into the regular season.

#10 Kellen Moore: No, he shouldn't be the starter, but he's come a long way from his rookie season, and should make Hill expendable next year. He's becoming a really solid backup QB, and I am happy to see it.

 

[jrange378]

Willis looks like he just has natural play making ability, and he is beating his man by a step on most passes thrown his way, would work great as a 2 I think. At least warrants a look. And I was high on Taylor, he should get some good playing time this year. Guys tagged with lazy usually aren't when they are looking to make a living.

 

[tigermud]

Biggest surprise?

Stafford playing like absolute crap would be #1 for me

 

[Mitchrapp]

Biggest surprise?

Stafford playing like absolute crap would be #1 for me

But it was a vanilla offense..:hehe:

 

[motown1958]

Ink I can't disagree with any of your points. I will say I thought the back half of the D look better at the end of the preseason. Obviously they were blowouts but the lbs pushed the issue against the Pats and I thought the secondary played OK. They arent world beaters back there but they are at least playing tight press now which I have wanted for years seeing as they now have size and speed. Also I think the Mathis pick up really helps at safety for added depth as well as how much Bentley has progressed in the nickel role. We will find out if it translates to 60 minutes of real game action soon but right now I am optimistic.

 

[schles192]

Special teams has looked good. Having Martin to flip the field will be key this year.

 

[mhughes0021]

trade pettidrop for a #2 WR. Im on the Fauria train.

Play Mathis

Regime after regime....player after player....high pick rb after high pick rb....our run game still blows.

Stafford needs to figure it out.

 

[zyxt9]

Escaping the preseason without a severe injury is a very big surprise to me, and very thankful for it. Other teams lost some very impactful players. This could be advantageous if Lions can exploit the positions occupied by backups.

Willis shows signs he could be the Lions version of Victor Cruz if they let him.

Bring on the Regular Season!!!! Lions are going to tell the 72 Dolphins to include them in the annual champaign toast of undefeateds!!!

 

[lgolfer]

trade pettidrop for a #2 WR. Im on the Fauria train.

Play Mathis

Regime after regime....player after player....high pick rb after high pick rb....our run game still blows.

Stafford needs to figure it out.

As awesome as it would be to get a #2 WR for Pettigrew, what blocking tight end would we have left on the roster? Scheffler can't block. Fauria is a weak blocker. And our 7th round pick, Michael Williams (supposed to be a great blocker), broke his hand 7 days ago.

 

[Mitchrapp]

As I said weeks ago, Staff should throw it 1000 times. We don't need to run the ball, not good at it anyway.

 

[mhughes0021]

As awesome as it would be to get a #2 WR for Pettigrew, what blocking tight end would we have left on the roster? Scheffler can't block. Fauria is a weak blocker. And our 7th round pick, Michael Williams (supposed to be a great blocker), broke his hand 7 days ago.

I will follow up your question with another question. How has he helped in the run game? Im not seeing the results. You want to get Waddle some reps....play him at TE and FB on run blocking downs.....we need someone to take Reiffs position from last year

Im not understanding how individually all the guys we keep talking about on the line are supposed to be these nasty run maulers. reiff, sims, warford, fox, pettigrew....yet we still cant open holes for one of the most elusive rbs in the game vs first string defenses the entire preseason. My conclusion is they arent very good run blockers until they start showing it.

 

[inkfreq]

Ink I can't disagree with any of your points. I will say I thought the back half of the D look better at the end of the preseason. Obviously they were blowouts but the lbs pushed the issue against the Pats and I thought the secondary played OK. They arent world beaters back there but they are at least playing tight press now which I have wanted for years seeing as they now have size and speed. Also I think the Mathis pick up really helps at safety for added depth as well as how much Bentley has progressed in the nickel role. We will find out if it translates to 60 minutes of real game action soon but right now I am optimistic.

I agree Motown. They didn't look horrendous except for that first game, they just didn't look as good as I was hoping they would.

But you can see the building blocks too. Slay really impressed me in the final game with some of his knock downs, Bentley looks like a possible interception machine in the nickel. Houston is just not a clear #1, but he's a solid player.

If we could just find that #1 CB, we'd be loaded. But without it, too many questions to make me happy, and I was really hoping for better.

 

[motown1958]

I will follow up your question with another question. How has he helped in the run game? Im not seeing the results. You want to get Waddle some reps....play him at TE and FB on run blocking downs.....we need someone to take Reiffs position from last year

Im not understanding how individually all the guys we keep talking about on the line are supposed to be these nasty run maulers. reiff, sims, warford, fox, pettigrew....yet we still cant open holes for one of the most elusive rbs in the game vs first string defenses the entire preseason. My conclusion is they arent very good run blockers until they start showing it.

