Mannings Calls Lions and Congratulates Lions on Hire

[michiganalex]

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/artic...lions-to-endorse-caldwells-hiring-287076.html

 

[mhughes0021]

Definitely something Manning didn't have to say this week unless he truly meant it. While its good to hear I think it also puts more pressure on Stafford to perform. Theres a coach in place now that will help him, the best wr in the game and a great pass catching rb....hes running out of excuses.

 

[coel73]

Definitely something Manning didn't have to say this week unless he truly meant it. While its good to hear I think it also puts more pressure on Stafford to perform. Theres a coach in place now that will help him, the best wr in the game and a great pass catching rb....hes running out of excuses.

Good! I think it's all good. We couldn't ask for much more than the type of endorsement Caldwell got. And like you said it eliminates excuses, so if he's truly shit (Stafford), then there won't be any debate on it. I'm ready to see how these guys respond to the coaching changes because in my opinion it went as well as it could have. No Gunther or Linehan and we got to keep the Washburns. I call it a win. Hopefully we can follow those wins up with some game wins.

 

[biggunsbob]

wins .And then.. Give me playoff wins...

 

[sggatecl]

Definitely something Manning didn't have to say this week unless he truly meant it. While its good to hear I think it also puts more pressure on Stafford to perform. Theres a coach in place now that will help him, the best wr in the game and a great pass catching rb....hes running out of excuses.

Until he's got 2 All-Pro WR and an All-Pro TE, there are some that will always have an excuse ready. Hell, even with those they'd have an excuse. Some people just love that guy no matter what.

 

[zyxt9]

Until he's got 2 All-Pro WR and an All-Pro TE, there are some that will always have an excuse ready. Hell, even with those they'd have an excuse. Some people just love that guy no matter what.

If referring to me, yes I want a second stud WR. However, that is not because I'm in love with Stafford, more that I think he needs as many weapons around him as possible to make the most of his (limited) great talent. He's a great QB in many respects, others he is very limited.

Just like last year was "Make or Break" for Schwartz & Co, I think if Stafford has a stud WR, he will have a 2 year max grace period to first make his personal adjustments and win a playoff game, then the next year actually get to the Super Bowl. Caldwell potentially falls into that same boat, as does Mayhew. This organization is in a "Do before I die" mode for the Old Man, IMO.

The TEs will be fine, but definitely need a stud WR to make the TEs and RBs and even CJ better along with Stafford. After that, focus on D. I'd definitely accept getting Dom's replacement as well, but going all D after WR would be fine too.

 

[biggunsbob]

The team needs a lock down secondary.. Trade suh free up a ton of money and get more players for the back end...Yes trading a player like Suh is a gamble but we have three huge contracts and CJ and Stafford are not going anywhere... Trading suh is the only way to get the defense real help..

 

[LKP]

The team needs a lock down secondary.. Trade suh free up a ton of money and get more players for the back end...Yes trading a player like Suh is a gamble but we have three huge contracts and CJ and Stafford are not going anywhere... Trading suh is the only way to get the defense real help..

Trading away your best defensive player makes the defense better? And it does not free up a ton of money in 2014. Only about 2 million. You would get some good draft picks but are you getting a Darius Slay or Bill Bentley with those draft extra draft picks.

Trading Suh is not necessary to add good players.. We can keep Suh, extend Suh (freeing up around 7.5 million this season) and get more players in the draft and free agency. Draft is the best way to add talent.

 

[biggunsbob]

Last I check our defensive line is not winning us any titles... We have had a weak secondary for years now... Time to change things up... I guess we are stuck.... Not lucky to have a 500,000 QB like Seattle does so money can go to other areas... Face it if Mayhew whiffs in the draft and free agency this year our secondary will suck as usual.. I like suh a lot... He just is not giving us a winning recorded and playoff wins yet..
Hopefully Caldwell can attract some guys on the open market because I don't see our top three guys given the Lions a home town discount anytime soon to help the team win a super bowl..

