Game 1: Giants @ Lions *Monday Night Football* Thread

[UMRules06]

I 100% agree with your second statement. However......having the 2014 Lions try to play like the Seahawks of last year or some of the old Raves teams would be TERRIBLE COACHING. We simply don't have the personnel. And no matter WHO they drafted at 10, we weren't going to. So they built on their strength this offseason. I have no problem with that.

Does that mean you never address the defense.....of course not. I'm hoping their plan is to get younger and more athletic on O this season....which they absolutely did.....and focus on the D from here on out.

Listen, I wanted a CB in the 1st round......i really did....but they chose Ebron. So Im not going to sit here and argue about what that DB, if drafted, would have done. You have to draft for the future as well, as many on this board have pointed out NUMEROUS times....so even if Ebron doesn't set rookie records this year, they got a player that will absolutely help them win games for years to come.

I think we are pretty much in lock step then. So my question becomes why DON'T the Lions have the personnel like the Seahawks and Ravens then? Is it the drafting strategies, the coaching staff not doing their job, bad defensive schemes, Mayhew not luring free agents here etc? What makes the Seahawks defense so friggin great that the Lions can't get there too? That's what I want to know, and that's what the organization should be striving towards.

 

[Mitchrapp]

3 things:

CJ needs 3 guys on him..
Stafford played smart..
The Giants sucks..

 

[tonyballs]

I 100% agree with your second statement. However......having the 2014 Lions try to play like the Seahawks of last year or some of the old Raves teams would be TERRIBLE COACHING. We simply don't have the personnel. And no matter WHO they drafted at 10, we weren't going to. So they built on their strength this offseason. I have no problem with that.

Does that mean you never address the defense.....of course not. I'm hoping their plan is to get younger and more athletic on O this season....which they absolutely did.....and focus on the D from here on out.

Listen, I wanted a CB in the 1st round......i really did....but they chose Ebron. So Im not going to sit here and argue about what that DB, if drafted, would have done. You have to draft for the future as well, as many on this board have pointed out NUMEROUS times....so even if Ebron doesn't set rookie records this year, they got a player that will absolutely help them win games for years to come.

I'm still convinced Gilbert was the pick, but he was gone. And they obviously weren't high on Dix.

 

[tonyballs]

I think we are pretty much in lock step then. So my question becomes why DON'T the Lions have the personnel like the Seahawks and Ravens then? Is it the drafting strategies, the coaching staff not doing their job, bad defensive schemes, Mayhew not luring free agents here etc? What makes the Seahawks defense so friggin great that the Lions can't get there too? That's what I want to know, and that's what the organization should be striving towards.

All 31 teams want to have the Seahawks D. Cmon man

 

[UMRules06]

All 31 teams want to have the Seahawks D. Cmon man

C'mon man what? We're talking about a franchise that hasn't done anything since 1957. I can't question why suddenly the Seahawks can get things right, and the Lions can't? At least on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[jared]

I'm still convinced Gilbert was the pick, but he was gone. And they obviously weren't high on Dix.

You have to admit the Ebron pick was questionable Tony. The BPA strategy was great when we had one good starter (CJ) and 21 holes to fill for the starters alone. It doesn't work anymore. Need has to factor in, and Mayhew seems to refuse to do it. I've said it before, he's really good in FA, finds UDFA's and has been better than average at trades (Mike Thomas notwithstanding). But he cannot draft for crap.

 

[tonyballs]

C'mon man what? We're talking about a franchise that hasn't done anything since 1957. I can't question why suddenly the Seahawks can get things right, and the Lions can't? At least on the defensive side of the ball.

Question it all you want!! lol. We're just not there. NOBODY is there lol

 

[UMRules06]

Question it all you want!! lol. We're just not there. NOBODY is there lol

I know we're not there. That much is obvious My point is we should be making efforts to GET there. That's where the difference in philosophy comes in. The Lions seem to prefer beefing up their offense, which is fine. I just disagree with that approach, especially with the way the offense was already constructed prior to the draft. Superior offenses can certainly work, as it did for the Saints when they won their Super Bowl. Let's just hope things go our way for once!

 

[kdp80]

I think what stood out the most during this game(besides Stafford) was the adjustments made at halftime. The offense started looking flat to end the 1st half, and came out firing in the second half. 8 penalties in the first half, 0, yes 0 in the second half. I don't know what happened during haltime, but it's seems like it was something that was lacking during the Schwartz era.

 

[tonyballs]

You have to admit the Ebron pick was questionable Tony. The BPA strategy was great when we had one good starter (CJ) and 21 holes to fill for the starters alone. It doesn't work anymore. Need has to factor in, and Mayhew seems to refuse to do it. I've said it before, he's really good in FA, finds UDFA's and has been better than average at trades (Mike Thomas notwithstanding). But he cannot draft for crap.

It was questionable, i agree. I was angry at the pick at first, but i understood it after i was done ranting and raving to my buddy. Calvin isn't getting any younger and he needed help. Bringing in Tate and Ebron just might prolong his career as a Lion. So you say luxury and i say insurance pick.
And if you watched the game (and i know you did) you seen how the Giants played defense. They "tried" to man up on Calvin quite a bit. Mistake, right? Damn right it is. Homocide every time. Teams can't ignore our #2 anymore. And it helps that we have a TE that can fly up the field. Teams will adjust accordingly and it will be Ebron's turn etc etc etc ..........this offense is going to be sick.