We have struggled most when running up the middle so to counter your point at times we have looked good running to the edges especially when we had Best. So to answer your question a TE plays on the "ends" of an oline where we have looked decent especially when you break it down and look at the stats of running to his side. From C to RT the past few years we have been terrible run blockers and moderate on the left side although Backus slipped bad this past year in that department.

 

[motown1958]

I agree Motown. They didn't look horrendous except for that first game, they just didn't look as good as I was hoping they would.

But you can see the building blocks too. Slay really impressed me in the final game with some of his knock downs, Bentley looks like a possible interception machine in the nickel. Houston is just not a clear #1, but he's a solid player.

If we could just find that #1 CB, we'd be loaded. But without it, too many questions to make me happy, and I was really hoping for better.

Yea I agree although I thought Houston looked the part last year but he most cetainly isnt a shutdown corner but a pretty good cover corner.

 

[lgolfer]

I will follow up your question with another question. How has he helped in the run game? Im not seeing the results. You want to get Waddle some reps....play him at TE and FB on run blocking downs.....we need someone to take Reiffs position from last year

Im not understanding how individually all the guys we keep talking about on the line are supposed to be these nasty run maulers. reiff, sims, warford, fox, pettigrew....yet we still cant open holes for one of the most elusive rbs in the game vs first string defenses the entire preseason. My conclusion is they arent very good run blockers until they start showing it.

If you want to see how Pettigrew has helped, try letting Fauria take his spot. I guarantee you at this point in Fauria's career we'd go from a below-average running team to a team with a non-existent running game. And I mean non-existent, it's not some hyperbole.

I like Fauria, and hope he makes the team. But I'd rather have him replace Scheffler than Pettigrew.

I do agree with you about the O-line though. Reiff and Warford are supposed to be great run blockers and we've only been average at best running the ball this preseason. I think our running game will improve a little as the season progresses and Warford gets better. Also, the more we run Joique Bell between the tackles, the better our running game will be.

 

[mhughes0021]

If you want to see how Pettigrew has helped, try letting Fauria take his spot. I guarantee you at this point in Fauria's career we'd go from a below-average running team to a team with a non-existent running game. And I mean non-existent, it's not some hyperbole.

I like Fauria, and hope he makes the team. But I'd rather have him replace Scheffler than Pettigrew.

I do agree with you about the O-line though. Reiff and Warford are supposed to be great run blockers and we've only been average at best running the ball this preseason. I think our running game will improve a little as the season progresses and Warford gets better. Also, the more we run Joique Bell between the tackles, the better our running game will be.

for being a "bigger" back Bell's feet have been outstanding this preseason. He made moves in both the NE and BUF games that ive rarely seen speed back make in the NFL. If it was up to me leshoure would never see the field. Bush and Bell. Shit....right now if it were up to me id keep Riddick over Leshoure. He fits in our offense much much better.

 

[motown1958]

I found it rather interesting looking at Pettigrews numbers today. I think almost everyone on this board would gladly trade him for Vernon Davis. But go and actually look at the last 4 years (since Grew entered the league) and you will see aside from 2009 the numbers have been pretty even in fact they favor Grew. This is obviously from our superior throwing attack with other weapons on the outside but nonetheless Pettigrew has been one of the better and more overshadowed TE's in football. I get mad at his drops to because they are drive killers but if he ever puts that part all together this is a guy who could be one of the very best all around TE's in the NFL.

 

[motown1958]

for being a "bigger" back Bell's feet have been outstanding this preseason. He made moves in both the NE and BUF games that ive rarely seen speed back make in the NFL. If it was up to me leshoure would never see the field. Bush and Bell. Shit....right now if it were up to me id keep Riddick over Leshoure. He fits in our offense much much better.

The only reason Leshoure is still on the roster and going to see playing time is his endzone ability. That dude was a monster last year inside the 5 yard line I just don't understand why he has been so dreadful the rest of the time.

 

[schles192]

I do agree with you about the O-line though. Reiff and Warford are supposed to be great run blockers and we've only been average at best running the ball this preseason. I think our running game will improve a little as the season progresses and Warford gets better. Also, the more we run Joique Bell between the tackles, the better our running game will be.

I'm hoping that will come with more playing time. With Bell/Leshoure running down hill and Bush running sideline to sideline we should be able to wear down the D and break a couple. Last year we didn't have the speed back that can get the edge this year we have 2 (Bush, Theo)

 

[schles192]

for being a "bigger" back Bell's feet have been outstanding this preseason. He made moves in both the NE and BUF games that ive rarely seen speed back make in the NFL. If it was up to me leshoure would never see the field. Bush and Bell. Shit....right now if it were up to me id keep Riddick over Leshoure. He fits in our offense much much better.

Leshoure is our power back, he won't break a long run but he will get you 3-4 when you need it. 2 things I've noticed from Leshoure is that when tackled he is falling forward picking up a couple extra yards(nice change from smith who would get driven backward). The other is that he doesn't know how to carry the ball, and that will keep him off the field.