 

[michiganalex]

Last I check our defensive line is not winning us any titles... We have had a weak secondary for years now... Time to change things up... I guess we are stuck.... Not lucky to have a 500,000 QB like Seattle does so money can go to other areas... Face it if Mayhew whiffs in the draft and free agency this year our secondary will suck as usual.. I like suh a lot... He just is not giving us a winning recorded and playoff wins yet..
Hopefully Caldwell can attract some guys on the open market because I don't see our top three guys given the Lions a home town discount anytime soon to help the team win a super bowl..

on the other hand if he hits another homerun with the Draft we are looking at the Playoffs.

 

[lucke]

Last I check our defensive line is not winning us any titles... We have had a weak secondary for years now... Time to change things up... I guess we are stuck.... Not lucky to have a 500,000 QB like Seattle does so money can go to other areas... Face it if Mayhew whiffs in the draft and free agency this year our secondary will suck as usual.. I like suh a lot... He just is not giving us a winning recorded and playoff wins yet..
Hopefully Caldwell can attract some guys on the open market because I don't see our top three guys given the Lions a home town discount anytime soon to help the team win a super bowl..

1 player doesn't make a team... but the loss of that one player (depending on who it is... Suh/CJ) can have a greater effect than most realize.

this would NOT be an addition by subtraction scenario like it was with Avril leaving. losing Suh would be devastating to our defense as a whole. adding a CB in the draft (or having Houston bounce back, which is unlikely) is the better option than trying to get rid of Suh. fact is that ALL corners give up touchdowns at some point... Suh can be an absolute game changer that no CB can touch... the rest of the defense needs to do their part as well though.

 

[LKP]

We don't have to get rid of Suh to add good corners. Extending Suh actually gives the Lions more money in 2014 in free agency to get corners. Trade only get 2 million compared 7.5 million in room with an extension. It's a no brainer to extend Suh.

http://www.spotrac.com/free-agents/nfl/cornerback/

And which expensive CB do you want. Extending Suh is the only way to get a Verner or Talib. And Talib is a character risk.

 

[sggatecl]

If referring to me, yes I want a second stud WR. However, that is not because I'm in love with Stafford, more that I think he needs as many weapons around him as possible to make the most of his (limited) great talent. He's a great QB in many respects, others he is very limited.

Just like last year was "Make or Break" for Schwartz & Co, I think if Stafford has a stud WR, he will have a 2 year max grace period to first make his personal adjustments and win a playoff game, then the next year actually get to the Super Bowl. Caldwell potentially falls into that same boat, as does Mayhew. This organization is in a "Do before I die" mode for the Old Man, IMO.

The TEs will be fine, but definitely need a stud WR to make the TEs and RBs and even CJ better along with Stafford. After that, focus on D. I'd definitely accept getting Dom's replacement as well, but going all D after WR would be fine too.

I wasn't referring to any particular person, there's a small group that may or may not include you that always seems to have an excuse for Stafford's failings but want to turn their head to his own inconsistencies/failings.

 

[LKP]

I wasn't referring to any particular person, there's a small group that may or may not include you that always seems to have an excuse for Stafford's failings but want to turn their head to his own inconsistencies/failings.

Stafford can work on his footwork and touch. However, he was dealt a shit hand at WR 2 and 3, TE separation and drops plus Calvin/some other important weapon missing 2 games. He's truly a low 60% completion guy, who with good coaching and fixing his touch and footwork can be a mid to upper 60% QB with his arm talent.

The 30 TDS or 4,500 yards plus a year doesn't seem to be a problem. We'll see if he can get the ints down to 12-14 with so many attempts. Through 400 attempts he was around 8 ints.

I don't know why anyone would not want a good number 2 WR. The more weapons the better for any QB. Look at Peyton when they added Welker, Julian Thomas and his run game got better. Offensive explosiion for records compared to just very good. Every QB wants and needs as many weapons as they can get.

 

[LKP]

Taking WR early often only sucks when those WRs bust. When those WRs hit, you have a ton of weapons for your QB.