 

[jared]

I think what stood out the most during this game(besides Stafford) was the adjustments made at halftime. The offense started looking flat to end the 1st half, and came out firing in the second half. 8 penalties in the first half, 0, yes 0 in the second half. I don't know what happened during haltime, but it's seems like it was something that was lacking during the Schwartz era.

This impressed me. The fact that none of the penalties were stupid, tough guy, after the whistle taunting and personal foul penalties made me even happier. I have really had a hard time rooting for this team under Schwartz. And it has nothing to do with wins and losses, cuz, you know, I'm a Lions fan. I HATED the attitude and behavior, and that seems to be much improved. I hope it stays that way.

 

[tonyballs]

I know we're not there. That much is obvious My point is we should be making efforts to GET there. That's where the difference in philosophy comes in. The Lions seem to prefer beefing up their offense, which is fine. I just disagree with that approach, especially with the way the offense was already constructed prior to the draft. Superior offenses can certainly work, as it did for the Saints when they won their Super Bowl. Let's just hope things go our way for once!

You know that Seahawks defense is loaded with mid round draft picks, right? You can find gems in later picks and UDFAS. Just sayin...

 

[dubbsco]

Tony, the problem is that top 10 picks shouldn't be "luxury/insurance" picks. Those are picks that can make your franchise better by improving the biggest weaknesses.

 

[UMRules06]

It was questionable, i agree. I was angry at the pick at first, but i understood it after i was done ranting and raving to my buddy. Calvin isn't getting any younger and he needed help. Bringing in Tate and Ebron just might prolong his career as a Lion. So you say luxury and i say insurance pick.
And if you watched the game (and i know you did) you seen how the Giants played defense. They "tried" to man up on Calvin quite a bit. Mistake, right? Damn right it is. Homocide every time. Teams can't ignore our #2 anymore. And it helps that we have a TE that can fly up the field. Teams will adjust accordingly and it will be Ebron's turn etc etc etc ..........this offense is going to be sick.

That right there is my point. You like the Ebron pick because it makes the offense "sick." Why do we need a "sick" offense? It's more entertaining I suppose. The Broncos have a sick offense and got shellacked in the Super Bowl. Great defenses can beat sick offenses, and usually do.

And to your other point that you can find defensive gems in the mid rounds of the draft. You're absolutely right. So why can't the Lions do that I ask again? Why is it only the Seahawks who seem to have that magic touch? These are things to question, not just brush under the rug and say "oh the draft is a crapshoot." There are teams who seem to know what they're doing, and yet we keep failing at it. I just want to know why?

I never intended to get into a long discussion over this. We can just agree to disagree

 

[tonyballs]

Tony, the problem is that top 10 picks shouldn't be "luxury/insurance" picks. Those are picks that can make your franchise better by improving the biggest weaknesses.

Sorry, but i disagree. Ebron HELPS out this offense. Mayhew has always drafted to his strengths of the team. Offense was top 10 last year, right? He just beefed it up with the Ebron pick. And when you have a mega-super star stud like Calvin Johnson, "protecting" him is a wise investment.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Is that what happens after a win, Tony has a real discussion..no fn lol. I'm amazed.

 

[tonyballs]

That right there is my point. You like the Ebron pick because it makes the offense "sick." Why do we need a "sick" offense? It's more entertaining I suppose. The Broncos have a sick offense and got shellacked in the Super Bowl. Great defenses can beat sick offenses, and usually do.

And to your other point that you can find defensive gems in the mid rounds of the draft. You're absolutely right. So why can't the Lions do that I ask again? Why is it only the Seahawks who seem to have that magic touch? These are things to question, not just brush under the rug and say "oh the draft is a crapshoot." There are teams who seem to know what they're doing, and yet we keep failing at it. I just want to know why?

I never intended to get into a long discussion over this. We can just agree to disagree

I want that crazy D too!! It's a process. These guys do extensive research on players when it comes to drafting them. They have their own BIG BOARD. They have guys ranked from #1 to #300 or something. It is 100% a crapshoot, bro.

And they haven't completely failed on later picks. Taylor, Whitehead, Warford, Levy all contributing.

 

[tonyballs]

Is that what happens after a win, Tony has a real discussion..no fn lol. I'm amazed.

Well, he's asking legitimate questions. He's not just incoherently bashing our players or the GM.

And why are you guys so obsessed with my swearing? Were you all born in a confession booth or something? Get over it lol

 

[UMRules06]

I want that crazy D too!! It's a process. These guys do extensive research on players when it comes to drafting them. They have their own BIG BOARD. They have guys ranked from #1 to #300 or something. It is 100% a crapshoot, bro.

And they haven't completely failed on later picks. Taylor, Whitehead, Warford, Levy all contributing.

I thought we were discussing defense? Warford plays on the OL but that's not the point really. And to say the draft is 100% a crapshoot is just not true. If it were then you could throw monkeys in the war room and have them draft for you. You listed a few players that are contributing, but there are also countless other picks who have busted and did nothing. None of those guys in your list are "gems" either which is what you said we could find in those mid rounds. Maybe Levy could qualify I suppose.

So again my question is what's the problem? Is it the GM and other guys in charge of the draft? The coaches who are in charge of preparing the players for the NFL? Bad systems/schemes? I don't know.

 

[UMRules06]

Anywho...off to work! Good discussion