James Jones(3rd),Cobb(2nd) and Nelson(2nd trading back from 1st) hit for GB, Derrick Williams(3rd), Young(2nd), Broyles(2nd, injury) missed for Detroit. Same strategy just when they are misses it costs you more.

 

[sggatecl]

I kind of hope we are able to hold on to Pettigrew, it would be nice if Stafford only had to get used to a new #2 WR and that's all. But I know some analysts think Pettigrew is the best free agent TE in 2014 not named Jimmy Graham so he might getting paid well.

 

[boogerlovejoy]

I kind of hope we are able to hold on to Pettigrew, it would be nice if Stafford only had to get used to a new #2 WR and that's all. But I know some analysts think Pettigrew is the best free agent TE in 2014 not named Jimmy Graham so he might getting paid well.

I say bye bye Pettigrew. Will take too much to keep him and I'm not sure Fauria isn't better anyway.

Besides.....we have a head coach and OC that...IMO...will want an athletic pass catching TE.

Not really Petts strong point.

 

[mhughes0021]

Taking WR early often only sucks when those WRs bust. When those WRs hit, you have a ton of weapons for your QB.


James Jones(3rd),Cobb(2nd) and Nelson(2nd trading back from 1st) hit for GB, Derrick Williams(3rd), Young(2nd), Broyles(2nd, injury) missed for Detroit. Same strategy just when they are misses it costs you more.

Theres 2 things in play here. 1 is Arod makes everyone he plays with better. Every player you listed for GB was injured this year for GB....so Boykin steps in and has a couple big games. That's a big part of what is lacking here in Detroit. It could be dwill....it could be broyles....it could be mike Thomas....durham....ross....etc etc etc just keep going down the list....none of them contribute when they get put into position to contribute as a WR.

The other is talent evaluation and coaching once the players get into TC. Titus was probably as talented as Cobb coming out...to be honest I think marquise Lee is a lot like titus as far as talent and skill is concerned. But titus was an undersized nutcase that was being used on the outside....not a good fit and eventually his nutcase part of him took over. James Jones is a monster on the outside...he lives out there...that's what he does. So In the 3rd round that's great value....you know what youre going to get and he produces. Dwill never was anything....never will be anything...and we never had a plan how to get him to become anything. That's a waste of a 3rd round pick. Weve talked about broyles and his value enough so I wont go there lol.....

 

[jde7676]

Theres 2 things in play here. 1 is Arod makes everyone he plays with better. Every player you listed for GB was injured this year for GB....so Boykin steps in and has a couple big games. That's a big part of what is lacking here in Detroit. It could be dwill....it could be broyles....it could be mike Thomas....durham....ross....etc etc etc just keep going down the list....none of them contribute when they get put into position to contribute as a WR.

The other is talent evaluation and coaching once the players get into TC. Titus was probably as talented as Cobb coming out...to be honest I think marquise Lee is a lot like titus as far as talent and skill is concerned. But titus was an undersized nutcase that was being used on the outside....not a good fit and eventually his nutcase part of him took over. James Jones is a monster on the outside...he lives out there...that's what he does. So In the 3rd round that's great value....you know what youre going to get and he produces. Dwill never was anything....never will be anything...and we never had a plan how to get him to become anything. That's a waste of a 3rd round pick. Weve talked about broyles and his value enough so I wont go there lol.....

I'm hoping whoever we get as a number 2 WR is someone who is comfortable playing on the outside. Durham has no business being anything more than a fill in player. The number 2 WR doesn't have to be super tall but I'd prefer at least 6'1 with some experience being anything other than a slot guy.

 

[mhughes0021]

I'm hoping whoever we get as a number 2 WR is someone who is comfortable playing on the outside. Durham has no business being anything more than a fill in player. The number 2 WR doesn't have to be super tall but I'd prefer at least 6'1 with some experience being anything other than a slot guy.

It doesn't have to be much.....just a guy that has decent size and can run deep to help open up the field. I still think DHB would be perfect in this offense and would come cheap. I don't think ive ever seen durham open lol....his guy is always all over him like white on a white guy.